Time for a new radiator?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 7
From: Wake Forest NC
Time for a new radiator?
After draining my radiator, I noticed white crystal-like deposits around the core passages. They're everywhere! The car was sitting for 15 years; the fluid was still green (but I didn't drain the block yet). Has this radiator, and probably heater core, seen their better days? I mean, how long do these things typically last?
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,593
Likes: 631
From: Brighton
Black Ice
When it comes to "looking original" you would be amazed at what black paint does. We offer a two part epoxy coat that is specifically made for us and when it dries it looks like powder coat. The cost is $30, which is the same as two spray bombs of Eastwood radiator paint that never seems to totally dry.
Every swap meet we do someone gets confused over the display radiators that have the Black Ice coat. I guess it's some kind of psycological thing that the "black" to the eye tells the brain it's "copper". Anyway, many people have told me the aluminum radiators passed judging because the judge thought it was the real deal. See what I mean...
Every swap meet we do someone gets confused over the display radiators that have the Black Ice coat. I guess it's some kind of psycological thing that the "black" to the eye tells the brain it's "copper". Anyway, many people have told me the aluminum radiators passed judging because the judge thought it was the real deal. See what I mean...
Last edited by Tom@Dewitt; Dec 28, 2006 at 06:04 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 7
From: Wake Forest NC
Thanks. Nothing original about this car. Flex fan is about 3" away from shroud; no air dam, vacuum hoses plugged, no air pump, egr blocked off; makes me wonder what the engine has been through. That just gives me an excuse to make it what I want! I'm still trying to comprehend how aluminum conducts heat better than copper. Usually, electric and heat conductors coincide. Copper conducts electricity better than aluminum. Besides weight, wouldn't copper (and its alloys bronze, brass) be a better material(s) for radiators?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Thanks. Nothing original about this car. Flex fan is about 3" away from shroud; no air dam, vacuum hoses plugged, no air pump, egr blocked off; makes me wonder what the engine has been through. That just gives me an excuse to make it what I want! I'm still trying to comprehend how aluminum conducts heat better than copper. Usually, electric and heat conductors coincide. Copper conducts electricity better than aluminum. Besides weight, wouldn't copper (and its alloys bronze, brass) be a better material(s) for radiators?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
After draining my radiator, I noticed white crystal-like deposits around the core passages. They're everywhere! The car was sitting for 15 years; the fluid was still green (but I didn't drain the block yet). Has this radiator, and probably heater core, seen their better days? I mean, how long do these things typically last?
Rick B.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,593
Likes: 631
From: Brighton
Why aluminum? click below
http://www.dewitts.com/pages/whyaluminum.asp
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri