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Oct 16, 2006 · 5,338 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
May 11, 2015 Wanting to paint my all aluminum radiator a semi gloss black. Got some semi gloss Dupli color engine paint in aerosol here. Would scotch briting it and spraying it hold up? Maybe my SEM aerosol black etching primer first? Never been an aluminum painter so this is new to me.
Joined Dec 1, 2008
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1,032 Posts
Joined Apr 6, 2009
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16,797 Posts
Wanting to paint my all aluminum radiator a semi gloss black. Got some semi gloss Dupli color engine paint in aerosol here. Would scotch briting it and spraying it hold up? Maybe my SEM aerosol black etching primer first? Never been an aluminum painter so this is new to me. I have painted several,
Fine scotch bright and a good cleaning is all you need before the paint. Have not had any that have had any problems.
Joined Jul 12, 2010
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7,710 Posts
Use the Eastwood Radiator coating more efficient heat transfer than paint. It is pretty flat color wise. This is what I used.
Joined Mar 9, 2011
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3,813 Posts
I've heard of folks having cooling problems after painting their radiator. Inadequate heat transfer. Might want to check out the pros and cons of it first.
Joined Mar 8, 2007
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70,686 Posts
I've heard of folks having cooling problems after painting their radiator. Inadequate heat transfer. Might want to check out the pros and cons of it first. Werent radiators originally painted black?
1956 chevy 210 del rey sedan
Joined Feb 7, 2010
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15,000 Posts
Just use a couple light coats as long as it isn't painted too heavy it will be fine.
Joined Aug 20, 2014
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182 Posts
Just use a couple light coats as long as it isn't painted too heavy it will be fine. Exactly ! I have a new Griffin aluminum in mine that I had a friend spray black.. Gloss actually. He used gloss enamel car paint.. No issues at all.. just light enough in the "fin"
area to cover it.
Joined Aug 4, 2008
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2,226 Posts
Scotch bright and a light etch with aluminium cleaner will make the paint stick. Joebowtie-trifive
Ok I tried a search and couldn't come up with much.
So let me see some pics or hear your opinions.
I'm not opening the which cools better debate, this is all about aesthetics.
This is for my 67 Barracuda.
All stock-ish under the hood and I'm concerned the champion radiator will now not look right.
I will attach a recent pic of my current under the hood situation.What do you guys and gals think?
TrailBeast AKA Mopars4us on Youtube
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Joined:Mar 11, 2011Location: ArizonaLocal Time:12:00 PMjos51700 Green Bearing thread connoisseur
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Joined:May 24, 2009Location: Bel-RayLocal Time:2:00 PMPaint the stuff you can see through the grille.
not a big fan of aluminum...black for me.
nice Griffin rad in a car i have since sold.- Like x 1
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Aluminum showing through a grill doesn't look good to me. Paint it but be sure to use the special paint for radiators. Regular paint insulates the fins
Run it by a radiator shop and they'll put the proper paint on it for just a few bucks and most likely do it right then and there.
Black, looking through the grille you want to see nothing but black.
IMHO it looks better with the hood up too. Go with a stock 3 row core replacement.If you like the looks of your stock radiator, why don't you just run the stock radiator?
But for your question, paint it black.
RustyRatRod I was born on a Monday. Not last Monday. FABO Gold Member
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Joined:Jun 7, 2010Location: GeorgiaLocal Time:3:00 PMI have heard all my life that painting aluminum affects its ability to dissipate heat. I remember hearing some old timers talking about not painting transmission cases for example, because it tended to "seal them" and make them run hotter. Same with radiators.
Whether any of that holds water, I haven't a clue but I have heard it all my life from many sources.
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g413 Well-Known Member
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Joined:Aug 26, 2014Location: Fresno, CALocal Time:2:00 PMI totally agree with Sedanman. Paint the outside perimeter but don't even think about painting the fins. Or your next post will be about "Why is my engine overheating?"
AJ/FormS 68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s FABO Gold Member
I painted mine satin-black with BBQ spray-paint. Every exposed molecule got paint, even the fins;all of it. I like black rads.
You didn't have that choice in your poll so I couldn't vote.I painted my 367 Orange.All of it; aluminum heads, aluminum intake, aluminum covers,everything except the carb and headers. Every last exposed molecule. Why Orange? weren't 360s black? I like Orange. And I like satin-black.
In other words do what you like.-
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Aluminum is funny.
Especially when thin.
I would paint it fins and all, but I live expecting heavy corrosive road salt.
I have watched aluminum fins in a fairly new recore literally melt away over a period of 5 years in a daily driver.
My choice would be all brass, always.
And if you study black body radiator concept, flat black rules.
Extensive studies in heat emissivity showed that silver outermost surfaces radiated the least heat, while flat black the most.
It did not seem to matter how many layers were present or what pigment they were, only the outermost layer.
This is common knowledge in steam heating.nope, not painting it - I like the look - in fact last time I had mine out I cleaned and polished it.. it matches the heads and a few other things. I think it really depends on the look you want - blacked out gives you a more original look where natural aluminum gives a custom look... the differences between mine and ir3333's image are obvious - yet they appear to be essentially the same car.. his looks to be a restored 340 Duster, mine isn't... it's all in what you want.
For aesthetics only, I'd go with the polished brass and lacquer look.
Thank you all for your input!
I opted for black.
I'll post some pics when done.I have a Griffin Perfect Fit radiator in my 69 Barracuda. It has a very stock look to it. I painted it black with Eastwood's Radiator Paint, and it looks good.
If you do paint, do so right away. Paint doesn't bond well to oxidized aluminum. Indeed, even bare aluminum already has slight surface oxidation so many paints don't stick (read can). The thin paint layer shouldn't change the heat transfer much and might even exceed that of oxidized aluminum you will get without paint. The white powder is aluminum oxide, in crystalline form known as "sapphire". All the metal in your car is striving to return to the earth.
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