Flathead with Aluminum Radiator Combo pics needed

G

guy1unico

Well-known member
I'm going back and forth in my head about using an aluminum radiator (I bought on ebay) mated up to my 34 flathead original V8. It is in a 33 wagon. The original brass radiator wasn't any good / core rotten and you know the price of new brass ones. Photos would help.
Thank you,
Guy
 
If you go to my public albums (click on my avatar roadster) and go down to the next to the last one that is my 32 roadster you will see a picture of the Griffin radiator that has been in there since 2000 and has about 6k miles on it. Still cools fabulously. The shroud came with the radiator and you cut out whatever kind of fan or fans you have. I have had zero issues with the aluminum radiator or cooling.
 
I went through this struggle about a month ago with my 56 chevy truck. I did some research and found that aluminum doesn't transfer heat as well as brass on a one to one basis. After further research in my situation, my original 56 gauge wasn't reading right with a modern sender and the radiator was working fine. Put mechanical gauges in it and all is good. You're in Dallas...guessing it gets hot there? If you're going aluminum...go bigger than original. My 35 was running on the hot side and one of the pumps developed a leak. I sent those in to Skip for a rebuild to fix the leak and see if it would help the high temp situation. Leak is fixed and I did the Dream Cruise last weekend on a 90 degree day in stop and go and it never went over the upper line. I'm sold!
 
So if aluminum doe not transfer heat as well as brass is that a negative or positive for using aluminum radiator?
 
I'm going to be running an aluminum radiator on one of my current projects, but I'm going to paint it black, so it isn't so obvious.
 
My guess is that every car made in at least the last 30 years has an aluminum radiator. Like most changes, they are made to make the product cheaper or assembly faster.
 
Guy, this debate has been around as long as aluminum radiators came out. All those that use aluminum will tell you they are the best and those using brass/copper will say the same. I have used Walker radiators in my cars, brass/copper and have never had an issue. I would think an aluminum radiator in a '33 Woodie would look way out of place. If it's a cooling issue you have don't expect the aluminum radiator to cure your problems. If you can find it, Street Rodder magazine did a comparison of both a while ago and found little difference in the cooling but found the initial cost and repairs of the aluminum were greater than the brass/copper. Aluminum radiators are harder to repair and if the radiator has plastic tanks I would be very concerned about repairs on the road.
 
If you paint it you will lose even more of the heat transfer ability. The only reason OEM manf use Aluminum is for weight savings
 
My guess is that every car made in at least the last 30 years has an aluminum radiator.

And your guess would be wrong. Still lots of brass/copper radiators come from the OEM factories. I just scraped out several Brass/copper radiators although some did have plastic tanks
 
I believe if you can get a stock style one that has less cores you will be happier. I changed from a brass one in my 68 mustang to an aluminum one with 2 cores vs I believe 3 or 4 OEM and its is absolutely unbelievable the difference it makes. Was it aluminum ? I don't know but the less core is a definite change for the better. My 2Cents, for what that's worth . Luke
 
Here are a couple of points used to explain how aluminum radiators overcome the material having less heat transfer: One is aluminum allows the ability to make longer flues/tubes. The flue ends must be oval shaped, so that part of the flue is nearly wasted. The fins pull the heat from the flues. A 1" or 1 1/4" aluminum flue has much more side area to attach the fins as opposed to 5/8" or 3/4" brass flue. I was also told that the solder used to attach fins in copper radiators is an insulator, reducing the heat transfer.
 
well I just cleaned out the core on my 33 brass radiator,(75 % blocked)it never overheated but often ran hot,and blew coolant out,(cracked head) last two days did 400 miles in it ,all at 60 mph on the so called bruce hi way here,never went about the t/state temp .76C
Lawrie
 
woodiewagon46 said:
Marvin is correct, never paint an aluminum radiator.
Click to expand...

This is a myth. Just don't put the paint on very thick. It has to be thin.
No problem to me a brass one black, but aluminum no?
The main point of it is that things that are good absorbers of light or heat energy are also good emitters of light or heat energy. So black surfaces absorb the most heat of any color and they also emit the most heat of any color.
Keep the paint thin and you'll be fine.
 
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