How to paint a radiator?

Stretch Cab

Stretch Cab

Well-known member
I have searched the archives and did not find what I'm looking for so here is my question.

I'm going to take my radiator to the shop and have it cleaned and repaired as needed. Is it normal for them to clean the radiator down to bare metal? Is it normal for the shop to repaint the radiator?

I want to paint the radiator myself so here is another question: What type of paint should I use? I see that Eastwood has a radiator paint...anybody used this?

This is not a show car but I want to only paint it once and I would like the finish product to hold up and look nice.

Thanks!
 
Hi Stretch,

Already used Eastwood radiator paint after stripping off several layers of black enamel.

Radiator cools better -- one can easily does a radiator top, bottom, sides, & all tubes & fins -- great long lasting product.
 
They normally submerge the radiator in a caustic type solution which removes all exposed dirt etc. from the outside surfaces and old paint down to bare metal. The hot caustic is then flushed from the radiator with hot water. Theoretically clean inside at that point, unless you have asked to have the tubes rodded, where the takes would have to be unsoldered. Use a flat black on the fins and tubes, with as light a coat as possible to obtain the best heat dissipation. Do it yourself !!
 
all the radiator shops i deal with paint the radiator with a special paint unless i ask them not to
 
I owned a radiator repair shop for several years in northern New York state and never, never painted a core unless it was on a vehicle that it was going to show. All paints, even the stuff meant to be, causes heat to be "trapped", not able to pass through. On newer tractors and big trucks I would use the cheapest rattle-can paint and ALWAYS spray downward in a 45deg angle, just so it would show from a view at standing height. All older cores, like old tractors were advised to the owner not to do anything for the "contact" solder that allowed the heat travel between the fins & tubes had deteriorated and it already "had problems" and not create more! Any vehicle that depended on fan cooling and not road-speed air, doesn't need more problems!
 
binkbee said:
=ALWAYS spray downward in a 45deg angle, just so it would show from a view at standing height.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much how I did mine when I re-cored it. I just dusted the core and then fully covered fins from the top. If you look up you will see brass showing through the paint but standing it looks real good.
 
I've used Eastwood's radiator paint and remember it being just black lacquer in a rattle can. I could be wrong and Lord knows it won't be the first time!

Sewall Tyler
 
I am no expert on this subject but I used just a dull black high temp paint on both my radiators. Looks great.
 
I've used the Eastwood Radiator paint and it is an excellent product. You don't want too thick a layer of paint or you will decrease the radiation which is the whole point.
 
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Here's an idea; What about stove blacking? It comes in a bottle usually, so you may have to employ a sprayer of some type.
 
I don't get it. Eastwood, and possibly others (NAPA?), make a dedicated paint that provides the right color and the right thickness to the radiator fins. It's been researched and field tested. WHY? would you want to use something else? You have to still buy it, you won't know how it works until it's all put back together on your car and then you need to monitor both heating/cooling performance and durability.

Kindly explain.
 
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