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Painting an aluminum radiator

cmayna

cmayna

DILLIGARA?
Donator
Well yesterday I pull the plug on my wallet and ordered a Northern 2 row aluminum radiator for Shag. I'm also going back to a mechanical fan. But, I really don't want to see aluminum finish through the grill so I'd like to paint it. Can I do a couple light shots of paint on the front without seriously ruining the performance? Can I paint the whole thing?
 
Very thin coats of lacquer will do it, and you can paint the whole shebang if you feel like it. Enamel might also do it, but IIRC, lacquer is the most heat-conductive and thinnest. Either way, there is no need for 'radiator paint' like Eastwood tries to con you into buying.

On second thought, the factory alum. rad in my daily is painted....the more I think about it, the more I'd be willing to bet that Ford didn't use lacquer on *that* in 1998. Hmmm....
 
You could call a couple of radiator shops in town and see what type of paint that they use to paint radiators when they repair them. You're not gonna change the heat transfer out of the fins any noticeable amount by painting them...or they wouldn't paint any radiator.
 
"68EFIvert" said:
The guy I purchased my radiator from recommended using a light coat of BBQ paint.
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But wouldn't the radiator smell like a BBQ Tri Tip?

Good suggestions guys. Thanks
 
"70_Fastback" said:
Hey Craig. My radiator is Aluminum. Look at my sig pic... can you see it?
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That's because people get distracted with the dual scoops...kinda like when the person in front of you has "plumber crack" no matter how much you want and desire to look away your eyes are automatically drawn there!! :craz
 
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