Radiator Painting

ocwd · Post by **ocwd** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:51 am

I am getting ready to paint my radiator. What paint (brand & type) did you guys use and how did it hold up?

Dave

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 11:26 am

I used Eastwoods radiator black gloss on my M38,but they now have satin black if you prefer.

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 1:04 pm

A tip I heard of doing, and I did this, was when spraying the actual fins, spray at an angle so that you just cover their edges. That way you dont load too much paint down in.

RCFlyguy · Post by **RCFlyguy** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 1:17 pm

To build on Bretto's post, I've also heard people say you don't want to paint the radiator fins at all because it decreases heat transfer.

What I want to know is: what part of the radiator gets painted which color. The fan shroud for example. Does it get black or OD? And the radiator housing? Radiator cap?

whydahdvr · Post by **whydahdvr** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 1:24 pm

Just as RCFlyguy wrote, think about the radiators in your home. You don't want to paint them (the radiator fins) because that reduces the heat transfer ability.

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 1:38 pm

After my re-core/re-build my rad guy recommended
blowing solvent or paint thinner thru- then blowing it out w/air
removing any caustics left from the dip tank and such before painting.

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:31 pm

I painted everything black with no cooling problems. Eastwoods paint is thin and will not impair cooling. Any surface that you leave bare will eventually oxidize giving future cooling problems.

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 4:27 pm

Radiator and attached shroud should be semi-gloss black.

ocwd · Post by **ocwd** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:41 pm

Were the fins painted on the M38 radiator from the factory? Thanks for the information guys. I'll try the suggested paint technique for painting the fins. I have black lacquer that I was thinking of using. I used it on my starter, generator, voltage regulator, and cooling fan. Basically, everything black in the engine compartment has been painted with black lacquer.

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:03 pm

fins were painted, I just kept it to a minimal coating for my jeep.