ConcoursMustang Forums
Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Body, Paint & Sealers => Topic started by: Sunlitgold68 on July 27, 2009, 10:36:04 AM
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What is the best paint to use when restoring a radiator? Looking at the satin finish radiator paint from eastwood. Would this be correct or is semi gloss better? thanks
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Semi-gloss black lacquer is what you need. The Eastwood stuff works well for this application.
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Be sure what you use is not an enamel or urethane, they don't transfer or dissapate heat well.
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Be sure what you use is not an enamel or urethane, they don't transfer or dissapate heat well.
I have heard both ways on this.
I have a customer that builds/recores radiators, they said it doesn't matter,
anyone have first hand experience with this?
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Depending how thick the paint is applied, it may or may not matter what type of paint is used. Also, keeping the paint thin on the fins would also most likely make the biggest difference.
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I also like and use Eastwoods' radiator paint for this purpose. Takes a while to dry but happy with the results
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what are you guys using?
I am having mine recored and they will leave it bare for me to paint...
thanks, Stuart
ps 1970 351C June 1970 build at Dearborn.......a/c car
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Any semi-gloss paint will work. The main thing to remember is to not let the paint build up much on the fins.
Some say that lacquer is best for radiators as enamel-based paints act as an insulator.
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Charles,
any concern with how hot the radiator gets for a long period of time?
Rustoleum or?
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I'd use lacquer or a light coat of catalyzed acrylic enamel.
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Eastwood makes a satin black radiator paint which is what I used, turned out nice.
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-radiator-black-paint.html
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Eastwood makes a satin black radiator paint which is what I used, turned out nice.
+1 what I used on the last project
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I'll third the response for the eastwood semi gloss radiator paint, I used it with great results.
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I'll third the response for the eastwood semi gloss radiator paint, I used it with great results.
Absolutely! I think the finish looks correct, too.
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thanks for the replies...
what are you using to clean the metal before painting?
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ttt
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The radiator shop will get rid of the old paint and blast the rails for you, any rust residue that runs off and dries can be removed with toothbrush and lacquer thinner.
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Painting the radiator tommorrow in anticipation of the car coming home midweek. Engine was sqeezes in between the shock towers yesterday. Question is should I tape out the inlets and outlet or do I paint them. Will the hoses slide up all the way to the tanks or is there a small gap?
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Looking at the radiator I see that hosed stops at tank up top and about 1" short at bottom tank. Painted the whole thing. Adding trans fittings later and petcock. Should these stay natural or should have they been installed prior and painted black as a unit?
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petcock/black. trans line adapters natural
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petcock/black. trans line adapters natural
+1
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Thanks for the help. So the nice shiney brass trans fittings are a no-no. Time to start searching for these.
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Found the fittings and painted the petcock. Ready to install but have a question on the NOS shroud. It has the C8ZE part number, FORD logo and is a brownish color. Thought I read a thread where Marty showed a pic of an engine compartment and someone said it looks good but loose the red shroud sticker. He said already done. So only the replacements had the "Caution" sticker? Should I also remove it? Came this way from ford.
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I just did a write up on the fan shrouds and the Caution sticker....this should be helpful for your questions:
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=3245.0 (http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=3245.0)
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Great article and thank you for doing this for everyone.
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By the way i checked mine and it is the C version but with the horsehair texture, crossed out FOMOCO and FORD logo. Now the question is since it is the replacement piece should I leave the sticker on or pull it off? If I was to show it would the judges say it should have the sticker on because it is not an original and the replacement should have the sticker?
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I think that could go either way....but in my opinion if you are trying to put your car back together as factory original as possible the sticker should not be there. I personally do not like the Caution Fan stickers so I would not want to see it on there....
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I think that could go either way....but in my opinion if you are trying to put your car back together as factory original as possible the sticker should not be there. I personally do not like the Caution Fan stickers so I would not want to see it on there....
+1 Marty
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Ok guys thanks.
Marty thanks for The second paint sample. I now see the blue versus the brown of the original sample you sent.
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By the way i checked mine and it is the C version but with the horsehair texture, crossed out FOMOCO and FORD logo. Now the question is since it is the replacement piece should I leave the sticker on or pull it off? If I was to show it would the judges say it should have the sticker on because it is not an original and the replacement should have the sticker?
I don't know of any knowledgeable concours judge that would be foolish enough to deduct for not having the "Caution Fan" sticker in this application. The stickers didn't even begin to be customarily being affixed to the BB service parts until the early 70's. Bob
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Thanks all.
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Just curious about the petcock/trans fittings for a January '65 Dearborn car. Would it also be the painted petcock with natural fittings?
BTW-my original fittings for the trans lines are not brass like the repro ones are. The originals seem to be some sort of steel or ferrous metal. Anyone have any originals for comparison?
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Yes you are correct the originals were steel. I think they had natural finish. Marty
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Well at the risk of beating a dead horse here are some photos of the original radiator petcock, with traces of the original black paint still on it. I also have a photo of the original steel trans line fitting, on the right, next to the brass repro. I tried to paint the brass-looks BAD! Has any one had any luck finding new steel fittings? Mine are pitted or I would reuse them...