Thread: I Need Advice on Aluminum Radiators

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I just received a new aluminum radiator from Speedway Motors. It is one of their universal units (w/tranny cooler installed) and will be going in the narrow front end of my 1937 Cadillac LaSalle. You may be shocked that the radiator they sent me does not look nearly as shiny and new as the one pictured on their website. The price was right at about $300. the next cheapest alternative I have seen is a PRC radiator going for about $460 for the comparable unit. For all I know the PRC one won't be any prettier. I am not looking for a polished unit, just one that doesn't look like it was already used.

Any advice?

On a related topic, will painting the radiator negatively affect its operation? Is there a specific paint for this application? Obviously I wouldn't put a heavy coat on the cooling surface, but a little elbow grease and some gloss black might help the appearance of this radiator dramatically.

Thanks, Jay

Just get out the sandpaper, smooth it out and start polishing!!! Not sure what paint does to the cooling on an aluminum radiator, but I doubt it would be good.

We have two PRC's, and they are really nice. Welds are the prettiest I've seen. Not super shiny, just clean aluminum looking. Great people to work with also.

Here are ours.

Don

On a related topic, will painting the radiator negatively affect its operation? Is there a specific paint for this application? Obviously I wouldn't put a heavy coat on the cooling surface, but a little elbow grease and some gloss black might help the appearance of this radiator dramatically.

Thanks, Jay[/QUOTE]


Oh Jay, I have heard lots of people say they painted their aluminum radiator and the paint ended up flaking off. Getting adhesion on aluminum is tough. Maybe someone has a good solution, but I am leaving mine unpainted rather than take the chance.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

We have two PRC's, and they are really nice. Welds are the prettiest I've seen. Not super shiny, just clean aluminum looking. Great people to work with also.

Here are ours.

Don

Looks like another case of "You get what you pay for". That is one fine looking Radiator.... Got to get one of them for the Camaro one of these days...How much lead time do they usually need Don????

The lead time was only something like two weeks, if I remember correctly. They are super to deal with, and will custom make it any way you want. Dan had the inlets and outlets rearranged, and I had them move the filler neck and outlets around.........no problem.

I spent quite a bit of time talking with one of their guys (I think he was one of the principles in the company) at Daytona a couple years back, and he took all the time in the world with me, and impressed me with his no BS knowledge of the product and cooling in general. He never knocked the competition, but just discussed why he thinks they build a good product.

He was also the guy who told me they have a machine they built to test the output of various electric fans. He said companies keep sending him fans to try, but they have yet to find one that has the true cfm output of SPAL's. That is a couple of year old info, and may have changed by now.

Don

Originally Posted by DennyW

Wow, never mind. I just went there and built one like I have, and they want 652.00.

Is that including fan and shroud Denny? Those add about $ 150-$200 to the tab.

Don

Thanks for the info on the radiators and paint.

The most basic question is: Is it worth another $150 just to have a shinier radiator? Is there any reason to believe that there will be any significant performance difference?

Speedway has been great to work with and have offered to take it back if I am not satisfied.

Originally Posted by 37 Caddy

The most basic question is: Is it worth another $150 just to have a shinier radiator? Is there any reason to believe that there will be any significant performance difference?

The answer to that may or may not be yes, although the real question depends on construction not appearance. If the one you got from Speedway is an epoxied construction then it is basically unrepairable in most parts of the country if you spring a leak. Ones that are fully welded, though not all shops are setup to do aluminum welding, can be repaired. So the actual extra cost may end up being what you paid for the rad you have now if you end up throwing it away in a couple years. If you do a web search you'll see many stories about Griffin radiators (epoxy type) from unhappy customers who learned they had a rad that performed well until it sprung a leak and was found to be unrepairable.

As an aside, anyone needs to be careful in comparing price on copper/brass radiators. If the frame of reference is more than a couple years old the difference may not be as much as believed at today's prices. Copper/brass has skyrocketed recently and newer production radiators reflect that.

mine got a little old looking and i brushed 320 grit paper across it and it looks like new. just do not go in a circular pattern, keep it in a straight one direction motion and you will be amazed at the difference.

Originally Posted by 37 Caddy

Thanks for the info on the radiators and paint.

The most basic question is: Is it worth another $150 just to have a shinier radiator? Is there any reason to believe that there will be any significant performance difference?

Speedway has been great to work with and have offered to take it back if I am not satisfied.

Well, first off you have to make sure you're comparing apples to apples...Is your radiator a single pass or double pass? What are the cooling fin sizes? Is it a single row or a two or three row???? Lots of variables besides which one's look better. Not all radiators, either aluminum or copper/brass are created equal!!!!

I have been considering a $179 aluminum replacement from JEGS.
Anyone got experience with those?

Its going in a manual tranny car.

Thanks - Bert

I have done some additional homework based on the advice provided here and I am feeling better about my purchase from Speedway. The radiator is , according to Speedway, a fully welded radiator. As for its appearance, a little scotch brite and some elbow grease has shown some promise. Now I just need to figure out how to mount it. I will take some pictures and seek some advice on that predicament. I am sure it will require me taking the front end off the car again, at least I am getting better at the assembly/disassembly of this vehicle.

Could you have it powder coated or anodized??

Originally Posted by Troglodyte

Could you have it powder coated or anodized??

It could, but just like paint it will have a bad effect on the cooling ability.



Just keep sanding, then wet sanding down to 2000 grit, and some Mother's...It'll look great!!!!