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Painting Radiators...

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Sgt_jarhead, Apr 6, 2016.

  1. Apr 6, 2016
    Sgt_jarhead

    Sgt_jarhead Sponsor

    Fallbrook, CA
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  2. Apr 6, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    I'm sure it's personal preference. I like the natural look seen through the grill myself.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Apr 6, 2016
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I'd paint it black if it helps the shape of the grill stand out.
     
  4. Apr 6, 2016
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

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    What about heat transfer?
     
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  5. Apr 6, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    The proper paint will help with cooling, flat black radiates heat better than natural aluminum will & it is supposed to be, after all, a "radiator' :)

    H.
     
  6. Apr 6, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/nbstechnologic/nbstechnologicpaperT254.pdf

    says here that polished surfaces do not transfer heat as well as oxidized or painted surface. Seems that a flat painted surface will dissipate heat better than a gloss painted surface. I thought unpainted would be better, but even an oxidized surface would work better than a smooth one. Oxidation WOULD increase surface area..Aluminum automatically oxidizes ..

    doubt you're going to go get some lamp black. I bet there are radiator paints that will help increase the heat dissipation coefficient.
     
  7. Apr 6, 2016
    Fly Navy

    Fly Navy Member

    Emerson, IA
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    I would paint it black... but just the front. Personally I have never liked the visible radiator look, but that's just me. I ran my 66 Impala SS with a raw aluminum radiator for several years, out of laziness more than anything else, and couldn't believe how much better the overall car looked after I finally took the time to paint it. On my Impala I just painted the front so it didn't detract from the rest of the car, under the hood it was still raw aluminum because I think that looks pretty sharp when you pop the hood... but again, that's just me:)
     
  8. Apr 6, 2016
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    No colors any more I want them to turn black ...

    Radiation from black is better, but conduction to the air is hindered by paint. I predict a toss-up in efficiency.
     
  9. Apr 6, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    hopefully no rolling stones will damage your radiator.

    The study I posted seems to refute the idea that paint is bad for head conduction. I didnt want to believe it, but there it is from the NIST archives.
     
  10. Apr 6, 2016
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

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    Paint it.
     
  11. Apr 6, 2016
    Vanguard

    Vanguard Take Off! Staff Member

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    Polish it.
     
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  12. Apr 6, 2016
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Sarge, your sig says 2A grille, but it has nine slots... that's MB/GPW.

    I kinda think that the radiator is so close to the bars, I'd want some extra protection. I'd fit a bug screen that covers it all. The were a popular accessory back in the day, likely still available. But it would hide that 9-slot grille :cool:
     
  13. Apr 6, 2016
    Don X

    Don X The Prodigal Moderator Staff Member 2023 Sponsor

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    I prefer painted ladies. Paint it.
     
  14. Apr 6, 2016
    cadwelder

    cadwelder Member

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    Some of those ladies have way too much paint! :shock:
     
  15. Apr 6, 2016
    Sgt_jarhead

    Sgt_jarhead Sponsor

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    Need to update the signature. The jeep HAD a 2A grill (as seen in the profile pic). The MB/GPW grill was acquired a few weeks ago and made its way in as a part of the engine swap. It's a work in progress
     
  16. Apr 6, 2016
    47v6

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    I love the 9 slot a lot.
     
  17. Apr 8, 2016
    CJ Joe

    CJ Joe Truckhaven Tough!

    Pinon Hills, CA
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    Paint it black as it is not recessed as most are.

    As for the efficiency of the heat transfer, I've know for decades that the flat black will transfer best. But... I've never seen any data. In other words, how much better? 2%?, 20%?. We often debate that this is better than that without any facts to back it up. Has anyone ever noticed an appreciable difference in before and after radiator paint?
     
  18. Apr 8, 2016
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

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    I vote to drive it and find out. I find it hard to believe that painting a heat sink (basically what a radiator is) with anything short of some Nasa wonder paint can make it more efficient. Something to do with a guy named Fourier and a law. I do know that the 70 I just bought with the radiator tanks coated with bedliner are not going to cool as well as a clean bare metal unit.
     
  19. Apr 8, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    Oh yeah it will, something flat black will cool off faster than something shiny silver, google "black body radiation", or for more practical examples user instructions for IR thermometers.

    As for the bedliner now you're talking insulating properties of the covering material, bedliner will be a lot different from paint.

    But all other things being = a radiator covered with black bedliner will cool better than a radiator covered with silver bedliner.

    H.
     
  20. Apr 8, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    Reading this and looking at your picture closer...Paint it.
     
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