Whatever became of the homebuilt copper radiator?

[Luke Jivetalker]

I was thinking back today and I recalled that radiator that a HAMBer was making, it escapes me now who it was and if it ever got done, anybody know anything more about it?

[sodbuster]

I asked "smokey" the same thing, (the one who was making it) and he said that he has not had time to finish it. To many other projects, I guess. I will Bttt to see if he can answer you.

Chris Nelson
Kansas

[Fraz]

Smokey was making a honeycomb styled radiator. It's been at least a year since I've heard anything about it.

[Luke Jivetalker]

That's the one I'm thinking of, be cool to know if it worked or not, if it did, I can start having my apprentice cut up copper @ work http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[kustombuilder]

i've often wondered what was up with that myself as i plan to make one too, one of these days...

[Harrison]

Smokey had many of us enthused. I'm not that patient though.

I called the Brassworks about purchasing one for my RPU and they said that they had stopped making them. Apparently 1/2 of them cooled and the other half didn't. They couldn't figure it out.

Until further notice, the "Heat Sponge" is off the market.

JH

[Rand Man]

It doesn't look like the Brassworks did the math. Each unit would have to be closely matched to the engine horsepower and air-water flow characteristics. I haven’t seen one up close but I don't think the "heat sponge” had any internal baffling. I have worked with HVAC heat exchangers for years and I think I could build a better radiator. A moving car is a lot more challenging project that a stationary refrigeration unit. The first key to making the “heat sponge” (shell and tube) concept work is to size the unit right. You must also vary the air and water flow to match engine load with ambient conditions.

[Harrison]

Rand, you obviously know much more about cooling something than I do but I do know that the Heat Sponge DID have some baffles in it to direct the flow of the water.

Obviously, they didn't do shit for it though. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now for those wanting to fab a radiator, you need to check out the post of fab'in your own from an aluminum junk yard radiator. Someone posted a link to the Metalshapers board a few days ago but I can't find that thread now. Maybe someone here is better with the HAMB search function than I am and can post a link.

JH

[4t64rd]

Homebuilt aluminum radiator (http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/communityalbums.cgi?action=openalbum&albumid=99801 71507156)

[Flat Ernie]

The heat sponge looked good on paper - I don't know what the problems were. All WWII acft used that type of radiator for cooling - course they're going a bit faster!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Rand Man]

My design includes variable air and water flow controls. The size and type of surface area are only parts of the equation.

[GreggAz]

I just had a customer call, looking for one of these or info on them and it reminded me that I wanted to look for this post

any new news?

[Paul]

I think it's been a couple boards since he first posted on it.

Smokey, any progress.. regress...

the copper mine must have played out...