Technical paint new aluminum radiator

Can I paint a new aluminum radiator black as the original or should I use it as is?

thanks

 

Yes, you can paint it black. They look so much more natural in an old car, that way

 

thanks, that's what I was looking for. Should I clean it with anything before?

 

The Southeast Gasser group requires aluminum radiators to be painted black.
I painted mine with Black engine enamel . just wiped the tanks down with prep sol and sprayed it .
Came out great no issues.

 

Hey Southcross ,
What kind of Hobart you got there,,,,,mine works great ?
Some of the best money I ever spent .

Tommy

 

PPG: aluma prep It'll etch the aluminum and you will get much better adhesion

 

I would recommend "zinc chromate" primer.

 

If you want to pay for the name:
Eastwood Radiator Black 12oz Satin Finish
https://www.eastwood.com/ew-radiator-black-12oz-satin-finish.html

 

I used rustoleum flat back.

 

Don't forget...........light coats just for the color and coverage. Don't overdo it and affect the cooling capacity.

 

I painted my aluminum radiator with rattle can lacquer. Good coverage on the tanks, but just enough on the core to cover. No primer coat and it looked and lasted.

 

I wiped mine down with lacquer thinner then sprayed with VHT epoxy flat black. Looks good & resists chipping.

 

I had my Griffin aluminum rad for my RPU powder coated in a nice black using a high tech heat dispersion coating.
I’m really pleased with it.

https://techlinecoatings.com/tech-line-coatings/industrial-coatings/thermalmanagement/

 

Go on line and buy some entomologist's collection, paint the radiator black and while the paint is wet throw a jar full of bugs on it so it looks like it has been driven hard all summer. Radiator patina. Very cool.

 

Billy shame on you You shouldn’t give advice that you don’t follow yourself

 

I used John Deere muffler black. It’s expensive but works well. It drys fast and cures with heat.

 

On the truck I used an aluminum radiator that has a stamped upper tank so it looks pretty much like a brass and copper job. I considered painting it brass, then semi flat over the top of that and sand back through the flat paint on the edges and wear spots to reveal the brass below. I decided not to but I think it would look cool....and I often give advice I don't follow, it's how I raised my children to be good adults.

 

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