I painted the fan and original Harrison radiator in my '54 last month. I used
Rustolium Black Semi Gloss Protective Enamel on the radiator and
Rustolium Black Semi Gloss Automotive Enamel on the fan. One light coat and two medium coats, the last a little wetter. (Both paints have the same sheen level, but I had more "Protective Enamel" than "Automotive Enamel", so that's what I painted the radiator with.) Don't know how it will stand up against heat. I only painted the shell / not the fins. I tested
Duplicolor Ford Semi Gloss Black Engine Enamel, but it has a slight grey tint that I did not like for the radiator and fan.
I used laquer thinner to
remove the old paint. Buffed the brass with a dry towel. Masked off the fins so they didn't get painted. Primed with two coats of
Rustoleum Self Etching Primer and lightly knocked down any rough spots with a ScotchBrite pad.
No room in the garage to paint the radiator. So I built a "paint booth" outside with a couple 6' ladders, a 2X4 and two shorter pieces for roof rafters, a plastic drop cloth "tent" to protect from dirt and leaves, and a few clamps to hold it together and to close the tent. It worked great.
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"Paint booth" frame>
"Paint booth" open>
"Paint booth" closed>
Radiator hung in the garage to dry>
Painted and installed front>
Painted and installed rear
