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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | Hi, I owned a 50 Chevy 3-window, half-ton,shortbed pickup truck and it had a goldish-color / brass colored shiny radiator top. Did all of these or similar trucks come with this kind of radiator? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Radiators were painted black.
It might be a reconditioned or replacement radiator? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | Was there brass material under the black paint?? Has anyone ever taken off the paint - and what did you find?
Last edited by Toms49Panel; 11/21/2018 6:21 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | Does anyone else have brass-top radiators in their 47-53 Chev half-ton trucks? | | | | | Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 44 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 44 | The stock radiator for the 47-53 was a Harrison Radiator ( a division of General Motors).
They had brass alloy tops. In the Korean War years, ca1951 , brass was critical for the war effort and Chevy did briefly uses a ferrous alloy radiator top. It rusted quickly and needed to be dealer replaced.
Regardless both versions of the radiator had a black coating to prevent corrosion.
I believe the "black paint" could have been a carbon black and shellac-like mixture, not what we commonly think today as "paint",but black paint-like none the less ... | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | Hi, what is a "ferrous alloy"? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | How can I take off the "black carbon mixture" to see the brass shine through? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,063 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,063 | you should be able to clean the "paint" off with something like Lacquer thinner.(assuming it is out of the vehicle). You may need to use a scuff pad as well (like scotchbrite or steel wool). Once you do that, you will need to polish it to make it shiny and get rid of the scratches. Polished brass will tarnish real quickly though. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | The radiator is still in the vehicle and works well. I do Not want to take it out of the vehicle... | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | Can I still use your method 69cuda if it's in the vehicle? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,063 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,063 | just don't drip the thinner on anything painted! | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Hi, what is a "ferrous alloy"? A ferrous metal attracts a magnet. It normally rusts when exposed to air and moisture. Think iron and steel. It's usually referred to as ferromagnetic.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | Oh, ok - I see 69Cuda. Thank you! And Tiny - Thank you for the info! | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,040 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,040 | Hi, what is a "ferrous alloy"? Ferrous = iron. Comes from the symbol for iron, which is "Fe". So a ferrous alloy would be steel or at least something with iron in it. [on edit] I see I'm late to the party.  However, stainless steel is a ferrous alloy as well, so resistant to moisture caused corrosion.
Last edited by klhansen; 11/22/2018 1:58 AM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Some stainless is magnetic depending on the alloy.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 200 | Thanks guys - Happy Thanksgiving everyone! | | |
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