Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | |
1 members (Paul Mullen),
99
guests, and
1
robot. | | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,089 Posts1,056,141 Members48,436 | | Most Online14,466
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!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 791 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 791 | I have picked up an original Harrison radiator to serve as a replacement for the current radiator in my '48 Chevy 1/2 ton. I want to clean it up and paint it. Any advice on prep and proper paint to use would be appreciated. Thank you! | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | rustoleum flat black should work just fine.....but I'm sure folks like Eastwood have something to sell you for 20 bucks a can.
I'd be careful cleaning it. Don't want to put anything corrosive on it since your not taking it a part. Since its sort of hidden I'd clean it with some soap and water, maybe run it GENTLY with a soft nylon brush to get the bugs juice off and spray on the flat black.
Last edited by Achipmunk; 04/04/2012 2:43 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 791 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 791 | Does this need to be a high heat paint? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,001 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,001 | No, regular Rustoleum will work fine. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,232 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,232 | 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. > "Paint booth" frame> "Paint booth" open> "Paint booth" closed> Radiator hung in the garage to dry> Painted and installed front> Painted and installed rear
- Lonnie My '54 3104Photos that I have shared on Stovebolt via PhotoBucket are no longer available. Please contact me if you want a photo from an old post. lonniecook [at] aol [dot] com. I sold my '54 3104 12/12/2017, but I still visit Stovebolt. OLD STUFF ... houses, furniture, cars, wine ... I love it all | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 62 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 62 | Good tips your getting here. If your going for an original look I would stick with the semi gloss or it's also called satin black. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 | Before being too dismissive of specialty radiator paint, there's something to think about - it's designed to go on thin. You don't want too much paint between the air and your radiator fins, or clogging up the space between the fins. It cuts down on efficiency.
Last edited by GMCpanel; 04/04/2012 4:10 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,232 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,232 | Buckstruck -
For the brands that I tested, semi gloss black is shinier than satin black.
Here are the results of my unscientific visual test:
GLOSS
RANK / / BRAND / / PART # / / DESCRIPTION / / SHEEN-COLOR (Notes)
1 / / Rustoleum / / 252462 / / Automotive Aerosol / / Gloss Black
2 / / Dupli-Color / / DE1613 / /Engine Enamel / / Gloss Black
3 / / Rustoleum / / 209584 / / Automotive Aerosol / / Semi-Gloss Black (Similar to R Semi Gloss)
4 / / Rustoleum / / 7798830 / / Protective Enamel / / Semi Gloss Black (Similar to R Auto Semi Gloss)
5 / / Dupli-Color / / DE1635 / / Engine Enamel / / Ford Semi Gloss Black (Slight grey tint)
6 / / DuPont / / A-5099S / / 1K Bumper & Trim Black / / DuPont Satin Black (Slight grey tint)
7 / / Rustoleum / / 7777830 / / Protective Enamel / / Satin Black
8 / / Dupli-Color / / DE1634 / / Engine Enamel / / GM/CHRY Low Gloss Black (Flat, slight grey tint)
- Lonnie My '54 3104Photos that I have shared on Stovebolt via PhotoBucket are no longer available. Please contact me if you want a photo from an old post. lonniecook [at] aol [dot] com. I sold my '54 3104 12/12/2017, but I still visit Stovebolt. OLD STUFF ... houses, furniture, cars, wine ... I love it all | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 62 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 62 | Thank you Lonnie, I have learned something new. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 | Isn't radiator paint a water based product that helps with cooling? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 791 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 791 | This is a lot of good info. to work with. Thank you to all who have tapped into this--much appreciated!
LUKE | | |
|
|
