Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

The thermostat in this engine is being held in with a spring and I understand there is a metal tube also used for this. Is anyone using the tube instead of the clip on one of these motors?

The spring wire or sleeve thermostat retainers are each particular to the individual type of thermostat housing, not used interchangeably or in conjunction with each other.

You mentioned that the car had been restored. Did they put a heavy coat of paint on the radiator? Paint doesn't transfer heat well.

Quote:

I recently had the radiator of my '47 Custom re-cored because it was the original one and was leaking. After getting the radiator back from the shop I spent some time removing the heavy paint from the top and bottom tanks. It was thick enamel over a heavy coat of primer. I refinished the tanks and cradle with a thin coat of black lacquer, and even a lighter spray painting of the core. I wanted as little impedance to heat transfer as I could get.

(o{I}o)

Well-done, John. Eastwood sells a special low-solids black paint specifically for radiator cores if one is so inclined. No personal experience to say if it's any better than just putting down a very light coat of most any other black paint, but I did use the Eastwood product on my 56 core which is still original and gives very effective cooling.

I thought the black radiator paint used by good shops was a special formulation asphaltic based stuff. Designed for flexibility so as not to flake on expansion and a special pigment that conducts heat well--much better than leaving a core bare which would invite corrosion. As mentioned, ordinary paint blocks heat transfer and is too hard but this stuff supposedly is just the opposite. While it appears thick, claims are there is actually more surface area to radiate. Is this not the case?

My father owned and operated a radiator shop for over thirty years and all that time he never used anything but a light coat of lacquer. I don't know about the newer specialty paints. I just know what he did must have worked. Because that and the quality of his work caused the customers in town to keep him in business long after he tried to quit repairing radiators and concentrate on automotive glass.

I asked the radiator shop not to paint the radiator because I knew of the heavy enamel on on the tanks. Others may wish to refinish their own radiators after getting them back from the shop - for peace of mind.

(o{I}o)

I'd really be surprised if true radiator paint was alphaltum-based, it would be a poor choice for heat transfer.

I don't know about the type of paint on this radiator. What ever it is someone put it on real thin. I can see the metal behind it.

Kevin

Changed my mind.