What a surprise

[chuck machinist]

I pulled the radiator out of the 430 early this morning, and
start cleaning her up. The top in the bottom of the tank was
BRASS!

 

[Adirondack case guy]

Chuck; It is not recommended to put regular paint on radiators. I restricts cooling ability. There is a black radiator paint out there. Loren

 

[rustred]

yes, yes. special black paint. there was a guy who rebuilt an engine and just put the coats of paint to it to look good. engine always running hot. had to pull engine and remove paint.

 

[chuck machinist]

So perhaps I miss read the label on the primer can it says it?s a high temperature primer, so I still have time to take the black back and pick up some Eastwood radiator paint then.CM

 

[RJKeith]

I always thought that "high temperature" pain meant the paint would withstand high temperatures, not that it would transmit heat. That said I would not paint the fins at all.

 

[kevinthefixer]

Chuck, the primer and paint on the tanks won't make much difference, but I'd use the rad paint on the fins. You do want some sort of anti-corrosion coating on the fins and tubes. Also, I'd rework that overflow tube before I painted it. Careful of the cap, IIRC my 611b takes a 4psi cap, a standard 15psi automotive cap sounds like a bad idea.