Paint Radiator?

[wehuntsam]

Hi folks, I'm getting ready to paint my cub and wonder what parts of the radiator should be painted and what color?

Thanks,
Sam
49 Cub

[Blueclawz]

RED - Everywhere...

[Peter Person]

Not so sure that you want to be loading up the cooling fins with paint.
You may be ok with a very light coat but certainly not 2 or 3 finish coats.
Bad enough that they get filled up with junk going through fields, high grass, etc.

Peter

[Tim Martin]

I second what Mr. Clawz said and here is a picture that Jim Becker posted awhile back from the Wisconsin Historical Society to prove his statement.

[Bigdog]

Black with lots of red over-spray.

[Cecil]

I concur with BD. In the picture of them painting at the factory the grill is on so there would be overspray through it on to the radiator. The radiator would have been black when it was installed.

[Bermuda Ken]

Try to avoid painting the radiator core (part with the fins) at all if possible.

Paint acts as an insulator, reducing the thermal transfer capacity of the fins.

A LIGHT coat of black with some red overspray would be most paint I would personally put on a radiator.

[Yogie]

I shot mine with a light coat of flat black from a rattle can. then I covered it while shooting the other coats. I guess it really depends on what color your grille will be and what looks the best behind it.
Even on the new trucks I buy, one of the first things done is spraying flat black into the front radiator area. I hate seeing this area the same color as the rest of the truck.....

[cubbrian]

In the past I have cut a piece of a cardboard box to fit the front and back of the radiator and painted the sides and top black.