::: Sigh:::
Talking about LBC radiators
Radiators are not steel.
Radiator cores are not steel
The radiator supports are steel soldered to the rest of the unit.
Radiator cores are not brass.
Radiator tanks are brass or depending on the application possibly copper
Radiator fins are probably copper, or possibly steel.
When talking about radiators there are lots of factors to take into
account. In the southwest for example we get sand and grit embedded
into the cores. This blocks air flow. No air flow = poor cooling. I
used to hold a radiator horizontally a foot or so over the floor and
drop it to clean them when I had one out of the car. You would be
amazed at the amount of dirt that comes out. And this was on modern
cars where the radiator is behind the AC condenser AND the Intercooler
for the turbo. Put a drop light on one side of the radiator and your
eyes on the other. How clear is your view of the light bulb? Not
very? Either pull it and clean it or try a high pressure hose from
the back side.
The fins. On old radiators the fins can come unsoldered from the
tubes. If the fins aren't attached, they won't conduct heat worth a
damn. You fins coming unsoldered? time for some serious radiator
surgery.
How many rows of tubes are there? Back in the day the hot tip was to
get a re-core with a "desert cooler" This was a core with an extra
row of tubes that fit where the original core went. More tubes = more
surface area, car ran cooler.
I suspect that this is what the deal is with alloy radiators. they
probably have more tubes (like a "desert cooler") and therefore become
more efficient. A re-core of a copper radiator with an equal number
of tubes would be as efficient.
$.02
Rick
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