Radiator Paint

[case12]

I want my engine compartment to look clean. The front of the radiator, where many people look when I am at car shows, has dings to the fins, bugs, and who knows what stuck in there. Each time I clean it, of course the stuff returns once driven again.

What is the best way to clean (repeatedly), and paint the front of your radiator. What kind of paint would I use (black spray paint?).

Casey

 

[PFSlim]

Casey

I have not found the magic either. Before I take the car to a show, I use my shop vac (which is the small canister kind that has a smaller 2 in hose) to remove as much of the bugs as possible from the radiator. Then I just keep wiping down with Windex to remove whatever I can from radiator support. As well, I get so many that make it through the radiator and then into the fan that blow up and stick on my underside of my hood.

I have not yet had to do any touch up work with black paint.

Sorry I can not be much more of a help.

Paul

 

[Mosesatm]

How about using some sort of Teflon spray coating once it is clean to keep the bugs from sticking to it? Is there such a product?

 

[nfrntau]

I used to drive back and forth between Louisiana and Texas a lot at night. I would always encounter what I would call the Louiasiana bug rain. I tried using Pam no stick cooking spray to make things come off the front of the truck a little easier. BIG MISTAKE. I ended up keeping a bottle of windex and a roll of paper towels with me and cleaning up as soon as I stopped.

If you try a spray, make certain it will clean up easier than the bugs before you mix bugs in with it..

 

[case12]

Using PAM spray is a new one for me :grin:

As for the dings in the fins - what do you do - use a normal black spray paint? Those fins ding very easily, even with a vacuum nozel.

Thanks for any advice - I am glad I am not alone! Casey

 

[rvrtrash]

I would get a piece of alum. screen door material, place it in front of the radiator and attach with wire ties. When you want to go to a show, cut the ties, remove the screen and you're set. :grin:

Steve

 

[carezcs]

Eastwood has both a radiator fin "Rake" to straighten out your fins as wella pair of pliers to straighten out really bent fins. Their radiator black pait works well also.
Bruce

 

[mmarsalone]

I would get a piece of alum. screen door material, place it in front of the radiator and attach with wire ties. When you want to go to a show, cut the ties, remove the screen and you're set. :grin:

Steve

Steve,

What some members of our club use is the nylon screen door material. They hold it on with little round magnets in the four corners. When you get to the show, nothing to cut.

Mike

 

[rvrtrash]

I just wasn't sure how the nylon would hold up if it was touching the radiator and you were stuck in traffic and the radiator got a little hot. I pictured some big gooey mess dripping out of the front of your car, so decided to suggest the metal one instead.

Steve