Thread: Aluminum vs Brass Radiator
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07-21-2022 12:06 PM #1
Aluminum vs Brass Radiator
I have a 1940 Chevy coupe with a 350 SBC that has run hot for years. It has a Walker radiator that Walker repaired about 4 years ago so there is no stop leak in it. I have the biggest electric fan and shroud that Walker made and required a 50 amp relay. I have a 180 degree thermostat and on a cool day it runs right at 180 degrees on a VDO gauge with the sender mounted in the head.
On a hot day it isn't unusual for me to run 210+ on the freeway and if I hit a traffic back-up I have to pull off the road, lift the hood and let the electric fan cool it off back to 180. I really would like it to run cooler in stop and go situations. I also have a Stewart high flow water pump and my lower radiator hose does have a spring.
When Walker was in business they said brass cooled better while others said aluminum. I guess my question is has anyone went from a good brass radiator to an aluminum one and noticed a significance cooling advantage? I don't mind dropping the cash on a new aluminum radiator, but I'd hate to make that investment just to see no noticeable improvement.
I should note that my electric fan evolution has went from a Spal with no shroud, to a Cooling Components (Walker) with a shroud, to my current Walker fan and and I haven't really noticed a lot of improvement from the first to the last. Attached (I hope) is a picture of my current radiator and fan.
The only anomaly I can think of is my car has never had any inner fenders, which I think would allow more air circulation.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
John
Ditto on the model kits! My best were lost when the Hobby Shop burned under suspicious circumstances....
How did you get hooked on cars?