Had my radiator redone by a reputable restorer and it came back finished in a sheen I would say leans more towards semi-flat than semi-gloss. Most I've seen are glossier than mine now is. What finish is accepted as correct? 1969 Z-28. Sorry if this has been addressed many times before tried a search and wasn't successful in getting an answer.
My understanding is that radiators were painted gloss black. Qualifying statement that gloss black in 1969 is flatter than todays gloss black.
Thanks guess I need to repaint it.
FWIW this is an engine bay photo of an automatic COPO within a few weeks of delivery.
I have found that the heaterbox, rear defroster housings, and radiators appear to be the same sheen and were probably all manufactured by HARRISON.
I matched the paint off a NOS firewall heaterbox and the color was not a pure black when it was scanned.
(https://nastyz28.com/attachments/103_0027-jpg.60588/)
here is a shot showing the contrast in the semigloss heatermotor and gloss firewall cover.
(https://nastyz28.com/attachments/102_0413-jpg.62989/)
James: Check your PM inbox... you may have exceeded the limit?
Just out of curiosity who did you have restore it? I've been considering having mine recored but didn't know who to trust with it.
I had it boiled out and pressure checked then
I spent 5 hours and straightened all the fins using a cut up credit card and a pair of tweezers.
Then wire brushed the tanks and rails & painted it with 2k catalyzed
(https://nastyz28.com/attachments/102_9923-jpg.59028/)
(https://nastyz28.com/attachments/102_9924-jpg.59029/)
(https://nastyz28.com/attachments/102_9927-jpg.59030/)
(https://nastyz28.com/attachments/102_9931-jpg.59032/)
(https://nastyz28.com/attachments/102_9940-jpg.59033/)
(https://nastyz28.com/attachments/102_9937-jpg.59034/)
WE have a local rad shop which will remove the top and bottom rails and replace the core using the original rails - about $600-800 if you take them the rad.
Wow , James i like your work very clever Ric.
I watched my great uncle straighten radiator fins for a 39 FORD roadster when I was a kid and thought he was crazy... little did I know that some day I would be the crazy one!