brass copper radiator

[Paul K.]

Has anyone used or bought a brass/copper radiator from US Radiator out of Vernon CA.
They claim there brass/copper radiator cools just as well as an aluminum radiator

any comments would be welcomed

Paul klemetson

[Thomas P.]

Re: brass copper radiator

Has anyone used or bought a brass/copper radiator from US Radiator out of Vernon CA.
They claim there brass/copper radiator cools just as well as an aluminum radiator

any comments would be welcomed

Paul klemetson

About 1969 or 1970, during a GM strike, my 1964 original aluminum radiator went bad. Because of the strike, I couldn't get a new one from the Chevy dealer.
So, I had a friend that owned a radiator shop make me a copper and brass new radiator with a radiator cap on it. I also converted my aluminum "surge" tank to a "recovery" tank like the later models had.
Forty years later, I am still using that copper and brass radiator today and never had to do anything to it.
I live in Tallahassee, Florida, and have no problems with overheating at 100+ degree days.
But, I don't have A/C in my '64 either.

My modified '92 Corvette, with an aluminum radiator and "reverse flow" cooling system likes to get a little hot on those 100+ degree days.

[Dick W.]

Re: brass copper radiator

Brass copper will not shed the BTU's that aluminum will. Simple fact of physics

[Joe L.]

Re: brass copper radiator

Has anyone used or bought a brass/copper radiator from US Radiator out of Vernon CA.
They claim there brass/copper radiator cools just as well as an aluminum radiator

any comments would be welcomed

Paul klemetson

Paul-----


A copper brass radiator can cool as well as aluminum as long as the copper brass radiator is considerably larger. However, if you're talking about a copper brass replacement for the 1963-72 Corvette aluminum radiators and of the same size and configuration as those aluminum radiators, then US Radiator is incorrect.

[Don H.]

Re: brass copper radiator

You do not say what year you have. I put a new aluminum (looks just like the original brass) from Dewits in my '60 a few years ago. It works great but I have never had it judged so I am not sure how it would do. Don H.

[Duke W.]

Re: brass copper radiator

They claim there brass/copper radiator cools just as well as an aluminum radiator
Paul klemetson

Bullsh... , but buy it, anyway. (I'm assuming you own a C1 or C2 with an OE aluminum radiator.) Then when your engine runs hot/overheats you can buy a DeWitts and give the brass radiator to you local metal recycling center.

Lots of guys have been down the same path.

Duke

[Wayne W.]

Re: brass copper radiator

We have had this discussion many times before. Its all in the design. The thermal conductivity of copper is almost twice aluminum, so there is no reason copper/copper brass radiators cant cool just as well as aluminum, and there are new designs that are as good or better. But in general the old C-B radiators were not as good as aluminum of similar size.

[Paul K.]

Re: brass copper radiator

thanks to all of you for your replys
my car is a 69 427/390 with air, I think i will go with aluminum

Paul klemetson

[Thomas P.]

Re: brass copper radiator

To me, the major problem with a copper/brass radiator is weight.

The only reason I never converted my '64 back to an aluminum radiator when I took it completely apart was I wanted a radiator with a radiator cap so I could have a "recovery" system instead of a "surge" tank.
My c/b radiator has a radiator cap.

And, my car is almost all original -- including engine, transmission, and differential.
The two main parts that aren't are the radiator and core support.
Years ago, I drilled holes in my original core support to mount a capacitive discharge ignition system. Doing the car over, at the time, I could ony buy a NOS fuel injection core support with the "hole." Now reproduction core supports are available.
And, the radiator and core support could easily be changed back to reproduction units.

[Jim T.]

Re: brass copper radiator

My 68's L79 with no air conditioning and factory aluminum radiator started leaking in 1974. Radiator shop said it could not be repaired. The aluminum radiator from Chevrolet was more expensive than a copper replacement from the radiator shop. Due to cost difference I bought the copper/brass unit.

I have been using the same copper/brass radiator for 37 years and have had no over heating issues.

[Dick W.]

Re: brass copper radiator

thanks to all of you for your replys
my car is a 69 427/390 with air, I think i will go with aluminum

Paul klemetson

Paul, you did not state that your car was a big block in your first post. Brass/copper was original in those cars. DeWitt has a direct fit aluminum radiator that, unless you really look at it close, appears to be as original.

[Dennis S.]

Re: brass copper radiator

thanks to all of you for your replys
my car is a 69 427/390 with air, I think i will go with aluminum

Paul klemetson

Paul
As far as I know, nobody as yet makes a reproduction copper/brass radiator for a '69 BB. I went with the Dewitts Direct Fit aluminum on my BB and could not be happier. I have no overheating issues down here in Miami hot summer traffic. Make sure to have Dewitts paint the radiator black...they do a super job and don't plug up the core with excess paint.

Just as a suggestion...remove your core support and put the whole package together on the bench, including the fan shroud. You can do a much better job getting all the new seals in their proper place...a must for cooling your BB. The Dewitts is a little thinner so the top seal requires some extra attention.
Dennis

[Duke W.]

Re: brass copper radiator

Paul, you did not state that your car was a big block in your first post. Brass/copper was original in those cars. DeWitt has a direct fit aluminum radiator that, unless you really look at it close, appears to be as original.

I thinK DeWitts also offers a complete brass repro or core for the original big block brass radiators. The cores uses your original side tanks.

The heat transfer performance of a radiator is a function of the number of rows and fin spacking - not all are the same, so you want something that is the same as the OE design.

If you want a radiator that is both functionally and cosmetically like OE, DeWitts is the place to start.

Duke

[Joe C.]

Re: brass copper radiator

Has anyone used or bought a brass/copper radiator from US Radiator out of Vernon CA.
They claim there brass/copper radiator cools just as well as an aluminum radiator

any comments would be welcomed

Paul klemetson

As previously stated, the thermal coefficient of copper is higher than that of aluminum. So, why then are aluminum radiators able to reject more heat than an identically sized copper one?

Here's the answer:

http://www.dewitts.com/pages/whyaluminum.asp

Because aluminum is stronger than copper, it will tolerate pressure better before it deforms, which allows a much more efficient and compact design to be used, which much more than compensates for its thermal coefficient deficit.

[Dennis S.]

Re: brass copper radiator

I thinK DeWitts also offers a complete brass repro or core for the original big block brass radiators. The cores uses your original side tanks.

They offer a copper re-core using your brass side tanks. Trouble was, mine had already been re-cored and my side tanks were all dented and corroded. I decided descretion was the better part of valor and just got a new aluminum radiator from Dewitts. Put the "original" POS in the Dewitts box and plan on giving it to the next caretaker. Meanwhile I plan on many years of trouble-free driving with my car.