Copper is a useful material for a radiator as it’ s better at transferring heat than aluminium. However, copper and brass cores are lead / tin soldered together, and lead is a bad conductor of heat
Although, beware if you’ re upgrading the radiator on a classic or historic competition car.‘ Changes to classic racing regulations may also start to penalise classic racecars that have upgraded to modern alloy copies instead of original copper and brass radiators. Many years ago, we upgraded the radiator for the ex-works MGB – DRX 255C – owned by the late Barry Sidery-Smith. The FIA were penalising any radiator made of alloy, so we ended up putting in a huge, custom copper and brass 86mm five-row X-type core radiator. It worked perfectly.’
Radiators don’ t last forever.‘ If your car is having problems with overheating, the core might be corroded and a buildup of deposits inside it can restrict water flow. Older types of anti-freeze were not good at resisting corrosion and sometimes radiators have had an underspec core fitted in the past. The difference in cost between fitting a replacement core that has the same cooling capacity as the original and getting an upgraded one is not much; the only extra cost is the higher price of the core.’
As a radiator specialist, the craftsmen at Aaron aren’ t phased by whatever radiator or cooling device might need work.‘ Vintage and classic radiator cores can be copied exactly, making even pre-War radiators with round or shaped film cores as good as new. Any copper and brass, or alloy radiator can be reconditioned or upgraded, even units with plastic tanks. We have worked on radiators of all ages
40 The Engine Rebuilder Issue 05