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PC
Obi Wan
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[ QUOTE ]
... The aluminum one is considered not repairable (as when it has been hit or bent) is because its welded togther. I assume the copper and brass are crimped. I guess too much labor to repair an aluminum one. Like staked u joint drive shafts on Nissan trucks.
Buddy Griffin addressed a meeting of auto restoration enthusiasts held at BMW several years ago. He siad in reality, the aluminum radiator does not cool as well as a copper one of the same size ...
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Copper/brass radiators are soldered together so it's relatively easy to de-solder them and replace cores or tanks. A welded aluminum radiator would have to be cut apart to replace something. I think you're right that it's easier/cheaper to just replace one than do a major repair like cutting out and welding in a new tank. Welding small patches would be pretty easy though.
Griffin uses epoxy to structurally reinforce some parts of their radiators. Welding too near an epoxied area could compromise that.
I would be curious about the precise wording of Buddy's statement about aluminum radiators not cooling as well as a copper one. Copper is a much better heat conductor but as I understand it aluminum's superior strength allows them to create designs that aren't feasible with copper/brass. They can more than compensate for the difference in thermal conduction with large improvements in surface area to volume ratio, increasing heat transfer into the airflow.
from Griffin's website:
[ QUOTE ]
"1) Does an aluminum radiator cool better than a copper brass radiator?
An aluminum radiator does cool better than a copper brass radiator. For example, an aluminum radiator with 2 rows of 1" tubes is equivalent to a copper brass radiator with 5 rows of 1/2" tubes. Aluminum provides high efficiency, is lightweight, and has a longer life compared to copper brass."
[/ QUOTE ]
PC.
... The aluminum one is considered not repairable (as when it has been hit or bent) is because its welded togther. I assume the copper and brass are crimped. I guess too much labor to repair an aluminum one. Like staked u joint drive shafts on Nissan trucks.
Buddy Griffin addressed a meeting of auto restoration enthusiasts held at BMW several years ago. He siad in reality, the aluminum radiator does not cool as well as a copper one of the same size ...
[/ QUOTE ]
Copper/brass radiators are soldered together so it's relatively easy to de-solder them and replace cores or tanks. A welded aluminum radiator would have to be cut apart to replace something. I think you're right that it's easier/cheaper to just replace one than do a major repair like cutting out and welding in a new tank. Welding small patches would be pretty easy though.
Griffin uses epoxy to structurally reinforce some parts of their radiators. Welding too near an epoxied area could compromise that.
I would be curious about the precise wording of Buddy's statement about aluminum radiators not cooling as well as a copper one. Copper is a much better heat conductor but as I understand it aluminum's superior strength allows them to create designs that aren't feasible with copper/brass. They can more than compensate for the difference in thermal conduction with large improvements in surface area to volume ratio, increasing heat transfer into the airflow.
from Griffin's website:
[ QUOTE ]
"1) Does an aluminum radiator cool better than a copper brass radiator?
An aluminum radiator does cool better than a copper brass radiator. For example, an aluminum radiator with 2 rows of 1" tubes is equivalent to a copper brass radiator with 5 rows of 1/2" tubes. Aluminum provides high efficiency, is lightweight, and has a longer life compared to copper brass."
[/ QUOTE ]
PC.
