I’ve been restoring my 37 Hudson’s radiator Shroud & now I need to complete this project as it’s gone on a couple years now. Background: it’s a unicorn & I’m constantly paying the price for that, but here’s what I have. Since it’s a 6 cylinder in the Hudson longer wheel base so they made a metal shroud which attaches to the radiator to push the radiator back from the straight 8 radiator position. When the one & only radiator shop screwed up attaching the shroud 5 years ago the steel shroud tore apart. My 1st attempt at **** welding didn’t go well so after learning to Tig weld, I **** welded new 20 ga steel to the old steel successfully. Now I need to solder that piece of steel to the side steel of the radiator & finish restoration the exterior of the radiator. OH YEAH, the shroud is the only points of attachment for the entire grill ***embly, outside of one bolt at the very bottom under the grill chin. So this is a critical component & critical I get it right. My Questions: 1) Am I using the best products & method for soldering the shroud in place? Plan is to Tin both pieces of steel I’m going to join 1st then position pieces & heat to join the two together. Using Alphametals 40/60 acid core solder. 2) I started to strip old paint off but it’s slow with a wire wheel. Any other suggestions on removing the paint on the non finned areas to speed it up? 3) What if anything can be done to clean/ possibly remove paint from the core / finned areas without damaging it? 4) what can I paint it with? Do I need anything specific or special as I’d like it to last a long time? I’m thinking of a single stage automotive paint. Semi-gloss or gloss would hold up the best but satin would help keep it less visible. 5) Once done what is a good way to keep the radiator from filling up with loads of bugs, seems to be a magnet for the big juicy ones! Any & all help is greatly appreciated, she needs to get back on the road very very soon!
In your last picture, notice that the steel piece behind your fabricated shroud piece has round holes drilled into it to allow for the solder to go in to attach to the radiator core. Do the same to your piece to get a good grip. To clean the metal, heat it with a torch and wire brush some acid there.
Goldmountain, it’s interesting you mentioned that because I was just looking at the side straps & neither side seems to be soldered to the radiator core as they move freely. I don’t know for sure but perhaps it may be ok to do that. Only thing is it’s probably not clean behind the straps & if so probably won’t stick. I was thinking that i may be able to use a paint stripper on the core or find a solution to soak it in to remove the paint & any rust in areas I cannot reach. That could help the solder stick behind the side cover to core, plus make it really clean before repainting it all.
I spoke too soon. Those steel straps on the side of the rad are actually soldered to the upper and lower tanks. They are called anchorages.
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