A month ago the br*** radiator in my '51 Mercury started leaking and I replaced it with a an aluminum aftermarket. It's pretty good and works fine but the top tank is offset to rear of vehicle whereas the original rad tank offset to the front. This leaves a gap where the fan can recirculate hot air from the engine bay. I'd like to make a shield to prevent recirculating air. What would you make a deflector out of? I was thinking 18 ga sheet steel. 2.5"x 29". Any other ideas? Right now I lower temps at speed but higher temps when car is stopped.
I'd be way more worried about the air that went over the radiator than though it at road speed than recirculating hot air. That is usually what happens in these situations. The air flow partially byp***es the radiator for the path of least resistance.
At least you have that panel that goes in front of the radiator and blocks the air from going up and over. I've lost track of how many Mercs I have seen over the year that are missing that panel when you see the cars at rod trots with the hood open to show off the engine.
It would be pretty nifty to stuff some of the 2" black foam water pipe insulation for houses into this gap... I wonder if that would be OK at approximately 200ﾟ, or it would melt?
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