Car Radiator for the computer?

arcsylver · 08-25-2003, 10:07 AM

OK just a silly question probably but......

Older cars used copper in thier radiators and I was wondering if you were to find an old car radiator made of copper how hard it would be to convert it to use for computer watercooling?

I.E. what all should be done to the radiator in the way of precautionary measures and cleaning of it to ensure it won't corrode other components in the system.

As well as modifications to it to convert it to hose barbs for the tubing of the system.

And example of such would be this little beauty I found on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2429517645

ItsSoLARGE · 08-25-2003, 10:34 AM

Most of us use heatercores for our computer projects...... I'm pretty sure they are the cores are copper...

sevisehda · 08-25-2003, 10:37 AM

Alot of people use old heatercores in there computers. A 20$ heatercore from autoparts will beat out most if not all watercooling intended radiators. I'd suggest trying to find a core with compatable barbs, but if not its as easy as cutting off the old ones and soldering on new ones.

arcsylver · 08-25-2003, 10:37 AM

Well my primary concern with something like what is shown in the ebay auction is the size of it.

That and getting any existing corrosion out of it that may be present.

arcsylver · 08-25-2003, 10:39 AM

Well the project I am working on calls for something a bit larger than a standard heater core.

That was why I was considering using that rad in the auction.

I am looking at cooling up to three separate computers possibly with one system in a rack mount cabinet and this rad's dimensions are almost perfect for what I am looking at size wise.

Boli · 08-25-2003, 12:31 PM

Buy it then... flush it out.... check for leaks put some new bards on and try it.

The tell us all about it. most of us use only HC/Rads that can fit inside or one out case but if you can get away with it go for it!.

be pretty "cool" though

.

~ Boli

BrianW · 08-25-2003, 07:52 PM

It looks to be of similar style as the Heater Cores we use. Should work like a charm. Flush, flush, and then flush for another week...

BrianW

arcsylver · 08-25-2003, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Boli
Buy it then... flush it out.... check for leaks put some new bards on and try it.

The tell us all about it. most of us use only HC/Rads that can fit inside or one out case but if you can get away with it go for it!.

be pretty "cool" though .

~ Boli

Well it helps that I have a few surplus rackmount cabinets here in my room to play with at the moment.

Gooserider · 08-25-2003, 11:41 PM

You might talk to your local rad shop about what they'd charge to rod and boil out a used rad. The stuff they use is far to noxious for home use, but is going to be far more effective at geting any crud inside out of it.

Of course it might be cheaper to just purchase a new unit that doesn't need anything done to it.

Gooserider

08-25-2003, 10:07 AM	#1
arcsylver Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: State of insanity Posts: 101	Car Radiator for the computer? OK just a silly question probably but...... Older cars used copper in thier radiators and I was wondering if you were to find an old car radiator made of copper how hard it would be to convert it to use for computer watercooling? I.E. what all should be done to the radiator in the way of precautionary measures and cleaning of it to ensure it won't corrode other components in the system. As well as modifications to it to convert it to hose barbs for the tubing of the system. And example of such would be this little beauty I found on Ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2429517645 __________________ Been Building these things since the IBM XT and I aint about to stop now!!! Prescott 2.8Ghz @ 3.08Ghz ECS 865PE-A Mobo Corsair 768 MB PC3200 DDR HP CD-Writer 9300 Maxtor 30 GB ATA Danger Den RBX 1957 Chevy Brass Radiator Danner Mag 7 Rackmounted Dual Blower w/Thermostat All this in a 4' Server cabinet Last edited by arcsylver; 08-25-2003 at 10:17 AM.

08-25-2003, 10:34 AM	#2
ItsSoLARGE Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 125	Most of us use heatercores for our computer projects...... I'm pretty sure they are the cores are copper... __________________ Plumber's Goop: The Watercooler's Duct Tape

08-25-2003, 10:37 AM	#4
arcsylver Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: State of insanity Posts: 101	Well my primary concern with something like what is shown in the ebay auction is the size of it. That and getting any existing corrosion out of it that may be present. __________________ Been Building these things since the IBM XT and I aint about to stop now!!! Prescott 2.8Ghz @ 3.08Ghz ECS 865PE-A Mobo Corsair 768 MB PC3200 DDR HP CD-Writer 9300 Maxtor 30 GB ATA Danger Den RBX 1957 Chevy Brass Radiator Danner Mag 7 Rackmounted Dual Blower w/Thermostat All this in a 4' Server cabinet

08-25-2003, 10:39 AM	#5
arcsylver Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: State of insanity Posts: 101	Well the project I am working on calls for something a bit larger than a standard heater core. That was why I was considering using that rad in the auction. I am looking at cooling up to three separate computers possibly with one system in a rack mount cabinet and this rad's dimensions are almost perfect for what I am looking at size wise. __________________ Been Building these things since the IBM XT and I aint about to stop now!!! Prescott 2.8Ghz @ 3.08Ghz ECS 865PE-A Mobo Corsair 768 MB PC3200 DDR HP CD-Writer 9300 Maxtor 30 GB ATA Danger Den RBX 1957 Chevy Brass Radiator Danner Mag 7 Rackmounted Dual Blower w/Thermostat All this in a 4' Server cabinet

08-25-2003, 12:31 PM	#6
Boli Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackburn / Dundee Posts: 451	Buy it then... flush it out.... check for leaks put some new bards on and try it. The tell us all about it. most of us use only HC/Rads that can fit inside or one out case but if you can get away with it go for it!. be pretty "cool" though . ~ Boli __________________ 1800+ @ 2247 (214x10.5) - STABLE, 512MB PC3700 TwinX Cosair RAM, NF7-S v2.0, GeForce3 Ti200 Parallel BIM, 120.1 Thermochill, Eheim 1048, Maze 3, Maze4 GPU, "Z" chipset, 1/2" tubing, PC-70: 5x120mm & 9x80mm fans. Internet Server & second machine (folding 24/7): 512MB DDR RAM, XP2000+ Last edited by Boli; 08-25-2003 at 07:56 PM.

08-25-2003, 10:37 AM	#3
sevisehda Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2003 Location: NY Posts: 234	Alot of people use old heatercores in there computers. A 20$ heatercore from autoparts will beat out most if not all watercooling intended radiators. I'd suggest trying to find a core with compatable barbs, but if not its as easy as cutting off the old ones and soldering on new ones.

08-25-2003, 07:52 PM	#7
BrianW Cooling Savant Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Desert City in California Posts: 631	It looks to be of similar style as the Heater Cores we use. Should work like a charm. Flush, flush, and then flush for another week... BrianW __________________ Water Cooled Inwin Q500 (Dual Rads: Rad1 = DTEK Pro Core \| Rad2 = Blick Ice Estreme, Hydor L30, Dangerden Maze2, Bay Res Typhoon Reservoir, 1/2 " DD Tygon Thick Wall Hose). Flow: Res, Pump, CPU watervlock, Y into both rads, both rads into res independently. Athlon XP 1800+ (@ 1731 - 150mhz fsb.), on a Asus A7N266-c, and a Radeon 9000 *waiting for RMA'd Saphire 9800 ultra from Newegg)

08-25-2003, 11:41 PM	#9
Gooserider Cooling Savant Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Billerica, MA, USA Posts: 451	You might talk to your local rad shop about what they'd charge to rod and boil out a used rad. The stuff they use is far to noxious for home use, but is going to be far more effective at geting any crud inside out of it. Of course it might be cheaper to just purchase a new unit that doesn't need anything done to it. Gooserider __________________ Designing system, will have Tyan S2468UGN Dual Athlon MOBO, SCSI HDDS, other goodies. Will run LINUX only. Want to have silent running, minimal fans, and water cooled. Probably not OC'c

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