Like so many others I would guess, my 85 Regal P32 has a set up where radiator water goes to the water heater and I guess pre heats the water then returns to the radiator. The pipes that do the job appear to be copper. Someone put pipe insulation around both the supply and return lines and that insulation has sort of deteriorated over the years. What would you all suggest I use to recover them? I know that Thermotec has some stuff but it's really expensive.

All you need are the foam pipe insulation sleeves, fairly cheap at Lowe's or Home Depot.

When mine started falling off and I just took the rest off. I figured here in the south the more heat you can dissipate from the engine cooling system the better. With anti-freeze in the cooling system there is no chance of it freezing. You can’t beat nice hot water whenever you want it.

Neil

...Totally agree with Neil......When mine deteriorated, I just pulled it all out. With an aging & less efficient cooling system for the 454, I figured it would be tough to get TOO much cooling capacity. (If it ever springs a leak, I might even replace a section with finned baseboad tubing. Even in moderate temps, the uninsulated lines give me luke warm water after a run, and the propane burner tops it off within about 10 minutes.....