The looks of the system is not a top concern this space will only be partially finished and I'm still debating insulation so I'm not sure on my btu needs. I've come across some belt driven squirrel cages so I'm thinking about making homemade modines as well.
Ayuh,.... Years ago, We were junkin' out some old Mack trucks, 'n I had radiator, 'n surround off an old Mack saltshaker/ plow truck,....
My Bud, who ran a garage/ repair shop at the time, had just gotten the 1st Owb I'd ever seen up close,....
We took that Mack grill, 'n mounted it in his shop with a 20" box fan behind it, on the wall, 'bout 4' up where you could really see it well,...
It worked,.......... Waayyy to good,... It sucked every Btu outa the boiler, 'n left nothin' for the house,.....
It got scrapped eventually, but since then, I've found a nice chromed Diamond REO radiator surround,....
I'm roundin' up the bits, 'n pieces to turn it into a Mancave heater, with 3/4" baseboard radiation tubin', 'n a 20" box fan for wind,....
I figure 8 or 10, 2' long passes is what I can fit in it,....
Oughta look pretty Cool, all chromed up, 'n polished,.....
I'm thinkin' the radiation I'm usin', insteada the radiator itself, might make it manageable,....