Replacement Radiator
- Thread starter johng
- Start date
Forrest Gump
CCCUK regional rep
Champion is another popular choice and most likely what I will go for when I change mine.
www.championradiators.com
77-82 Chevrolet Corvette Radiators | Champion Radiators
phill78
CCCUK Member
johng
CCCUK Member
Thanks for that, I did wonder what a re-core would cost. However, not only do I have a slight leak from the core, but the bottom hose connection is not great as it was bent and buckled when I got the car, plus the connection for the expansion bottle is only just hanging on, so I might as well replace the whole thing (and I now know it will be cheaper than a recore as well). I've already made the car non-standard so I don't have to worry about originality.
Roscobbc
Moderator
I believe there is a fine balance of having an extra 'row' added to your radiator (when being recored) and the potential reduced flow of cooling air passing through the radiator (due to the air resistance of the extra row) - in a C3, especially an earlier vehicle (which can be difficult to keeop cool anyway, if modified or a BB)
Alluminum as a material is far better at passing heat than brass. Dewitt's radiators are considered the very over in the 'Sates. Just had a look their website and a late 70's small block rad is over $700 now..........
johng
CCCUK Member
The Dewitt's is almost certainly overkill for my needs Ross, my car never overheats with the current radiator. I'm only thinking of replacing it because Andy pointed out a small puddle under my car at the October meeting! I'll probably try one of the cheap aluminium ones (presumably made in China) would have liked to know if anyone else had any experience with them.
johng
CCCUK Member
That looks very nice, did you pay the extra to have it polished? I think I will go for a 3-row as they have a 2" thick core which is the same as my existing rad. Did you have to loosen and move the radiator support to fit your rad? I'm a bit concerned about doing that as I've got aircon and it would mean bending the liquid line.
Oneball
CCCUK Member
Sorry for the hijack, have you got any photos of your oil cooler line routing?
Oneball
CCCUK Member
I can get my rad in and out without moving the support. Ideally you need two people as it’s a bit of a stretch and a funny angle.
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
The car might not overheat, but if replacing a radiator, it is worth going with a higher flowing one that also has a cooler in the end cap
This could be used for cooling the engine oil or tranny
One I use in my C5, you notice the in and outlet on right end crap for other cooling
In my case since the radiator works so well I moved the engine oil filter (using a larger truck oil filter) to the left front of C5 and replaced the upper radiator hose with an engine oil heat exchanger (shown below) that had a coil inside that the engine oil flows through, while the coolant passing over the coil puts the heat out of the engine oil
This could be used for cooling the engine oil or tranny
One I use in my C5, you notice the in and outlet on right end crap for other cooling
In my case since the radiator works so well I moved the engine oil filter (using a larger truck oil filter) to the left front of C5 and replaced the upper radiator hose with an engine oil heat exchanger (shown below) that had a coil inside that the engine oil flows through, while the coolant passing over the coil puts the heat out of the engine oil
johng
CCCUK Member
I've seen instances where people have removed the top fixings, loosened the bottom ones and rotated the rad support to make room for the shroud to come out. I don't fancy having to doing that with the aircon condenser pipe still connected.
Vetman
CCCUK Member
Lines run through the gap on the drivers side, along the wing, then down and across to the engine. All very neat. Started with stainless finish but changed to black woven cloth finish. I found this easier to work with and more discreet once installed. I covered the hoses with heat shield in places and on the span from body to engine for general protection.
Some photos.
Attachments
Vetman
CCCUK Member
I did this single handed but not easy. Took off hood, then removed shroud, radiator and support more or less all together. I disassembled the parts to reinstall as to heavy for one person. Not easy but do-able. I fitted the oil cooler before re-installation and then plumbed it later. Radiator was polished as received.
