BOOT77

Bought some of the GTO front grill blackouts from some corvette place and they don't fit. Well the tabs that you stick to the car won't reach because the tabs already on the blackouts are too narrow. Kit is for 75-79 and mine is a 77.

FYI car runs too cool and figured this would be worth a try, after reading bout another members temp going up a tad with his aero fab covers.

So tired of nothing working these days, everything you have to make work.

BOOT77

Also are they suposed to go in the hole or cover it because they don't do either well.

rcread

I don't know what a grill blackout is, but I would (1) verify the accuracy of my temperature gauge and (2) make sure I'm running the right thermostat.

augiedoggy

Ditto.... too hot could be a real issue too cool and its either the thermostat or gauge..... both are easy enough to replace or check.

BOOT77

Both are good. New radiator/pump/fan cools too well for my low compression combo. Figured this would be an aero mod that might help. Also some around here and in colder areas cover part of their radiator with carboard in cooler seasons. The car use to always run hot befoe I got ahold of it and so does other c3 vettes I know. On the hottest days of summer I can cruise nonstop.

qwank

Same thing happened to me. I installed a Dewitts radiator and it barely reaches operating temp now

rcread

You have a 195° thermostat?

BOOT77

Well I tried to email CS for GTO and it was a failed email. So guess I'll go forward with my best idea so far. Gonna peel the outer trim off then cut it down some with my osillating tool, so it fits inside the grill area. Then I'll glue or rivet my own tabs onto it and either ziptie or rig up something I can use a bolt/bracket, maybe hook/wingnut style thing thru the grill to hold it on.

Knew I shoulda just made my ow from the start.

augiedoggy

OK the radiator flow isn't even turned on till the thermostat (and engine) hits the correct temp its rated for so it sounds like your issue is the thermostat...good news is they are like 10 bucks and install in five minutes with two bolts to remove...

augiedoggy

Why not just fix the problem instead of such an odd band aid? I had the same blackouts on my 84.... went through two sets because they were always falling off... finally gave up and pulled them off... the 3m adhesive tape took the paint off the car with it in multiple spots.

augiedoggy

Btw running the car with a defective thermostat will wear the engine out quicker as the car is always running at different temps and the different metal components never really get a chance to reach a consistent temp and wear respectively at the size they are once they reach that temp (different metals expanded and contract different amounts at the same temps)

BOOT77

This is the part where you try to help me with something I'm not trying to do, always seems to happen. I'm not trying to be a jerk but I don't feel like going into detail atm why I am doing it this way. I should have not mentioned the temp part and that is my fault. But thank you for your attempt at help.

qwank

um... yeah... thanks

BOOT77

This is why I H8 forums sometimes, you ask for help with A, B or C and people insist on trying to help you with X,Y and Z.

The t-stat is new and working!

augiedoggy

You stated you wanted to cover your grills because of the issue with your car running too cool. we simply suggested you fix the real problem and offered really easy advice on how to do that cheaply and correctly while prolonging the life of your car.
and you get offended?. Your an odd sort for sure...maybe that's why stuff like this "always seems to happen" to you?.
Maybe when the head lights burn out you can complain about the flashlight you taped to the hood not providing enough light and complain when someone suggests replacing the bulbs

augiedoggy

then you've got some major issues if your engine doesn't reach the temp to activate it.... these cars run hot when running correctly not too cool.

augiedoggy

Well I wasnt being a smartass but Do you know how a cooling system works in a car? By your comment it sounds like either you don't or you were being sarcastic about your new radiator causing your car to run too cool...
Let me explain the coolant sits in the radiator cold until the engine reaches whatever temp the thermostat is rated for and them the thermostat pops open allowing the coolant to flow through it to the radiator.... the thermostat and fan then turns on and off to regulate that temp by controlling both coolant flow and coolant temps with the fan and air from the front grill....

qwank

My car has never run hot. it always ran at 210 with the stock 3 core radiator. it runs right at 195-200 now with the Dewitts, my barely reaching operating temp comment. If your car is running hot you have a problem that needs to be looked at.

augiedoggy

Depends on the car.... c4 vettes run at about 225 stock.... my truck dropped 12 degrees by just flushing the cooling system and changing the coolant...but we weren't talking about running too hot....I say many c3's run hot because its a common complaint on them often caused by missing air dam's and plugged cooling systems.

qwank

or C4s