Installed radiator today...ugh
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Cecil County Maryland
Installed radiator today...ugh
Installed my new radiator today and it went pretty well. After reading some of the posts I thought it was going to be a nightmare, but it really wasn't that bad. I did not remove the hood or the fan. I guess in 1980 it was a little easier then earlier models. Coolant lines were a PITA though.
I don't know if someone replaced the radiator in the past but it didn't seem like there were to many seals(Shroud seals,support seals), and that's the only thing I didn't get...a concern?
I don't know if someone replaced the radiator in the past but it didn't seem like there were to many seals(Shroud seals,support seals), and that's the only thing I didn't get...a concern?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 1
From: Same as our leaders Out of my mind
well.... yes
Well.... yes, the seals are a concern, they ensure that the fan pulls air through the radiator and not around it. Dr. Rebuild has the right stuff in kit form or you can be creative and make your own from some pipe insulation at your local plumbing dept. Use weatherstrip adhesive (3M) to glue the pieces in place.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Originally Posted by icanfixitforyou
Well.... yes, the seals are a concern, they ensure that the fan pulls air through the radiator and not around it. Dr. Rebuild has the right stuff in kit form or you can be creative and make your own from some pipe insulation at your local plumbing dept. Use weatherstrip adhesive (3M) to glue the pieces in place.
get the seals and Dr. Rebuild has the best ones.The bad news is.........you will probably have to pull the radiator again to get them installed but you DO need to have them.
The cooling system on these cars was always borderline at best and those seals are very important to make sure as much air gets thru the radiator as possible. As mentioned, they prevent the air from just bypassing and going around the radiator.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by BarryK
get the seals and Dr. Rebuild has the best ones.The bad news is.........you will probably have to pull the radiator again to get them installed but you DO need to have them.
The cooling system on these cars was always borderline at best and those seals are very important to make sure as much air gets thru the radiator as possible. As mentioned, they prevent the air from just bypassing and going around the radiator.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Cecil County Maryland
Originally Posted by BarryK
get the seals and Dr. Rebuild has the best ones.The bad news is.........you will probably have to pull the radiator again to get them installed but you DO need to have them.
The cooling system on these cars was always borderline at best and those seals are very important to make sure as much air gets thru the radiator as possible. As mentioned, they prevent the air from just bypassing and going around the radiator.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Originally Posted by Joes80
Any chance on getting a link to the ones I need? Are there usually more then four seals?
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/1274976.HTML
the radiator seal kit is 4 pieces and the top core support seal kit is 3 pieces. you can buy each kit seperatly or a a single big kit which saves you a few dollars I think. i'd just go for the single kit that includes all 7 pieces.
Opps, looking at the linked page i see your '80 is actually 9 pieces, my '78 L82 motor was only 7 pieces.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Originally Posted by jdmick
BarryK is the resident expert on radiator removal/installation. After doing 16 times he's got it down to about 7 minutes now. J/K.
practice does make it go a lot faster also!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Cecil County Maryland
Originally Posted by BarryK
try this link, I hope it works
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/1274976.HTML
the radiator seal kit is 4 pieces and the top core support seal kit is 3 pieces. you can buy each kit seperatly or a a single big kit which saves you a few dollars I think. i'd just go for the single kit that includes all 7 pieces.
Opps, looking at the linked page i see your '80 is actually 9 pieces, my '78 L82 motor was only 7 pieces.
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/1274976.HTML
the radiator seal kit is 4 pieces and the top core support seal kit is 3 pieces. you can buy each kit seperatly or a a single big kit which saves you a few dollars I think. i'd just go for the single kit that includes all 7 pieces.
Opps, looking at the linked page i see your '80 is actually 9 pieces, my '78 L82 motor was only 7 pieces.