more air though the radiator
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
more air though the radiator
since removing the factory air cleaner and going to an open element it always bugged me that there was that gap between the radiator support and the radiator itself.
how many of you have this gap also?
so today i took some aluminimum sheeting and made a block off plate for that area, more air through the radiator instead of up and over it.
im sure i wont notice a difference but with these cars every little bit helps
how many of you have this gap also?
so today i took some aluminimum sheeting and made a block off plate for that area, more air through the radiator instead of up and over it.
im sure i wont notice a difference but with these cars every little bit helps
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 0
From: staten island new york
St. Jude Donor '10
i have a major heat problem? i went to englishtown on sat. left early in the morning 7:30 am about a 25 - 30 mile trip. car ran just under 220. As soon as i got there and was registering car went over 220. But i was there no big deal. Now mother nature did her thing and IT GOT HOT. So now it was time to go home. Packed up my things started her up and away i went. Stopped for gas (cheaper in nj.) got back on the road car is no on 220. Got back to s.i. and it was over 220 for the remainder of the street driving to my house..........
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: Gotham City CA
I never overheat in my 72. Although I put it in when I was restoring my Vette and have no comparison, the De Witts aluminum radiator is tops in my book. I was on the freeway in 95+ degree weather and it became stop and go. A friend in a 76 was pegging. I had the a/c on and never got over halfway on the gauge. This in an LT-1. They may not be cheap, but they are worth it to me.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
smokin,
hasnt been a seal there since i bought the car but more than likely the PO left the seal out when they replaced the radiator just before i bought the car.
he definitely had some BUBBA guys working for him.
any idea what that seal is called and do you know if it is available aftermarket?
in any case it should hold me for now and i was thinking of getting a vinyl bowtie to stick on it
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
i have a major heat problem? i went to englishtown on sat. left early in the morning 7:30 am about a 25 - 30 mile trip. car ran just under 220. As soon as i got there and was registering car went over 220. But i was there no big deal. Now mother nature did her thing and IT GOT HOT. So now it was time to go home. Packed up my things started her up and away i went. Stopped for gas (cheaper in nj.) got back on the road car is no on 220. Got back to s.i. and it was over 220 for the remainder of the street driving to my house..........
My car runs 185 all the time and it 97 degrees here!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I was at Englishtown on Saturday also and it was smokin hot out. I ran the autoX all day and I ran cool all day, the car did not me. My fans ran a lot but it never got over 200 even sitting in traffic for an hour on the GSP. I do have a foam piece in between the support and rad and there should be one there or you will lose a lot of airflow.
That seal came in the kit for the radiator. Not sure if there is a specific name for that one but the kit should include all the seals for the rad. Do you have the ones on the side of the rad also. You need to seal up all open areas.
That seal came in the kit for the radiator. Not sure if there is a specific name for that one but the kit should include all the seals for the rad. Do you have the ones on the side of the rad also. You need to seal up all open areas.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
Hey Rich,
I'm gonna order the complete seal kit from Zip, includes the pieces that go between the top of the rad and the underside of the hood. Not exactly the gap you're talking about, but sure to help. If you'd like I'll order two and save you the S&H? Stuart at Zip quoted me $25 for the set.
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...8F8BF148A786E6
I'm guessing you'll want this one:
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...8F8BF148A786E6
Lemme know,
S
I'm gonna order the complete seal kit from Zip, includes the pieces that go between the top of the rad and the underside of the hood. Not exactly the gap you're talking about, but sure to help. If you'd like I'll order two and save you the S&H? Stuart at Zip quoted me $25 for the set.
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...8F8BF148A786E6
I'm guessing you'll want this one:
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...8F8BF148A786E6
Lemme know,
S
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
The new 77-79 seal kits do not have a one piece seal to go all the way across the top of the support. They still have the two short pieces that go on the end and allow for the air duct for the factory air cleaner assembly. You will need to go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a piece of foam insulation or something to fill in the area. Actually you may be better off running the stock air cleaner assembly anyway, as it sucks in colder air from in front of radiator as opposed an open air cleaner sucking in all that hot air from in the engine compartment. I've been toying with that idea myself. All of the duct work is available from Zip at very reasonable prices. I been watching ebay for a used air cleaner since they are very expensive and hard to find from restoration houses. My .02
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
smokin,
hasnt been a seal there since i bought the car but more than likely the PO left the seal out when they replaced the radiator just before i bought the car.
he definitely had some BUBBA guys working for him.
any idea what that seal is called and do you know if it is available aftermarket?
in any case it should hold me for now and i was thinking of getting a vinyl bowtie to stick on it
hasnt been a seal there since i bought the car but more than likely the PO left the seal out when they replaced the radiator just before i bought the car.
he definitely had some BUBBA guys working for him.
any idea what that seal is called and do you know if it is available aftermarket?
in any case it should hold me for now and i was thinking of getting a vinyl bowtie to stick on it
Here is the one I bought.
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...1&dept_id=1256
I'd bet that you can probably find the piece you want a bit cheaper than the whole set.
Paul
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 0
From: staten island new york
St. Jude Donor '10
since removing the factory air cleaner and going to an open element it always bugged me that there was that gap between the radiator support and the radiator itself.
how many of you have this gap also?
so today i took some aluminimum sheeting and made a block off plate for that area, more air through the radiator instead of up and over it.
im sure i wont notice a difference but with these cars every little bit helps
how many of you have this gap also?
so today i took some aluminimum sheeting and made a block off plate for that area, more air through the radiator instead of up and over it.
im sure i wont notice a difference but with these cars every little bit helps
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
I bought my car without the stock intake and ductwork. I posted a picture of my engine in a thread about my temp sending unit and someone pointed out the gap at the top of the radiator. I bent a piece of sheet metal and bolted it to the radiator shroud. Made a big difference in the cooling on the road.
Now I run the stock setup with the air box and foam in place. I like it better stock.
Now I run the stock setup with the air box and foam in place. I like it better stock.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Rich are you overheating or just messing w/the vette? I put this stuff in my 79 from ecklers called 40* Below. You add it to the rad coolant and it drops the temp anywhere from 10* to 20* it does work. I chg'ed my coolant after I installed my new motor and didn't add the 40* below and I'm running at 220 again. Maybe we can get a club discount on the stuff if we order a few cases of it.
Jim
Hey when is the point car cruize night?
Jim
Hey when is the point car cruize night?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
Rich are you overheating or just messing w/the vette? I put this stuff in my 79 from ecklers called 40* Below. You add it to the rad coolant and it drops the temp anywhere from 10* to 20* it does work. I chg'ed my coolant after I installed my new motor and didn't add the 40* below and I'm running at 220 again. Maybe we can get a club discount on the stuff if we order a few cases of it.
Jim
Hey when is the point car cruize night?
Jim
Hey when is the point car cruize night?
i was running around 215-220 according to the gauge at speed
on the highway, the panel did help as it its now around 210
after an extended highway run at 80mph.
eventually i will pick up the radiator seal kit for it and seal it right.
they just had the cruise at Pt Pleasant august 3rd, next one is scheduled for june 7th from 5-9pm
also englishtown has their monthly cruise this coming tuesday 8-14 from
6pm on
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 0
From: staten island new york
St. Jude Donor '10
rich,
i took the car out after sealing up both wertical sides of the radiator and the gap between the radiator and support. thought i made a difference at first but on the way home it got to 90* and the temp still got up to 220*. the only thing i have'nt sealed up yet is the hood to support. plus i still need to drop in a 160* thermostat
i took the car out after sealing up both wertical sides of the radiator and the gap between the radiator and support. thought i made a difference at first but on the way home it got to 90* and the temp still got up to 220*. the only thing i have'nt sealed up yet is the hood to support. plus i still need to drop in a 160* thermostat
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
rich,
i took the car out after sealing up both wertical sides of the radiator and the gap between the radiator and support. thought i made a difference at first but on the way home it got to 90* and the temp still got up to 220*. the only thing i have'nt sealed up yet is the hood to support. plus i still need to drop in a 160* thermostat
i took the car out after sealing up both wertical sides of the radiator and the gap between the radiator and support. thought i made a difference at first but on the way home it got to 90* and the temp still got up to 220*. the only thing i have'nt sealed up yet is the hood to support. plus i still need to drop in a 160* thermostat
