C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Keeping 500+ HP Big Block Cool

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 07:16 AM
  #1  
itsonlyairandfuel's Avatar
itsonlyairandfuel
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 545
Default Keeping 500+ HP Big Block Cool

Just looking for proven combinations with electric fan or fans if need be. Using a moroso electric WP And stock radiator. Just don't want to do it twice. Thanks Ron B.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 07:54 AM
  #2  
69ttop502's Avatar
69ttop502
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,229
Likes: 1,007
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Default

Ron, Griffin large tube aluminum radiator and dual Spal fans from Tom Dewitt. My 625 horse 502 never sees 200. In fact it needs to be pretty hot for the fans to even come on. When they do these things will rip up asphalt. Tom is a terrific guy to deal with as well.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 08:08 AM
  #3  
MELVINJ's Avatar
MELVINJ
Instructor
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: NC
Default

Ive got the gM 502/502. And Im running the original 427 rad (non aluminum), and with the original water pump, never got hot. Recently I changed out the water pump with a aluminum one

Key is have the rad cored and cleaned.

NO issue with the OEM rad
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 08:19 AM
  #4  
Hvymtlc5's Avatar
Hvymtlc5
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,470
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
Default

Make sure that pump is for a daily driver not a drag car. The Weiand I had was for strip use only and it looked like a normal pump but flow was just enough to circulate the water.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 08:23 AM
  #5  
ImBatman's Avatar
ImBatman
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by 69ttop502
Ron, Griffin large tube aluminum radiator and dual Spal fans from Tom Dewitt. My 625 horse 502 never sees 200. In fact it needs to be pretty hot for the fans to even come on. When they do these things will rip up asphalt. Tom is a terrific guy to deal with as well.

I will be contacting Tom this fall for mine.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 09:19 AM
  #6  
SmokedTires's Avatar
SmokedTires
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

http://www.dewitts.com/ Great guy to do business with
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 09:20 AM
  #7  
GDaina's Avatar
GDaina
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by MELVINJ
Ive got the gM 502/502. And Im running the original 427 rad (non aluminum), and with the original water pump, never got hot. Recently I changed out the water pump with a aluminum one

Key is have the rad cored and cleaned.

NO issue with the OEM rad


533 cubes, recored rad, dual Spals. Decided to install the Spals to gain a few horses, if not for that, I'd be using the stock 5 blade fan, plus now it's safer to work under the hood with the motor running.

Last edited by GDaina; Jun 23, 2005 at 12:42 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 09:55 AM
  #8  
norvalwilhelm's Avatar
norvalwilhelm
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Default

I have the large tube griffin aluminum rad, twin electric fans and run the TRW water pump 30% overdriven and my most of the time I run without any fan turned on. I average around 185 or 190 all the time.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 12:31 PM
  #9  
gkull's Avatar
gkull
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Default

Altered front end cars like mine have special cooling problems. IMO the real problem with Spal fans is they don't cover the full radiator core.

So I wish that I had gone bigger blades and CFM.

The owners of wimpy motors are happy with Spal fans
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 01:13 PM
  #10  
jpatrick636's Avatar
jpatrick636
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 1
From: East China MI
Default

Be Cool Aluminium radiator, dual Spal's (must be a wimp) w/ rheostat, GM pump, no thermostat, Evan's Coolant; 160-180 all day, every day.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 01:20 PM
  #11  
norvalwilhelm's Avatar
norvalwilhelm
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Default

Originally Posted by gkull
Altered front end cars like mine have special cooling problems. IMO the real problem with Spal fans is they don't cover the full radiator core.

So I wish that I had gone bigger blades and CFM.

The owners of wimpy motors are happy with Spal fans
George I run 2 16 inch tornado fans, since 2 16 inch fans will not fit I run one low and to the left behind the rad and one high and to the right on the front of the fan. That way all areas's are covered.
I could not get away with just 1 at times. When I really need a fan I need both of them to do the job.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 01:35 PM
  #12  
MakoVai's Avatar
MakoVai
Cruising
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Default

with 600+ hp I run 4 major items I beleive are the key.
1. High volume water pump (edelbroc)
2. Huge core aluminum radiator (ron Davis)
3. Twin high volume fans (perma-cool)
4. Ceramic coated headers (very helpful)

just my 2¢

Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 02:44 PM
  #13  
Corey_68's Avatar
Corey_68
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,453
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
Default

I'm waiting for the new tranny to get her dynoed. According to Destop Dyno (take it for what it's worth) I'm making 565hp w/ the dual plane and low 600's w/ the dual plane. I have a Griffin aluminum rad, and one 16in Perma-coll fan and on the HWY I turn the fan off and I still run 180degrees. In bumper to bumper traffic w/ the fan on I have yet to see 205degrees.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 04:41 PM
  #14  
Lasse's Avatar
Lasse
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 805
Likes: 0
From: Vasteras, Sweden
Default

And the cheapest way... Isolate between rad and hood, minus 10-15 degrees downtown in my case.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 07:17 PM
  #15  
Fubba's Avatar
Fubba
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Southeast
Default

Originally Posted by MakoVai
with 600+ hp I run 4 major items I beleive are the key.
1. High volume water pump (edelbroc)
2. Huge core aluminum radiator (ron Davis)
3. Twin high volume fans (perma-cool)
4. Ceramic coated headers (very helpful)

just my 2¢

Sorry to get off subject...but that is a monstrosity of an intake.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 08:34 PM
  #16  
GDaina's Avatar
GDaina
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by gkull
Altered front end cars like mine have special cooling problems. IMO the real problem with Spal fans is they don't cover the full radiator core.]
Cover enough to keep the temp 180 all day long in bumper to bumper traffic

Originally Posted by gkull
The owners of wimpy motors are happy with Spal fans
Who you callin' a whimp you little mousie....
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2005 | 12:43 AM
  #17  
427Hotrod's Avatar
427Hotrod
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,012
Likes: 2,252
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

825 hp 540"...street driven all the time. Made the 2000+ mile round trip to Bowling Green from Houston the last two years...no cooling issues.

I'm using a stock radiator, a Weiand team G (only 'cause it looks cool- stock pump did fine), stock pulleys and a fixed 7 blade fan.

Good and simple and is reliable on the street.

Never runs hot.

JIM
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2005 | 04:41 PM
  #18  
jpatrick636's Avatar
jpatrick636
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 1
From: East China MI
Default

Originally Posted by GDaina
Cover enough to keep the temp 180 all day long in bumper to bumper traffic



Who you callin' a whimp you little mousie....
That would be me!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Keeping 500+ HP Big Block Cool





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:44 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE