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

Cooling Issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 06:19 PM
  #1  
BanGnGearS's Avatar
BanGnGearS
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
Default Cooling Issues

Ok, so i got my vette back from tuning last week.. on the 60 milesdrive home it was running hot.. around town it was around 220.. but when i got on the highway it rose to almost the red.. the fan clutch that i had was no good so i switched to a mechanical flex fan when i got home.. my aux fan is not hooked up just yet.. Do you think that the problem was with my thermostat,since temps rose when i was on the highway rolling at about 65mph? I replaced the thermo but i haven't taken the vette back out.. i put a 180 in it..
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 06:40 PM
  #2  
BerniesVette's Avatar
BerniesVette
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Default

Run a high volume t-stat. Are all your seals in place around your radiator? Are you running a front spoiler? Are your hoses new and not collapsing?
My '79 ran no more than 180 all day today no matter how I drove it;am running twin 12 inch electric fans as well as the stock mech. fan. Have heard that the flex fans that run all the time are not that good. Read the thread about the Mark VIII fan on the current page along with the links theat PhotoVette1 posted. Good info!
Bernie
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 06:53 PM
  #3  
BanGnGearS's Avatar
BanGnGearS
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
Default

The thread about the MARK VIII fan is what actually inspired me to create this thread.. I dont have my front spoiler, but b4 the rebuild it wasn't on either but i had no cooling issues.. I think that i may just switch to the electrical system.. does the spoiler really help cooling issues that much?
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 09:01 AM
  #4  
capevettes's Avatar
capevettes
CF Community Team
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 90 Days
Active Streak: 120 Days
Conversation Starter
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,357
Likes: 5,242
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

If you're running hot on the highway I would think the radiator would be the most likely culprit.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 09:20 AM
  #5  
Donald #31176's Avatar
Donald #31176
Melting Slicks
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 195
From: Maryland
Default

Originally Posted by capevettes
If you're running hot on the highway I would think the radiator would be the most likely culprit.


How old is the radiator? As to the fanclutch and shroud setup I would stick to the stock units. As a corordinated system the stock setup is best.

Last edited by Donald #31176; Jul 17, 2006 at 09:23 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 09:21 AM
  #6  
S489's Avatar
S489
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
Default

If you're running hot on the highway I would think the radiator would be the most likely culprit.
Also, lose the flex fan and fix the thermostatic clutch, or go electrical. 0.02
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 04:19 PM
  #7  
BanGnGearS's Avatar
BanGnGearS
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
Default

The radiator is from about 96 but the car wasn't drivin more then 2000 miles from then til now, so it is relatively new.. i haven't driven the car since i changed the thermostat. i gotta set up an electrical fan system
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 04:33 PM
  #8  
icanfixitforyou's Avatar
icanfixitforyou
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 1
From: Same as our leaders Out of my mind
Default

Originally Posted by BanGnGearS
The radiator is from about 96 but the car wasn't drivin more then 2000 miles from then til now,
Originally Posted by BanGnGearS
so it is relatively new.. i haven't driven the car since i changed the thermostat. i gotta set up an electrical fan system


Sounds like it might be time to flush that cooling system....
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

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

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 04:42 PM
  #9  
BanGnGearS's Avatar
BanGnGearS
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
Default

I got it flushed maybe 1 an a half years ago.. maybe i should do it again.. I also have no overflow.. could that be a problem... anyone use that redline water wetter solution? any thoughts on that
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 05:23 PM
  #10  
cchristo's Avatar
cchristo
Pro
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 620
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio TX
Default

The front spoiler is critical to cooling. At idle or low speeds, the fan is working to suck air in. The spoiler doesn't really do anything until the car gets moving. As engine (and highway) speed increases, the clutch (or flex fan) begins to stop working and the spoiler takes over, diverting air into the radiator. Without the spoiler, that air is not channelled properly.

That would be the simple explanation as to why temps are OK at idle but high at cruise speeds.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 05:33 PM
  #11  
Bill Ehri's Avatar
Bill Ehri
Intermediate
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Stamford CT
Default

My '74 was running hot with the AC on and I discovered that the fan blades where bent and fan shroud was missing the extension. Replaced fan and added extension and problem fixed.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 06:23 PM
  #12  
rihwoods's Avatar
rihwoods
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Default

Originally Posted by BanGnGearS
I got it flushed maybe 1 an a half years ago.. maybe i should do it again.. I also have no overflow.. could that be a problem... anyone use that redline water wetter solution? any thoughts on that
Don't use that stuff unless you are going to put straight (distilled)? water in your system...it is not a good idea to use it with 50/50 coolant mix...
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 06:29 PM
  #13  
PhotoVette1's Avatar
PhotoVette1
Safety Car
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
Default

Originally Posted by rihwoods
Don't use that stuff unless you are going to put straight (distilled)? water in your system...it is not a good idea to use it with 50/50 coolant mix...
Yes, it turned my beautiful emerald green radiator water into a kinda sickly redish/brown soup overnight. A primordial mix looking stuff. I dumped it.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 06:56 PM
  #14  
BanGnGearS's Avatar
BanGnGearS
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
Default

has anyone noticed temp changes when using the water wetter?
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 09:49 PM
  #15  
cchristo's Avatar
cchristo
Pro
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 620
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio TX
Default

Originally Posted by BanGnGearS
has anyone noticed temp changes when using the water wetter?
I tried it as a stopgap measure before I finally put a new radiator in. It did seem to drop temps down between 5-10 degrees if I remember correctly.

havent' put any in with the new radiator. Didn't need to as it never got over about 180-190.

Now with the new tranny and higher stall torque converter, I'm thinking about trying it again.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Cooling Issues





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:20 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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