Radiator/ Front Spoiler
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Jasper Indiana
Radiator/ Front Spoiler
I just finished flushing the radiator on my 79. When I emptied it the first time, there was about two gallons of coolant that came out. How much coolant should I put back in?
Second, I read about the front spoiler on the in another post. If I reinstall it, will I get better performance?
Thank you very much,
Doug
Second, I read about the front spoiler on the in another post. If I reinstall it, will I get better performance?
Thank you very much,
Doug
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The amount of coolant will vary a lot based on the radiator. Just fill it with your preferred mixture until the level is about 3 to 4 inches form the fill neck on the radiator.
The chin spoiler is very important to shoveling air up through your radiator. It's a valuable component to the cooling system.
The chin spoiler is very important to shoveling air up through your radiator. It's a valuable component to the cooling system.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
When your driving down the road, the spoiler forces air over the radiator so the fan can pull it through. Without it the engine will overheat or run hot, at best.Good Luck!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
The standard lower panel extension is not a true spoiler, and won't yield the performance gains associated with the '78-'79 Pace Car type spoiler and air dam aero package. It is, however, an important element of your cooling system that shouldn't be left off.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
The front ends of these vettes are nearly identical frontal area, radiator, core size into the wind, from '68 to '82, the air gets there at 40 mph or over, spoiler or NOT, I have not once but many times demonstrated this in Florida....those spoilers are for SHOW, not cooling, I left the lower 'spoiler-deflector' from my '72 here years ago, tired of it dragging ground over every damn bump/driveway....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
The front ends of these vettes are nearly identical frontal area, radiator, core size into the wind, from '68 to '82, the air gets there at 40 mph or over, spoiler or NOT, I have not once but many times demonstrated this in Florida....those spoilers are for SHOW, not cooling, I left the lower 'spoiler-deflector' from my '72 here years ago, tired of it dragging ground over every damn bump/driveway....
I don't believe you are, but if you are referring to the Pace Car package, I have to disagree with you. They were engineered for the specific purpose of enhancing the '78 Corvette Pace Car's high speed handling capabilities, and are indeed functional (lowering drag coefficient by approx. 15%). I don't have manometer readings, but after installing them on my SA, in one particular sweeper my shark went from dodgy at 95mph to flat-out on rails at 120mph, with no other changes. Obviously a good measure of downforce was at work. Whether or not you've personally seen a difference in cooling (I did), these are not the results one should expect from a purely cosmetic accessory. Just wanted to clear up any possible confusion over these.
Charlie
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Oct 21, 2007 at 10:46 PM.
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