Any measurable decrease in water temp by removing the license plate?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Any measurable decrease in water temp by removing the license plate?
This weekend I noticed my highway water temp is a little higher then I like at around 200-205* when on a sustained cruise (50+miles continuously)..... Before throwing a bunch of money at it, I am thinking of removing the front license plate to see if it helps....locals here says it does but who knows.......everything is new in my car including all seals, air damn, fan clutch etc so.....I either need more flow through the radiator or another radiator with more capacity at high speed.
Anyone back to back tested front plate removal?
Anyone back to back tested front plate removal?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
YES, old hat trick.....I moved from Maryland some 13 years ago, they really stupid with that front tag 
so I never had any reason to remove the tag carrier....so put on a vette filler/tag piece from a C4 I used to have...
and got overheating on freeways here in Florida...
pulled out all that garbage to fine a center grill hidden behind there, and cured the freeway summer hot problems...always ran fine after that, even with the various fan combos....
so I never had any reason to remove the tag carrier....so put on a vette filler/tag piece from a C4 I used to have...and got overheating on freeways here in Florida...
pulled out all that garbage to fine a center grill hidden behind there, and cured the freeway summer hot problems...always ran fine after that, even with the various fan combos....
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,171
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi a,
I agree that the license plate can affect cooling.
In fact, in 66-67, the engineers moved the front plate location on certain cars with certain options from the center to the side to increase air flow to the radiator.
So I'd think it would help for you too.
Regards,
Alan
I agree that the license plate can affect cooling.
In fact, in 66-67, the engineers moved the front plate location on certain cars with certain options from the center to the side to increase air flow to the radiator.
So I'd think it would help for you too.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Yeah here in Texas front plates are required also normally....BUT I have mine registered as an antique so it only needs the rear plate, no annual inspections etc....just pay the piper every 5 yrs for antique plates/registration.
Thanks for the replys.... I will definetly give it a try this weekend...
Anyone tried this with success?
I know it's gonna look like crap without my USA 1 plate on the front...
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Absolutely works. I have A/C and it made a big difference at road speeds, it's a straight shot to the radiator. I even experimented with removeing the "flaps" over the lights that hide them from view when they're down. That didn't help.
Best thing I did was a DeWitt radiator and a 3.5 inch chin spoiler. That combo works, A/C on, even here in 100 plus degree NorCal summers.
Hans
Best thing I did was a DeWitt radiator and a 3.5 inch chin spoiler. That combo works, A/C on, even here in 100 plus degree NorCal summers.
Hans
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 572
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I dropped my water temp 20 degrees by modifying my '79 front bumper license plate area. I used to run 195 to 200 degrees and higher on a really hot day. Now I rarely go over 170 and never over 180. I'm thinking of replacing my 160 degree thermostat with a 180.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...post1570560887
Bee Jay
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...post1570560887
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Apr 20, 2010 at 09:22 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: 50 kilometers outside Oslo Norway
But the prisons here is like a hotel for the inmates.Not that i have tryed it but i think for foreigner the fear of getting to prison here in Norway are none present.There are absolutely no comparison to what i have seen on the tv of prisons in the US.
Last edited by TheSaint; Apr 20, 2010 at 12:02 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Ok, I pulled my front license plate and I was suprised at how much frontal area it opened up. The other two grills are actually blocked about 90% when the headlights are closed. Right behind the hole where the plate sits the area really opens up and gives a straight shot to the radiator. I will road test this weekend and see if it helps any....
Here is some crappy iPhone pics...
Fingers crossed...
Here is some crappy iPhone pics...
Fingers crossed...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
I didn't have success with the front license plate removal. Turned out I had some air in the cooling system.
Now, after a flush and refill, I top off the cooling system with the car on a slight incline and the engine running. No problem keeping the big-block cool now.
Now, after a flush and refill, I top off the cooling system with the car on a slight incline and the engine running. No problem keeping the big-block cool now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
it works, don't worry...
tried on mine. then i put again the licence plate in place because i wanted to avoid the additional drag and not legal here to remove the licence plate.as said it works but not necessary with my dewitts aluminum and mech fan. when i need additional cooling i open the headlights (as effective as removing the licence plate , even with the "flaps"). But you have AC, right?
tried on mine. then i put again the licence plate in place because i wanted to avoid the additional drag and not legal here to remove the licence plate.as said it works but not necessary with my dewitts aluminum and mech fan. when i need additional cooling i open the headlights (as effective as removing the licence plate , even with the "flaps"). But you have AC, right?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
it works, don't worry...
tried on mine. then i put again the licence plate in place because i wanted to avoid the additional drag and not legal here to remove the licence plate.as said it works but not necessary with my dewitts aluminum and mech fan. when i need additional cooling i open the headlights (as effective as removing the licence plate , even with the "flaps"). But you have AC, right?
tried on mine. then i put again the licence plate in place because i wanted to avoid the additional drag and not legal here to remove the licence plate.as said it works but not necessary with my dewitts aluminum and mech fan. when i need additional cooling i open the headlights (as effective as removing the licence plate , even with the "flaps"). But you have AC, right?
During the winter on a 50-60* day, this thing would never get over 170-175* no matter what I did with it......it just now started getting into the 180-190*s since the ambient temps got into the upper 70s. I am afraid if that pattern continues, by the time the ambient temps are 95*+ my water temps will be well over 200*....not good for a 650hp engine....
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 572
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Bee Jay
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
I did the front plate trick, water wetter, timing, and everything else I could think of...eventually...I just did the aluminum radiator/ electric fans and all my worries were gone. I think my rad was just plugged.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
yes I have AC on it...ts Vintage Air with the small Sanden compressor so it really doesn't increase the heat built in the engine that much. I really don't notice a difference in water temp with the AC on or off....at least not yet....but it hasn't gotten over 80* here yet...
During the winter on a 50-60* day, this thing would never get over 170-175* no matter what I did with it......it just now started getting into the 180-190*s since the ambient temps got into the upper 70s. I am afraid if that pattern continues, by the time the ambient temps are 95*+ my water temps will be well over 200*....not good for a 650hp engine....
During the winter on a 50-60* day, this thing would never get over 170-175* no matter what I did with it......it just now started getting into the 180-190*s since the ambient temps got into the upper 70s. I am afraid if that pattern continues, by the time the ambient temps are 95*+ my water temps will be well over 200*....not good for a 650hp engine....
