Aluminum radiators and related topics
06-05-2017, 05:49 AM
#41
Instructor
I appreciate the feed back and concern! ... I guess I omitted that I have always lived in the same warm climate as stated and I believe the purpose of the Thermostat is to get the engine to an operating temperature in cold climate before it opens to the entire cooling system. As I mentioned she gets up to running temp pretty quick by herself and I am more worried that I cook her, which is why I am starting to look into the synthetic coolants.
... I have been wrong before. (my wife can vouch to that
)
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adamdinat (02-05-2020)
06-15-2017, 03:58 AM
#44
Drifting
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C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
With regard to radiators I have to say I am totally neutral as we imported our car with a De-Witt's already installed. I had no idea that there was such a large variety of choice and quite frankly have not needed to look into it as it does the job. Having said that I can only share my personal view and experiences to date of the De-Witt's High Performance radiator that I have and hope it helps someone/me make decisions in the future. Living in a climate ranging from 104F to 41F, I personally have not been a supporter of thermostats so that was removed day one giving a consistent unrestricted flow. Fitment of the De-Witt's is very clean with it's twin thermatic fans tucked in there like they belong with plenty of ventilation. Fans have been set to come on around the 180F-190F which happens reasonably quickly on a warm day around town. The extreme situation we experienced was a two hour stop start on one of our major highways which had the fans running the whole time but never getting over the 180F-190F setting. Glycol coolant at 50/50 mix keeps her humming along and I have not lost a drop since the last service I did on my cooling system which has been a while now. Looking into the future I am researching the possibility of using these new synthetic cooling products that are on the market so that we may travel with more cabin comfort as we don't have Air Conditioning.
06-15-2017, 12:25 PM
#45
Drifting
I thought I had saw somewhere the details of what makes a radiator cool better than other, anyone have a link like that? Reason i ask is I have a 11:1 406 with uncoated headers and some unnamed alum. 2 core that doesnt allow for the car to get cool enough for the fans to turn off at 185 while on the interstate on a 92* day. I am going to try and see if this radiator can cool with fixing some things like lack of cold air and try some coatings on these headers while i wait for XSPower to be able to make me new headers.
06-16-2017, 03:29 AM
#46
Instructor
Will start there anyway as I don't plan to remove the De-Witt's ... everything looks pretty now.
PS ... see the smiley face after Alice Springs, it really means Maroons.
Cheers Mate!!
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Metalhead140 (07-05-2017)
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SMF (07-06-2017)
07-07-2017, 10:53 AM
#48
Le Mans Master
Oh you bought a champion radiator? So did I and im very happy, my car runs nice and cool. Now prepare for the negative feed back. Lol. Paging Tom Dewitt!
07-09-2017, 10:11 PM
#49
7th Gear
Has anyone tried one of these from Amazon?
+
I'm just trying to get my 76 up and running and can't spend big money on a high end radiator right now. My plan it to get the car running and drive it this summer and maybe next and once my truck is paid off next year I will have the funds to do upgrades and probably a frame off.
I'm just trying to get my 76 up and running and can't spend big money on a high end radiator right now. My plan it to get the car running and drive it this summer and maybe next and once my truck is paid off next year I will have the funds to do upgrades and probably a frame off.
07-10-2017, 07:07 AM
#50
Le Mans Master
That looks like a champion radiator, I'd have no problem using it. So sick of this dewitts rah rah group calling people stupid I would never buy one.many other companies out there build radiators.be cool etc.all get the job done, mine is now 6 yrs old.
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Lestat52 (03-07-2022)
07-10-2017, 05:14 PM
#51
I think everyone draws there own line in the Sand when it comes to buying Chinese or Asian stuff. I have a champion radiator in my 80, but I would never buy a Japanese made vehicle, especially a Mitsubishi, they built the Zero that took out pearl harbor, Grandfather, Father, uncle's, all fought them we will fight them again. So... every one draws there own line, oh and not a Volkswagen either, same back story.
Last edited by Ydnar44; 07-10-2017 at 08:00 PM. Reason: Mispoke
07-11-2017, 06:12 PM
#52
Former Vendor
This thread was sapossed to provide a place to discuss cooling issues with moderator supervision to control redundancy and controversy. What it has turned into is a DeWitts Alternative report page. I am open to sharing my twenty years of Corvette cooling experience with anyone that has questions.
07-12-2017, 08:07 AM
#53
Pro
Just my opinion - Alternatives are fair game when talking cooling options. I wasn't aware DeWitts was the only good choice (and yes, I think DeWitts is a good choice, but not for everyone based on budget or other preferences).
07-17-2017, 01:54 AM
#54
Race Director
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When i wrote this orginal radiator post that was to my flattering made sticky my intent was not to sell or even suggest any brand on a person, there is way too much of that on this forum in other threads,
I wanted to get some good down to earth radiator info all in one place, so no, i dont want it to become either another advertising thread for a cetain brand nor a thread to bash a brand,
What i desire is what i feel any non biased person desires from a forum, just good tech and feedback, i see no reason for opinions to be modarated to death, this imho at the risk of sounding prideful is a great thread, ( thanks guys! )
It doesnt mean every post will be liked by all, so be it, people will have different opinions which is a good thing,
Now back to our normally scheduled program already in progress....
Last edited by The13Bats; 07-17-2017 at 04:20 AM.
07-23-2017, 02:49 PM
#55
Race Director
I thought I had saw somewhere the details of what makes a radiator cool better than other, anyone have a link like that? Reason i ask is I have a 11:1 406 with uncoated headers and some unnamed alum. 2 core that doesnt allow for the car to get cool enough for the fans to turn off at 185 while on the interstate on a 92* day. I am going to try and see if this radiator can cool with fixing some things like lack of cold air and try some coatings on these headers while i wait for XSPower to be able to make me new headers.
07-23-2017, 04:24 PM
#56
Drifting
Its not overheating just not a cool as others say their cars are running. How much does core size effect cooling? 2 x1.25 vs 4 x 5/8"
07-24-2017, 02:02 AM
#57
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Is the temp gauge correct, ive never been a big believer that old c3 factory gauges were always spot on, is it too hot or just hotter?
My 66 custom was very cold blooded, 180 stat stock radiator, i could almost always drive the 10 miles to my club or home at the end of the night and it never got hot enough to kick on the electric fan, the fan never came on while moving,
In general if a car stays cool at idle and creeps up at speed if all other things, like timing, seals, spoilers etc are good it might just be too small of a radiator for the job,
More rpm means more power and more heat to cool than at idle,
On c3s as far as i know there are two stock core sizes, height and width but the way they are made how many rows of tubes, how many fins per sq inch etc that what makes the difference,
I do not know how many radiators are made for example my custom made dewitts us super overkill and would likely cool any street driven car tossed at it, people on this forum report cooling tall hp with other brands too.
Perhaps mr dewitt will give a run down on the specs so i dont post misinformation.
Last edited by The13Bats; 07-24-2017 at 02:03 AM.
07-24-2017, 10:50 AM
#58
Drifting
A few things to consider,
Is the temp gauge correct, ive never been a big believer that old c3 factory gauges were always spot on, is it too hot or just hotter?
My 66 custom was very cold blooded, 180 stat stock radiator, i could almost always drive the 10 miles to my club or home at the end of the night and it never got hot enough to kick on the electric fan, the fan never came on while moving,
In general if a car stays cool at idle and creeps up at speed if all other things, like timing, seals, spoilers etc are good it might just be too small of a radiator for the job,
More rpm means more power and more heat to cool than at idle,
On c3s as far as i know there are two stock core sizes, height and width but the way they are made how many rows of tubes, how many fins per sq inch etc that what makes the difference,
I do not know how many radiators are made for example my custom made dewitts us super overkill and would likely cool any street driven car tossed at it, people on this forum report cooling tall hp with other brands too.
Perhaps mr dewitt will give a run down on the specs so i dont post misinformation.
Is the temp gauge correct, ive never been a big believer that old c3 factory gauges were always spot on, is it too hot or just hotter?
My 66 custom was very cold blooded, 180 stat stock radiator, i could almost always drive the 10 miles to my club or home at the end of the night and it never got hot enough to kick on the electric fan, the fan never came on while moving,
In general if a car stays cool at idle and creeps up at speed if all other things, like timing, seals, spoilers etc are good it might just be too small of a radiator for the job,
More rpm means more power and more heat to cool than at idle,
On c3s as far as i know there are two stock core sizes, height and width but the way they are made how many rows of tubes, how many fins per sq inch etc that what makes the difference,
I do not know how many radiators are made for example my custom made dewitts us super overkill and would likely cool any street driven car tossed at it, people on this forum report cooling tall hp with other brands too.
Perhaps mr dewitt will give a run down on the specs so i dont post misinformation.
Cruising down the interstate with out AC I think it should be closer to 180 seeing as how it has a 160 t stat. Really tired of trying to make this cool better, maybe Dewitts is the only way to cool this engine like i want.
07-26-2017, 11:03 PM
#59
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Stock gauges are sitting on a shelf along with the sending units, i have installed Digital dash and the sending unit is next to the t stat and running done the interstate it almost matches what the ecm is seeing from the sending unit in the head. So either both are wrong or right.
Cruising down the interstate with out AC I think it should be closer to 180 seeing as how it has a 160 t stat. Really tired of trying to make this cool better, maybe Dewitts is the only way to cool this engine like i want.
Cruising down the interstate with out AC I think it should be closer to 180 seeing as how it has a 160 t stat. Really tired of trying to make this cool better, maybe Dewitts is the only way to cool this engine like i want.
i would hope it or any larger aftermarket aluminum radiator , becool, champion, etc would get you where you desire, if in fact this is a case of too little radiator, but i would be very sure it is just that before buying a radiator
07-28-2017, 11:23 PM
#60
Burning Brakes
When I was looking for a radiator for my LS swap (LS3 525 HP Crate engine) I talked to 3 different Makers, My concerns was on the fan they supplied. After looking at All of them I decided to get a rad with out any fans and build my own shroud that covered all of the core and had some space between the fans and the core. I also did not want to use the thru core mounting.