There is no way your car should be ever near 260 with working stock cooling system

 

It was because I didnt realize they made a two core for an automatic. But now I see the Model: 1139090A (Automatic/double row) $559.99 above.

Anyone have experience with any brands other than Dewitt? Also, what about fans? Are there any quieter replacement fans I can go with? I see the SPALs on Dewitts site but thats pretty steep. I love my 92 but, there is a limit. I DO plan to move to Florida in the future so this is one of the reasons I want to bring the temp down.

 

Is that 260 on digital gauge Aklim?

 

Fresh coolant, thermostat and hoses. The AC condenser was new and running. Water pump was also fresh. As long as we don't stop in 90 plus and the AC running, you are golden.

 

No. I have the analog gauge. No matter. It is pretty close to the ECM reading and the infrared thermometer.

 

First, "near the 260 mark" doesn't mean much b/c the analog gauges are pretty worthless. They're more like analog idiot indicators; "cold", "warm" and "hot".

Turn the AC off to cool it down? On the highway? Or stopped? That ain't right....

 

I agree, always go by what the digital says.

 

They do mean something when you verifiedf that they are within a few degrees of the infra red thermometer.

On the highway, doesn't matter what I do but when the temp climbs up, I have to shut of the AC if it seems like the needle is heading in the northerly direction

 

Sounds like you have some investigating to do.



With in a few degrees? How does one determine that?? I mean...just look at the gauge!

 

Yes but I'm not sure where to go. Radiator and water pump is newer, hoses and coolant is good, condenser fins are clear. Fans come on earlier and runs well until you demand AC in stop and go traffic. My other cars have no such issues.

No, I don't use the gauge much. I scan the ECM. I know what the ECM sees and hit that sensor with the IR thermometer.

 

What do you guys think of this one? Comes with fans even.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/142650002860?ul_noapp=true

 

Unshrouded fans are bad news. I wouldn't go with that one from eBay.

The C4 Corvette radiator is the second most common radiator ever. Aftermarket aluminum core/plastic tank examples start around $75 or so. Some are decent, some of those are absolute garbage. Spectra Premium has a good one under $100 online, and not much more locally. Be careful that you get a genuine part, Made in Canada if you buy online. I've received Chineseum junk from two different online sources for that exact part. Both took their junk back, and in both cases, I got a genuine one locally for not much more, and I knew what I was getting when I paid for it. I've got one of those that's been in service for almost 10 years now, no leaks, no problems.

All aluminum ones start around $175 to $200, and go up from there. The DeWitts are really good ones, but at the higher end on the price scale. You get better quality, but you pay for it. For less expensive import brands, check Jegs.com and SummitRacing.com. Both sell several different choices that should work.

That radiator is extremely common because it's also the radiator that fits best for S10 pickup V8 conversions (where the original engine wasn't a 4.3L V6).

For fully shrouded electric fans, go with the ones you already have, or direct replacements. If you want something else, go with something fully shrouded. I've used Dodge Stratus fans on that radiator in an S10 (V8 conversion). I'm not sure if those fans will fit in the C4 Corvette, but they pull a ton of air (over 4,000 CFM), the shroud covers the entire core, and they fit pretty well in the limited space in front of a V8 in an S10.

 

I would never mount fans with "pins" through the core. The weight of the fans will be resting on the thin wall cooling tubes. Aluminum is very soft metal.

 

I would use my stock shroud with it. I think my stock ones make too much noise from being a quarter century old and figured the fans that come with the radiator would provide enough flow.

 

They make noise (especially on high) because they move a lot of air.

Inspect the fan blade assemblies. If there's any damage to those, you may need to replace them. I know the fan motors are the same from 1989(ish) through 2004, late C4's through all C5's. That fan motor also was used on some Camaros and Firebirds (1996-2002 it think) and some other cars as well. I'm not sure if the fan blade assemblies for the C4 were unique to the C4 corvette, or common with some of the other cars that used those fan motors.

Aftermarket 'performance' electric fans are usually horrible and under perform. The stock C4 fans move something between 3,000 CFM and 3,500 CFM total and are actually pretty wimpy as OE fans go. You'll have a tough time finding aftermarket fans that will perform at that volume, and you'll need a good shroud, with the fans placed in the outlet of the shroud, not against the radiator, to flow anywhere close to that. The stock fans are generally best.

 

It's cheap. A little too cheap for me to afford.

It does come with a lot of the USA symbolism. All it needs is Mom with an Apple Pie. Makes me think cheaply made Chinese crap trying to look American.

 

The fan kit from Dewitt is only 2760cfm. So even those aren't good enough?

 

Could be, it doesn't say what the country of origin is.

 

Is something wrong with your current fans?

 

Too loud I feel. Being 26 years old I imagine it may be a good time to replace them with the radiator. I would imagine they are drawing more current too.