C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

New Radiator: leaking

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 22, 2006 | 03:47 PM
  #1  
darkprophet597's Avatar
darkprophet597
Thread Starter
Intermediate
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Tx
Default New Radiator: leaking

I just bought a new radiator from partstrain.com (OEM part#52453612) for my '85 vette. But this new radiator is leaking coolant out of a seemingly useless port. This port is on the passengers side of the radiator under the top transmission cooling line. It is a black plastic **** shaped like a "D" with a hole in the center(no threads). On my old stock radiator this hole is closed up inside, but on the new one, I started to pour coolant into it and it started coming out of the hole. Any suggestions?
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2006 | 04:35 PM
  #2  
Tally Ho's Avatar
Tally Ho
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Air Force
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,499
Likes: 2,384
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

You'll probably get more responses in the C4 section but if it were me I'd either return the unit or find a plug that fits. Contact the manufacturer and ask them what that port is for.
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2006 | 07:44 PM
  #3  
JmpnJckFlsh's Avatar
JmpnJckFlsh
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Default

Originally Posted by darkprophet597
I just bought a new radiator from partstrain.com (OEM part#52453612) for my '85 vette. But this new radiator is leaking coolant out of a seemingly useless port. This port is on the passengers side of the radiator under the top transmission cooling line. It is a black plastic **** shaped like a "D" with a hole in the center(no threads). On my old stock radiator this hole is closed up inside, but on the new one, I started to pour coolant into it and it started coming out of the hole. Any suggestions?
You probably won't get any help from the "manufacturer"...I expect they don't speak English. Be sure the part isn't a drain petcock...just because there aren't any visible exposed threads, doesn't mean there aren't any there.

Partstrain is bad news. I ordered some hood hinges from them for an import vehicle. The hinges were definitely light duty and poorly made...they didn't even look like the originals. They wanted a "restocking" charge for me to return bad merchandise. I sent the junk back, freight on me, and got a refund less the restocking fee. I swore then I would never buy another part from them.
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2006 | 08:01 PM
  #4  
CorvAdel's Avatar
CorvAdel
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Default

RELAX!! It is meant to be there..It is the hole for the low coolant sensor. Somehere at the front of your motor, and behind the radiator (thatis, between the motor and rad.) there should be a single green wire with a small black rubber cover...this connects to the low coolant probe that sits in the hole you are describing. If you don't have this wire/connector, then simply plug and glue the hole up....
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2006 | 08:06 PM
  #5  
cv67's Avatar
cv67
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Reply
Old Feb 22, 2006 | 08:32 PM
  #6  
MrRenoman's Avatar
MrRenoman
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 124
From: Reno/Sparks Nevada
Default

'85 doesn't have a low coolant light. Radiator was probably designed to fit a span of years. You'll have to plug it somehow or get the sensor so it plugs the hole.

Art
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2006 | 08:35 PM
  #7  
jackdaroofer's Avatar
jackdaroofer
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,182
Likes: 2
From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by darkprophet597
I just bought a new radiator from partstrain.com (OEM part#52453612) for my '85 vette. But this new radiator is leaking coolant out of a seemingly useless port. This port is on the passengers side of the radiator under the top transmission cooling line. It is a black plastic **** shaped like a "D" with a hole in the center(no threads). On my old stock radiator this hole is closed up inside, but on the new one, I started to pour coolant into it and it started coming out of the hole. Any suggestions?
I had the same problem

The plug they have included is too weak to stop the flow.

Check with a local parts house for a more suitable plug

seeya
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2006 | 12:39 AM
  #8  
kize's Avatar
kize
Pro
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 541
Likes: 2
From: Kalama WA
Default

Just buy a low coolant sensor and plug it in the hole. If your car doesn't use the sensor, cut the spade end off and be done with it.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-9

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

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Feb 25, 2006 | 11:21 AM
  #9  
darkprophet597's Avatar
darkprophet597
Thread Starter
Intermediate
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Tx
Default

I found the low coolant sensor, but the hole is too small for the sensor, I'll make it fit though. That's the last time I use partstrain.com........thank you all for your posts.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To New Radiator: leaking





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:06 AM.

story-0
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


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