C4 kooling upgrade
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
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C4 kooling upgrade
Am sure anyone whos owned a Mid C4 knows they run hot, Been reading some things about upgrading to a more efficient radiator
and needing suggestions what you've done to yours for kooler running.
and needing suggestions what you've done to yours for kooler running.
Flatulent Dwarf
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 729
Likes: 84
From: Poverty Holler NC
later, tiny
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
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Glad you mentioned that, was just underneath the front end and seen some crap in thier, will get right on it! but still wanting to know about radiator upgrades
Flatulent Dwarf
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 729
Likes: 84
From: Poverty Holler NC
The C4 has a knack for sucking up crap on the road and THEN sucking it over the top of the condenser ( where Chevy originally put some foam filler which by now is nothing but dust ) Once the trash gets in between there it won't budge, but will happily pile up in front of the radiator.
I pulled a pot-load of crap and leaves out of mine.
later, tiny
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 761
Likes: 66
From: Fitzwilliam New Hampshire
Pull out the rad. and clean the crap out of the fins, then there is some room to blow out condenser fins,engine side towards front, you will be supprized at the crap in there, you will run much cooler at hiway speeds and it cools down faster in traffic, at stop lights, did this to my 94 LT1 and temps dropped 10-15 degrees. Bigger rad still run warm they need air flow.
Last edited by A Peter C4; May 6, 2017 at 10:46 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 50
From: Palmdale CA
Many folks have gone over to the All Aluminum after market Radiators, they eliminate the Plastic end caps and in most case's offer a larger Core.
I decided to go with the Dewitts my-self, more expensive then most but manufactured under high quality, and you only have to do the Mod one time..
I decided to go with the Dewitts my-self, more expensive then most but manufactured under high quality, and you only have to do the Mod one time..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,441
Likes: 421
From: Ventura County, CA
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Seeing as you have a 95 you can reprogram the fans to turn on earlier. I have a 160 stat and have the fans programmed to turn on earlier - never gets hot even after I get on her a bit.
If you do the 160 or 180 stat & fan programming mod, along with the cleaning of the areas others mentioned and some fresh fluid, well she should run perfectly fine, nowhere near the 220s especially on a stock LT1.
If you're dead set stuck on an aftermarket radiator go for it, but if you never clean the debris out as the guys mentioned, maybe a lower stat, well then you might eventually end up in the same dilemma. The guys that really need the serious cooling are running higher compression/high HP/larger displacement engines IMHO
If you do the 160 or 180 stat & fan programming mod, along with the cleaning of the areas others mentioned and some fresh fluid, well she should run perfectly fine, nowhere near the 220s especially on a stock LT1.
If you're dead set stuck on an aftermarket radiator go for it, but if you never clean the debris out as the guys mentioned, maybe a lower stat, well then you might eventually end up in the same dilemma. The guys that really need the serious cooling are running higher compression/high HP/larger displacement engines IMHO
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,679
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
Seeing as you have a 95 you can reprogram the fans to turn on earlier. I have a 160 stat and have the fans programmed to turn on earlier - never gets hot even after I get on her a bit.
If you do the 160 or 180 stat & fan programming mod, along with the cleaning of the areas others mentioned and some fresh fluid, well she should run perfectly fine, nowhere near the 220s especially on a stock LT1.
If you're dead set stuck on an aftermarket radiator go for it, but if you never clean the debris out as the guys mentioned, maybe a lower stat, well then you might eventually end up in the same dilemma. The guys that really need the serious cooling are running higher compression/high HP/larger displacement engines IMHO
If you do the 160 or 180 stat & fan programming mod, along with the cleaning of the areas others mentioned and some fresh fluid, well she should run perfectly fine, nowhere near the 220s especially on a stock LT1.
If you're dead set stuck on an aftermarket radiator go for it, but if you never clean the debris out as the guys mentioned, maybe a lower stat, well then you might eventually end up in the same dilemma. The guys that really need the serious cooling are running higher compression/high HP/larger displacement engines IMHO
this is my experience as well.
i have the 160 tstat and reprogrammed fans.
typical coolant temps used to be 220f. likely for emissions purposes.
now i never see above 178 f.
the plastic end cap design of the stock radiator is a bad design. ive had leaks from there and had to replace the radiator, but that size will still cool the engine well.
a lot of people here are all die hard about their $800 made in usa <insert name > radiator.
i read a lot of threads on engine builds here where an old man will skimp out and put an eagle made in china cast crank/pistons rotating assembly, but by darn will have that $850 radiator.
to each their own!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
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thanx for the info, from what I see dewitt must be very proud of their rads 
but well worth the price...........
Had a 92 and delt with the crap in that a hard to get at cavity everyones refering to, so last nite decided to check mine out and found some big leaves sitting around but not many so did get rid of most if not all.
Most times the car when warmed up will run around 201 then climb at stop lights etc to 216-220 but ofcourse drops when driving.
would appreciate a link to that temp reprogram thanx
but well worth the price...........Had a 92 and delt with the crap in that a hard to get at cavity everyones refering to, so last nite decided to check mine out and found some big leaves sitting around but not many so did get rid of most if not all.
Most times the car when warmed up will run around 201 then climb at stop lights etc to 216-220 but ofcourse drops when driving.
would appreciate a link to that temp reprogram thanx
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
thanx for the info, from what I see dewitt must be very proud of their rads but well worth the price...........
Had a 92 and delt with the crap in that a hard to get at cavity everyones refering to, so last nite decided to check mine out and found some big leaves sitting around but not many so did get rid of most if not all.
Most times the car when warmed up will run around 201 then climb at stop lights etc to 216-220 but ofcourse drops when driving.
would appreciate a link to that temp reprogram thanx
but well worth the price...........Had a 92 and delt with the crap in that a hard to get at cavity everyones refering to, so last nite decided to check mine out and found some big leaves sitting around but not many so did get rid of most if not all.
Most times the car when warmed up will run around 201 then climb at stop lights etc to 216-220 but ofcourse drops when driving.
would appreciate a link to that temp reprogram thanx
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 642
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 642
Likes: 11
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,441
Likes: 421
From: Ventura County, CA
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
this is my experience as well.
i have the 160 tstat and reprogrammed fans.
typical coolant temps used to be 220f. likely for emissions purposes.
now i never see above 178 f.
the plastic end cap design of the stock radiator is a bad design. ive had leaks from there and had to replace the radiator, but that size will still cool the engine well.
a lot of people here are all die hard about their $800 made in usa <insert name > radiator.
i read a lot of threads on engine builds here where an old man will skimp out and put an eagle made in china cast crank/pistons rotating assembly, but by darn will have that $850 radiator.
to each their own!!
i have the 160 tstat and reprogrammed fans.
typical coolant temps used to be 220f. likely for emissions purposes.
now i never see above 178 f.
the plastic end cap design of the stock radiator is a bad design. ive had leaks from there and had to replace the radiator, but that size will still cool the engine well.
a lot of people here are all die hard about their $800 made in usa <insert name > radiator.
i read a lot of threads on engine builds here where an old man will skimp out and put an eagle made in china cast crank/pistons rotating assembly, but by darn will have that $850 radiator.
to each their own!!
BTW - My temps also rarely hit 180 even when jumping on it, temps usually sit in the 170s, OEM radiator 160 stat & reprogrammed fans
The easiest way to do fan programming:
Hypertech Programmer (I got mine for less than 200 shipped via ebay & bought it specifically for the rear end speedo adjustment & fan adjustment)
PCMforless (ECM programming done)
LT1pcmtuning.com (ECM programming done)
Another way is you can use LT1edit software or http://www.tunercat.com/ to order a complete tuning kit or find a local tuner
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
A DeWitts with factory fan/s
A stock t-stat
Flushed well including pulling the block plug and knock sensor.
Load with your favorite green stuff and distilled H20.
Burp and pack after the engine reaches running temp.
Go for a ride and after it cools down check level and burp/pack as necessary.
A stock t-stat
Flushed well including pulling the block plug and knock sensor.
Load with your favorite green stuff and distilled H20.
Burp and pack after the engine reaches running temp.
Go for a ride and after it cools down check level and burp/pack as necessary.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24