Ugh 96 radiator
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 112
Likes: 6
From: st. charles mo
Ugh 96 radiator
Finally see sun take car to work radiator blows out (thought it was hose) put water in it to get to work temperature soared to high for about 1 minute. Had it towed, hate to ask how resilient are the lt1 engines, wont know until radiator fixed but dreading it. No steam hissing etc, what are my chances for survival
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 243
About 6-7 years ago my LT1 sprung what turned out to be a radiator leak and very quickly overheated. As I recall, it rapidly jumped up to about 280 degrees (digital readout). By the time I was able to safely pull over (was on the highway) I could hear the water boiling. I replaced the entire cooling system out of precaution - radiator, hoses, thermostat and pump. Before doing any of that work I let the car sit overnight. It ran and sounded fine the next day when started.
Out of an abundance of caution I pulled the heads off and brought them to a machine shop. There were no cracks but they were bowed slightly in the center. The shop was able to level them without taking much off. You may be ok, or not. If you’re like me you’d want to know for certain and pull it apart. If you can do the work yourself you’ll save a bundle, pulling the heads on a pushrod motor isn’t complicated and it won’t cost you much in gaskets and hardware. A brief overheat like that, I wouldn’t worry about the bottom end.
Out of an abundance of caution I pulled the heads off and brought them to a machine shop. There were no cracks but they were bowed slightly in the center. The shop was able to level them without taking much off. You may be ok, or not. If you’re like me you’d want to know for certain and pull it apart. If you can do the work yourself you’ll save a bundle, pulling the heads on a pushrod motor isn’t complicated and it won’t cost you much in gaskets and hardware. A brief overheat like that, I wouldn’t worry about the bottom end.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 243
Also, you mention no steam/hissing which I overlooked on my initial read. I bet you’re fine to repair/replace radiator and carryon.
My overheat was much more severe with water boiling into the overflow and out to the ground. It boiled on for a few minutes after shutdown.
My overheat was much more severe with water boiling into the overflow and out to the ground. It boiled on for a few minutes after shutdown.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
92 LT1 Dewitt radiator install ??
Well it happened, my OEM radiator failed. I bought a new DeWitt "direct fit" radiator and it arrived last Thurs (3 days ago). I was watching a guy on youtube put one in his 92 (automatic, mine is a 6 speed) and his radiator came with spacers to increase the distance from the fans to the thicker radiator. Mine didn't come with those spacers. Before I start this project, does anyone know if I need those spacers? Hopefully, I don't, as there ain't much room in there because of the AC dryer (canister) that is mounted on the back of the radiator housing. Maybe Summit didn't package them in there. Anyone do this recently?
Thanks
Wrong input
Thanks
Wrong input
Last edited by Strick; Apr 8, 2018 at 11:32 AM. Reason: I thought I was making a new thread
