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

'96 Coolant leak...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 15, 2018 | 10:33 PM
  #21  
Whaleman's Avatar
Whaleman
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 1,317
From: LeClaire Iowa
Default

Ebay has radiators for $55 with free shipping.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 02:18 AM
  #22  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by Whaleman
I am not an expert. This radiator is out of an LT1 96 automatic. Will it work in a LT4? Can you just leave the plugs in the transmission cooler connections? Dan
That's what I'm thinking, since very few offered specify "manual" without the cooler lines. Anyone know different?
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 02:19 AM
  #23  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by RUU
The Spectra replacement rad I bought for my LT4 had auto transmission fittings with plastic caps on them. I assume all OEM style replacements have them.
Not sure I would go through all the effort to R&R the rad in these cars with a used one of the same vintage. Used to be said it's not a matter of "if" the plastic side tanks will leak but "when".
Good point!
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 02:20 AM
  #24  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by Whaleman
I agree on some level. My used radiator only has 27,000 miles and was garage kept. All depends on how you value your labor time and how much extra cash you have laying around. Dan
Good point as well. Guess we'll see if I can get a quote that makes it cost efficient. Again...thank you!
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 02:22 AM
  #25  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by Whaleman
RUU, You actually got me thinking about different stages of life.(I know your post was not meant to be this deep). I remember back in 1972 rebuilding a free locked up 62 chevy 6 in my driveway. Beating each piston out with a sledge hammer and 2x4. Put in new rings and bearings and some junkyard parts and it ran great for years. At this point of my life (66) would I install this radiator? No, that is why I put in the Dewitt just for fun. Could this radiator work for 75k miles-YES. Could it fail next week-YES. If the radiator was shot on that old 62 Chevy and someone offered me a free used one would I have put in in-Oh hell yes. Funny story- the same 62 chevy. I needed new tires. I knew a guy with a towing company. He called and had a totaled new car with the same size tire. The car was totaled but the tires were fine. For $20.00 he switched my worn out tires with the totaled out cars tires. I am sure the insurance adjuster totaled this car from 50 feet away. I guess it all depends where you are in life and finance. What I am sure of there is someone who would take the time to put this radiator in.
Familiar sounding stories...except mine was with a '67 Mustang in the mid 80's, ha ha...
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 02:23 AM
  #26  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842
My suggestion is to buy a factory spec radiator (yes with plastic caps) and install it (mostly) trouble free.

Unless your engine is seriously modified, the OEM will do just great. Plus, the price will be reasonable. The swap will be tedious but not hard.
Yet another consideration...price sure is attractive.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 02:25 AM
  #27  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by Purple92
Changing the rad on a 2nd Gen C4 is not a "fun" job - but it's not truly horrible either. There are six 7mm head bolts that hold the plastic clamshell together in the front of the car. Those ARE a real PITA. You typically use a 1/4" drive ratchet and various combination of Universals, extensions, and handles and eventually you'll get them. BTW - I have found that you don't need to reinstall all six... The rest of the rad R&R job isn't too too bad.
I took one out at the salvage yard a while back ago. I think it was to get to the steering rack. I don't think it was too bad, but it was on a car I didn't have to care about...
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 02:33 AM
  #28  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by Whaleman
Sure, take all the time you want. $40-$60 sounds way too high.
It does, doesn't it? I see people charging less than $10 in some cases. Was hoping to stay 20ish, but guess we'll see...
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 02:34 AM
  #29  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by Whaleman
Ebay has radiators for $55 with free shipping.
You saw that one too, huh?
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2018 | 08:34 AM
  #30  
Whaleman's Avatar
Whaleman
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 1,317
From: LeClaire Iowa
Default

Originally Posted by racerseks
You saw that one too, huh?
Yes, it is hard for me to understand how this could be manufactured,sold and shipped and pay Ebay for $55 and still make a good profit. By my quick calculation the radiator would have to be able to be built for less than $20 for the manufacturer to make a profit and the seller make a profit along with paying for shipping.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2018 | 02:18 AM
  #31  
racerseks's Avatar
racerseks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by Whaleman
Yes, it is hard for me to understand how this could be manufactured,sold and shipped and pay Ebay for $55 and still make a good profit. By my quick calculation the radiator would have to be able to be built for less than $20 for the manufacturer to make a profit and the seller make a profit along with paying for shipping.
Yea, pretty funny, huh?

In looking into this, it's the same as everything else is these days. I bet that $55 radiator is made in the same factory alongside ones that are sent out to auto parts stores and sold for $150. As a matter of fact, I have seen some offered for sale using the same stock picture sometimes tripling in price.

It pays to research...those triple-priced ones sell to the types that are like "no chinese junk", see a "USA" brand name, but don't realize they're buying the same one 'cause it has a brand name on it with a "USA" address...then complain when the box says "made in China".

Anyway, as they say..."My .02"
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:52 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE