3 row cooler / radiator
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
3 row cooler / radiator
Hello!
I'm looking for a 3 row water cooler / radiator for my LT1 1992 with Automatic Transmission.
I find many different collers in the web from 150-500$. Often i find in the customers-reports that lot of guys are unhappy for the quality, because the new cooler get leaks after short time.
On superchevy i find a report from the ZIP cooler and i think this model looks fine.
Whats your experience from the version you have buyed?
Best regards
Juergen
I'm looking for a 3 row water cooler / radiator for my LT1 1992 with Automatic Transmission.
I find many different collers in the web from 150-500$. Often i find in the customers-reports that lot of guys are unhappy for the quality, because the new cooler get leaks after short time.
On superchevy i find a report from the ZIP cooler and i think this model looks fine.
Whats your experience from the version you have buyed?
Best regards
Juergen
Last edited by juergenc478; Dec 29, 2018 at 02:40 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
I put a Champion radiator in mine. 462 rwhp..... electric water pump and a 160 t-stat. Works well. Temps stay low. I had to trim the plastic housing, but was no big deal. Overall, IMO the champion is a very good value....
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
Find the cheapest and the most expensive. That will give you an idea what you should pay. I'd go somewhere between average to max at the very least. I can't afford to go cheap if I am keeping the car.
Part of the cost is from fitment. Do you want it to drop in and fit or do you want to screw around trying to make it fit. More work, less money.
Part of the cost is from fitment. Do you want it to drop in and fit or do you want to screw around trying to make it fit. More work, less money.
Last edited by aklim; Dec 30, 2018 at 11:16 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 400
From: DFW TX
My '84 has the LT1 radiator and fan setup. The guy I bought it from put in the cheap Amazon 3 row. I had an incident with a loose bolt that landed in the shroud. Fans came on and kicked the bolt around and punctured the radiator in several places. I simply replaced it with another Amazon 3 row for $162 shipped. No problems otherwise with either radiator.
I have used cheap aluminum 3 row radiators in other non-Corvette builds and they have worked great.
I have used cheap aluminum 3 row radiators in other non-Corvette builds and they have worked great.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
My '84 has the LT1 radiator and fan setup. The guy I bought it from put in the cheap Amazon 3 row. I had an incident with a loose bolt that landed in the shroud. Fans came on and kicked the bolt around and punctured the radiator in several places. I simply replaced it with another Amazon 3 row for $162 shipped. No problems otherwise with either radiator.
I have used cheap aluminum 3 row radiators in other non-Corvette builds and they have worked great.
I have used cheap aluminum 3 row radiators in other non-Corvette builds and they have worked great.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 400
From: DFW TX
I don't know about a/c with the Vette as I don't run it. I have been caught in 100+ Texas heat with completely stopped or stop and go traffic several times and the fan kicks on at 210° and immediately cools it into the 190s. It runs 160-185° when moving depending on the ambient temp.
It is a drop in radiator besides the simple rubber mount trimming because the rad is wider. Mine dropped in because the previous owner had already trimmed them.
My other non-Corvette swaps I used even cheaper radiators with Taurus fans and had no issues with heat, humidity, a/c or anything else.
It is a drop in radiator besides the simple rubber mount trimming because the rad is wider. Mine dropped in because the previous owner had already trimmed them.
My other non-Corvette swaps I used even cheaper radiators with Taurus fans and had no issues with heat, humidity, a/c or anything else.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Ok. I think i'll spent the money on the DeWitts one. I also have to consider the shipping to europe and so it's better to buy a high quality product as a cheap on and i need again a new one after 5 years.
Thanks for your answers!
BR Juergen
Thanks for your answers!
BR Juergen
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
The mods are not much. 10min. of work. FWIW seems every change I have made to mine has required some mods. As I stated, mine is 462rwhp 11.2 compression, 385cid. etc. And cools fine. Even on a 90+ day, in stop and go traffic with ac on, it will never go above 190-200.....
I will not argue with the crowd that states Dewitts is the best. I have never owned one, but again, I do not doubt them..... But, at what cost? and that is a decision each person has to make.
For me, the Champion was the best value, just like the Scat vs Callies crankshaft I chose to use.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Check the core sizes, then compare.
Standard is a 1 inch row dewitt and some aftermarket offers 2x 1 inch rows, or a 1 and 1/2 inch row.
The 3 row may be only 3x 1/2'' rows, giving only a small capacity increase.
Some have 3x 5/8'' rows, so you have to really look at them carefully.
Be very wary as the Chinese crap is real bad hard to know what is made in the USA or China, my first 2 row all aluminum radiator would overheat the car in even cool weather. Turned out the core inlet / outlet tube ends were bent over each end, getting the end tanks removed to fix this and getting them aluminum welded was more than it was worth. Also the aluminum was so thin the thin aluminum tubes in the core ballooned out restricting airflow. ended up as scrap aluminum.....
After research on here i got a double row radiator which people said worked well,has not given any trouble.
The superadiator brand one WAS REAL BAD ENDED UP AS SCRAP ALUMINUM, totally unusable. Cost me $135 plus $95 international shipping!
The second was a Champion brand at $175 with $72 international shipping, still no problems 3 years later.
So i could have bought a proper 2 row DeWitts radiator built in USA ... you get what you pay for ..
Standard is a 1 inch row dewitt and some aftermarket offers 2x 1 inch rows, or a 1 and 1/2 inch row.
The 3 row may be only 3x 1/2'' rows, giving only a small capacity increase.
Some have 3x 5/8'' rows, so you have to really look at them carefully.
Be very wary as the Chinese crap is real bad hard to know what is made in the USA or China, my first 2 row all aluminum radiator would overheat the car in even cool weather. Turned out the core inlet / outlet tube ends were bent over each end, getting the end tanks removed to fix this and getting them aluminum welded was more than it was worth. Also the aluminum was so thin the thin aluminum tubes in the core ballooned out restricting airflow. ended up as scrap aluminum.....
After research on here i got a double row radiator which people said worked well,has not given any trouble.
The superadiator brand one WAS REAL BAD ENDED UP AS SCRAP ALUMINUM, totally unusable. Cost me $135 plus $95 international shipping!
The second was a Champion brand at $175 with $72 international shipping, still no problems 3 years later.
So i could have bought a proper 2 row DeWitts radiator built in USA ... you get what you pay for ..
Last edited by gerardvg; Jan 3, 2019 at 12:27 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
Check the core sizes, then compare.
Standard is a 1 inch row dewitt and some aftermarket offers 2x 1 inch rows, or a 1 and 1/2 inch row.
The 3 row may be only 3x 1/2'' rows, giving only a small capacity increase.
Some have 3x 5/8'' rows, so you have to really look at them carefully.
Be very wary as the Chinese crap is real bad hard to know what is made in the USA or China, my first 2 row all aluminum radiator would overheat the car in even cool weather. Turned out the core inlet / outlet tube ends were bent over each end, getting the end tanks removed to fix this and getting them aluminum welded was more than it was worth. Also the aluminum was so thin the thin aluminum tubes in the core ballooned out restricting airflow. ended up as scrap aluminum.....
After research on here i got a double row radiator which people said worked well,has not given any trouble.
The superadiator brand one WAS REAL BAD ENDED UP AS SCRAP ALUMINUM, totally unusable. Cost me $135 plus $95 international shipping!
The second was a Champion brand at $175 with $72 international shipping, still no problems 3 years later.
So i could have bought a proper 2 row DeWitts radiator built in USA ... you get what you pay for ..
Standard is a 1 inch row dewitt and some aftermarket offers 2x 1 inch rows, or a 1 and 1/2 inch row.
The 3 row may be only 3x 1/2'' rows, giving only a small capacity increase.
Some have 3x 5/8'' rows, so you have to really look at them carefully.
Be very wary as the Chinese crap is real bad hard to know what is made in the USA or China, my first 2 row all aluminum radiator would overheat the car in even cool weather. Turned out the core inlet / outlet tube ends were bent over each end, getting the end tanks removed to fix this and getting them aluminum welded was more than it was worth. Also the aluminum was so thin the thin aluminum tubes in the core ballooned out restricting airflow. ended up as scrap aluminum.....
After research on here i got a double row radiator which people said worked well,has not given any trouble.
The superadiator brand one WAS REAL BAD ENDED UP AS SCRAP ALUMINUM, totally unusable. Cost me $135 plus $95 international shipping!
The second was a Champion brand at $175 with $72 international shipping, still no problems 3 years later.
So i could have bought a proper 2 row DeWitts radiator built in USA ... you get what you pay for ..
