witch Radiator is best
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: EL CAJON CA
witch Radiator is best
Hello, I had front end accident in my 89 Vette and need a radiator. Are there any Aluminum direct fit radiators someone has tried, I am looking for something much better than stock. I am also going to put a 1991-1996 or a Stalker front end from Mid-America,Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
:confused:
Thanks in advance.
:confused:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 0
From: Pineville, Louisiana
Re: witch Radiator is best (Moto Guzzi)
There has been some outstanding debate about radiators here in the past and I am not really sure you can do a search to pull them with all the changes this forum has taken lately. I know that the radiators on the C4 is one of the most efficient radiators you can find and is compared to the radiators NASCAR uses. Very small design with maximum cooling is what you need on a corvette so this area always causes lots of debates. Hopefully some of the members that are really versed on radiators will chime in...
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Re: witch Radiator is best (CowboyNVette)
I just this year installed an upgraded radiator from http://www.radiator.com and it keeps my car at 180 F in the summer with a 160 F Powerstat......in the winter it keeps the car actually too cool......oil on gets up to 180F and water stays at 173F
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,019
Likes: 0
From: down that one road next to that big tree
Re: witch Radiator is best (Denny McLain)
i think lingenfelter is selling ron davis radiators, if there is a better deal i'd love to know about it before summer and track events but i do know those work, even in the heat.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 110
From: Austin Texas
Re: witch Radiator is best (gtsyellow)
I just bought a Ron Davis and installed it this weekend. Man...you want to talk about a pretty piece of engineering!!!
I got mine with the integrated oil cooler since I needed a "real" oil cooler anyway. I stabbed the engine & trans back in this weekend, so I should have it back on the road in a few days.
I know someone else with a Ron Davis and their car stays at 220 deg. at the track with 20 minute sessions in the middle of the summer here in Texas. It has nearly 2x the surface area of the stock radiator. I did have to do some minor mods to the rubber mounts to get it to fit. I also had to shave some of the mount where the fans bolt to get it to seat properly.
Another place to look is Fluidyne http://www.fluidyne.com/pl_hpexotics.html I know that Hib worked very closely with them to develop a "true" drop-in aluminum radiator for the C4. There is no modification needed to use it. Fluidyne said it is good up to 450 HP. I went with Ron Davis as this will be good for up to 800 HP (same core as they use for NASCAR teams) and will work for the 427 SBC we are building.
I got mine with the integrated oil cooler since I needed a "real" oil cooler anyway. I stabbed the engine & trans back in this weekend, so I should have it back on the road in a few days.
I know someone else with a Ron Davis and their car stays at 220 deg. at the track with 20 minute sessions in the middle of the summer here in Texas. It has nearly 2x the surface area of the stock radiator. I did have to do some minor mods to the rubber mounts to get it to fit. I also had to shave some of the mount where the fans bolt to get it to seat properly.
Another place to look is Fluidyne http://www.fluidyne.com/pl_hpexotics.html I know that Hib worked very closely with them to develop a "true" drop-in aluminum radiator for the C4. There is no modification needed to use it. Fluidyne said it is good up to 450 HP. I went with Ron Davis as this will be good for up to 800 HP (same core as they use for NASCAR teams) and will work for the 427 SBC we are building.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: witch Radiator is best (Moto Guzzi)
I have an '84 with the stock radiator in good shape and cleaned out between the condensor and radiator. On 110* days it maintains 185-190* with a 180 thermostat, at speed. Crawling around town it will set off my fan, which is reprogramed to come on at 205. The temp always drops to the fan cut off temp of 195, then the cycle starts over again. I can't remember the last time I saw 210*.
I am planning a much larger, more powerful engine and have been looking for something better than stock. Just to the left of Joe 90's post there is a link. titled, "Alumunum Radiators". Dewitts has a two row (ours are one row) all aluminum (no plastic tanks) Griffith radiator available for $495.00. It ought to do a fantastic job. Due to the investment required, I'm going to wait to see if I need more radiator. So far, with a little maintenance, the stocker has performed flawlessly.
RACE ON!!!
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 7:15 PM 11/17/2002]
I am planning a much larger, more powerful engine and have been looking for something better than stock. Just to the left of Joe 90's post there is a link. titled, "Alumunum Radiators". Dewitts has a two row (ours are one row) all aluminum (no plastic tanks) Griffith radiator available for $495.00. It ought to do a fantastic job. Due to the investment required, I'm going to wait to see if I need more radiator. So far, with a little maintenance, the stocker has performed flawlessly.
RACE ON!!!
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 7:15 PM 11/17/2002]
