Cooling System Overhaul
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3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 3
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Cooling System Overhaul
Hello All, In the past couple days I have had a whirlwind of things happening including a job promotion, which comes in just in time for my newest corvette issue, the cooling system. I opened up the radiator cap today and stuck my finger in the Radiator and theres quite a bit of brown sludge. I pulled the Coolant level sensor and its also sludge covered. Shined a light inside the coolant expansion/resovoir tank, more sludge. Furthermore, I found the thermostat appears to be leaking coolant out of the housing. I could replace te gasket and flush the radiator a couple times, but I’m feeling like doing some upgrading.
My end goal for this car is a weekend warrior/ backroads cruiser that I may take to the local drags 2-3 times a year. I intend on doing a 383 stroker, with vortec heads, roller rockers, a mild cam and long tube headers going to a custom exhaust. Ill eventually do either 3.07 or 3.45 gears, and I want to retain the 700r4 Trans. That said, I figure while I swap out my cooling system components I should also upgrade them.
After some research I have come up with the following Parts list, and wanted to see if you all have any inputs or see anything crucial I am missing to complete this job.
Radiator - 2 core 1’’ tube aluminum radiator from ECPhttps://speedcooling.com/1984-1989-C...SABEgLM1fD_BwE
Fan - sp464 by Dewitts
https://dewitts.myshopify.com/produc...te-fan-upgrade
Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses from Ecklers Corvette
Water Pump - US Motor Works from Rock Auto
Thermostat - 180 Degree Stant THermostat from Rock Auto
Thermostat Housing and Coolant Level Sensor from Rock Auto
Any Inputs for the parts I have selected or any parts you recommend I add to this job I welcome your recommendations. Thanks!
My end goal for this car is a weekend warrior/ backroads cruiser that I may take to the local drags 2-3 times a year. I intend on doing a 383 stroker, with vortec heads, roller rockers, a mild cam and long tube headers going to a custom exhaust. Ill eventually do either 3.07 or 3.45 gears, and I want to retain the 700r4 Trans. That said, I figure while I swap out my cooling system components I should also upgrade them.
After some research I have come up with the following Parts list, and wanted to see if you all have any inputs or see anything crucial I am missing to complete this job.
Radiator - 2 core 1’’ tube aluminum radiator from ECPhttps://speedcooling.com/1984-1989-C...SABEgLM1fD_BwE
Fan - sp464 by Dewitts
https://dewitts.myshopify.com/produc...te-fan-upgrade
Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses from Ecklers Corvette
Water Pump - US Motor Works from Rock Auto
Thermostat - 180 Degree Stant THermostat from Rock Auto
Thermostat Housing and Coolant Level Sensor from Rock Auto
Any Inputs for the parts I have selected or any parts you recommend I add to this job I welcome your recommendations. Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,942
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
Hello All, In the past couple days I have had a whirlwind of things happening including a job promotion, which comes in just in time for my newest corvette issue, the cooling system. I opened up the radiator cap today and stuck my finger in the Radiator and theres quite a bit of brown sludge. I pulled the Coolant level sensor and its also sludge covered. Shined a light inside the coolant expansion/resovoir tank, more sludge. Furthermore, I found the thermostat appears to be leaking coolant out of the housing. I could replace te gasket and flush the radiator a couple times, but I’m feeling like doing some upgrading.
My end goal for this car is a weekend warrior/ backroads cruiser that I may take to the local drags 2-3 times a year. I intend on doing a 383 stroker, with vortec heads, roller rockers, a mild cam and long tube headers going to a custom exhaust. Ill eventually do either 3.07 or 3.45 gears, and I want to retain the 700r4 Trans. That said, I figure while I swap out my cooling system components I should also upgrade them.
After some research I have come up with the following Parts list, and wanted to see if you all have any inputs or see anything crucial I am missing to complete this job.
Radiator - 2 core 1’’ tube aluminum radiator from ECPhttps://speedcooling.com/1984-1989-C...SABEgLM1fD_BwE
Fan - sp464 by Dewitts
https://dewitts.myshopify.com/produc...te-fan-upgrade
Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses from Ecklers Corvette
Water Pump - US Motor Works from Rock Auto
Thermostat - 180 Degree Stant THermostat from Rock Auto
Thermostat Housing and Coolant Level Sensor from Rock Auto
Any Inputs for the parts I have selected or any parts you recommend I add to this job I welcome your recommendations. Thanks!
My end goal for this car is a weekend warrior/ backroads cruiser that I may take to the local drags 2-3 times a year. I intend on doing a 383 stroker, with vortec heads, roller rockers, a mild cam and long tube headers going to a custom exhaust. Ill eventually do either 3.07 or 3.45 gears, and I want to retain the 700r4 Trans. That said, I figure while I swap out my cooling system components I should also upgrade them.
After some research I have come up with the following Parts list, and wanted to see if you all have any inputs or see anything crucial I am missing to complete this job.
Radiator - 2 core 1’’ tube aluminum radiator from ECPhttps://speedcooling.com/1984-1989-C...SABEgLM1fD_BwE
Fan - sp464 by Dewitts
https://dewitts.myshopify.com/produc...te-fan-upgrade
Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses from Ecklers Corvette
Water Pump - US Motor Works from Rock Auto
Thermostat - 180 Degree Stant THermostat from Rock Auto
Thermostat Housing and Coolant Level Sensor from Rock Auto
Any Inputs for the parts I have selected or any parts you recommend I add to this job I welcome your recommendations. Thanks!
As far as keeping it cool... I just finally got my mill to a point where it is controlled (with the A/C on, my standards are a little different.) It took the big dewitts radiator and a taurus fan but it's finally good. 90+ outside and hovering right at 205.
