Do you know your GM radiators? Please help.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 196
From: Southern CA
Do you know your GM radiators? Please help.
My black book says that originally the 1996 LT1 had a .93 inch thick radiator & the LT4 had a 1.34 inch thick radiator.
The current GM part # (52473260) is one radiator for ALL 1996 Corvettes. I have checked this with two local dealers & Kopp's dealership.
Nobody can tell me how thick this current replacement is. GM parts direct does not have the detail (thickness).
Anyone know what you get for thickness when you buy this current replacement.
This question (thread) not for aftermarket stuff, just GM please.
Thanks!
The current GM part # (52473260) is one radiator for ALL 1996 Corvettes. I have checked this with two local dealers & Kopp's dealership.
Nobody can tell me how thick this current replacement is. GM parts direct does not have the detail (thickness).
Anyone know what you get for thickness when you buy this current replacement.
This question (thread) not for aftermarket stuff, just GM please.
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Do you know your GM radiators? Please help. (froggy47)
I will bet money that the replacement rad is the LT1 auto... they go with the lowest common denominator when it comes to replacement parts.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Re: Do you know your GM radiators? Please help. (froggy47)
I am pretty sure the OEM LT4 radiator is no longer available so they are selling the same radiator for the LT1 automatic transmission and the LT4 manual.
The replacement is thinner and has the internal automatic transmission cooler. I called the OEM manufacturer and they no longer make the model without the automatic transmission cooler.
The replacement is thinner and has the internal automatic transmission cooler. I called the OEM manufacturer and they no longer make the model without the automatic transmission cooler.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Re: Do you know your GM radiators? Please help. (froggy47)
I replaced my leaking OEM LT4 radiator with the GM replacement. While it did have the auto trans cooler, it was the same in every other aspect.
Eric
Eric
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 196
From: Southern CA
Re: Do you know your GM radiators? Please help. (silver & red CE)
Hi silver & red ce,
I guess I'm obsessing a bit on this, but you are saying the current gm replacement rad is the thick one (1.34") but it ALSO has a tranny cooler built in?? That would make sense from a $$$ point of view. GM doesn't have to stock 2 different rad's for the 96 year, just the thicker one with a cooler built in if it goes into the LT1.
I guess the LT1 guys make out in that case with xtra cooling capacity & LT4 loses a little bit by the dead space taken up by the internal tranny cooler.
I think I recall there being a yellow plug on the rear pass top part of the replacement rad. That would be one of the connection points for the auto tranny cooler lines I suppose.
As long as mines the thick one I'm not going to sweat it. I'd measure it but it's near impossible without pulling the shroud (lotta work for a measure)
Thanks for the post!
Was your part # 52473260?
[Modified by froggy47, 3:08 PM 5/4/2003]
[Modified by froggy47, 3:09 PM 5/4/2003]
I guess I'm obsessing a bit on this, but you are saying the current gm replacement rad is the thick one (1.34") but it ALSO has a tranny cooler built in?? That would make sense from a $$$ point of view. GM doesn't have to stock 2 different rad's for the 96 year, just the thicker one with a cooler built in if it goes into the LT1.
I guess the LT1 guys make out in that case with xtra cooling capacity & LT4 loses a little bit by the dead space taken up by the internal tranny cooler.
I think I recall there being a yellow plug on the rear pass top part of the replacement rad. That would be one of the connection points for the auto tranny cooler lines I suppose.
As long as mines the thick one I'm not going to sweat it. I'd measure it but it's near impossible without pulling the shroud (lotta work for a measure)
Thanks for the post!
Was your part # 52473260?
[Modified by froggy47, 3:08 PM 5/4/2003]
[Modified by froggy47, 3:09 PM 5/4/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Re: Do you know your GM radiators? Please help. (froggy47)
Well, I can give you an answer to this:
The corvette specs book is wrong here ( I have it and there are many places where this book is flat wrong, so don't rely to closely on it!!). BTW, I am surprised that the LT1 and LT4 radiator are supposed to be identical since the LT4 has a manual tranny and does not need an ATF cooler core in it. That is also the reason why the LT4 has slightly more coolant capacity.
I replaced mine last year in April and the core of the original radiator I removed from my 1996 LT1 auto coupe measured 1.35 inches thickness. The replacement I got had a core that was only inch thick. I complained and found out that all radiators have the new 1 inch thickness core now. SO I installed it and went on a measuring spree. All LS1 cars (My wife's 2001 T/A and several C5s I checked have the same 1 inch thickness core). I could not find any newer cars that have the thicker core anymore, not even my 2002 Suburban with the Z71 and towing package. It also has the 1 inch core, just a much larger one in width and height.
[Modified by Alex D, 5:19 PM 5/4/2003]
The corvette specs book is wrong here ( I have it and there are many places where this book is flat wrong, so don't rely to closely on it!!). BTW, I am surprised that the LT1 and LT4 radiator are supposed to be identical since the LT4 has a manual tranny and does not need an ATF cooler core in it. That is also the reason why the LT4 has slightly more coolant capacity.
I replaced mine last year in April and the core of the original radiator I removed from my 1996 LT1 auto coupe measured 1.35 inches thickness. The replacement I got had a core that was only inch thick. I complained and found out that all radiators have the new 1 inch thickness core now. SO I installed it and went on a measuring spree. All LS1 cars (My wife's 2001 T/A and several C5s I checked have the same 1 inch thickness core). I could not find any newer cars that have the thicker core anymore, not even my 2002 Suburban with the Z71 and towing package. It also has the 1 inch core, just a much larger one in width and height.
[Modified by Alex D, 5:19 PM 5/4/2003]
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 196
From: Southern CA
Re: Do you know your GM radiators? Please help. (Alex D)
Hi Alex,
I don't know what thickness they pulled out of my LT4, I told the dumb butt to save the part but, of course, when I asked to see it nobody knew what happened to it.
At least I got a new one, they were going to send it to a rad shop & replace the plastic tanks only. That's probably why they did not use the rad shop - couldn't get the original size tanks.
BTW I've got an 02 Sub z71 black/neut. Love it. Do you think the HPP was worth the money for your Sub? I have just put a K&N in mine so far.
[Modified by froggy47, 4:04 PM 5/5/2003]
I don't know what thickness they pulled out of my LT4, I told the dumb butt to save the part but, of course, when I asked to see it nobody knew what happened to it.
At least I got a new one, they were going to send it to a rad shop & replace the plastic tanks only. That's probably why they did not use the rad shop - couldn't get the original size tanks.
BTW I've got an 02 Sub z71 black/neut. Love it. Do you think the HPP was worth the money for your Sub? I have just put a K&N in mine so far.
[Modified by froggy47, 4:04 PM 5/5/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Re: Do you know your GM radiators? Please help. (froggy47)
Hey there.....the Z71 Burb rocks...I absolutely love it and I am happy that I bought it in 2002.....the 03s have increase by $3,000 to $5,000 in price. My fully loaded Z71 would be $5,XXX more today than it was last year.
Anyway, I do liek the HPP on the Burb......the HPP does not give you much more power on the sports cars, but the Burb has a very conservative ignition timing curve and other setting because Chevy obviously needs to make them live even hauling big loads in hot weather. The HPP gives you a nice boost on the Burb...some on LS1Tech.com report as much as 25 RWHP.....I like it but with the 91 octane setting and the stock thermostat you can rum mid grade int he winter, but must run premium in the summer, otherwise you get knocks under WOT acceleration, especially when the truck shifts into higher gear under WOT. The other thing I like, running 92 octane premium and cruising 75 mph on the interstate, I now get 20 mpg......which really surprised me. I also liked the fact that I could set the shift points, especially the 2-3 upshifta and the 4-2 downshift at a higher rpm/mph. Further I really liked the fact of removing the low 98 mph speed limiter to 128 mph....
Anyway, I do liek the HPP on the Burb......the HPP does not give you much more power on the sports cars, but the Burb has a very conservative ignition timing curve and other setting because Chevy obviously needs to make them live even hauling big loads in hot weather. The HPP gives you a nice boost on the Burb...some on LS1Tech.com report as much as 25 RWHP.....I like it but with the 91 octane setting and the stock thermostat you can rum mid grade int he winter, but must run premium in the summer, otherwise you get knocks under WOT acceleration, especially when the truck shifts into higher gear under WOT. The other thing I like, running 92 octane premium and cruising 75 mph on the interstate, I now get 20 mpg......which really surprised me. I also liked the fact that I could set the shift points, especially the 2-3 upshifta and the 4-2 downshift at a higher rpm/mph. Further I really liked the fact of removing the low 98 mph speed limiter to 128 mph....
Hi Alex,
I don't know what thickness they pulled out of my LT4, I told the dumb butt to save the part but, of course, when I asked to see it nobody knew what happened to it.
At least I got a new one, they were going to send it to a rad shop & replace the plastic tanks only. That's probably why they did not use the rad shop - couldn't get the original size tanks.
BTW I've got an 02 Sub z71 black/neut. Love it. Do you think the HPP was worth the money for your Sub? I have just put a K&N in mine so far.
[Modified by froggy47, 4:04 PM 5/5/2003]
I don't know what thickness they pulled out of my LT4, I told the dumb butt to save the part but, of course, when I asked to see it nobody knew what happened to it.
At least I got a new one, they were going to send it to a rad shop & replace the plastic tanks only. That's probably why they did not use the rad shop - couldn't get the original size tanks.
BTW I've got an 02 Sub z71 black/neut. Love it. Do you think the HPP was worth the money for your Sub? I have just put a K&N in mine so far.
[Modified by froggy47, 4:04 PM 5/5/2003]
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
