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

Reverse flow cooling in an 87?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 24, 2003 | 04:48 PM
  #1  
amswak's Avatar
amswak
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Winnetka CA
Default Reverse flow cooling in an 87?

Why can't the hoses just be switched around to make my L98 reverse flow? What is it that makes this not possible?
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2003 | 04:52 PM
  #2  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,143
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: Reverse flow cooling in an 87? (amswak)

why would you want to do that?

gotta worry about how the coolant goes thru the heads when you do that, remember the LT1's heads are different because of this and wont work on an earlier SBC as just a bolt-on
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2003 | 05:00 PM
  #3  
amswak's Avatar
amswak
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Winnetka CA
Default Re: Reverse flow cooling in an 87? (vader86)

From what I am told if the heads are cooled first the compression ratio can be higher than 10.5 without burning up the engine. Can the heads be switched out with other heads, maybe LT1s (I dont know if LT1s are reverse flow, just using it as an example)


[Modified by amswak, 4:00 PM 10/24/2003]
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2003 | 05:17 PM
  #4  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,143
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: Reverse flow cooling in an 87? (amswak)

From what I am told if the heads are cooled first the compression ratio can be higher than 10.5 without burning up the engine. Can the heads be switched out with other heads, maybe LT1s (I dont know if LT1s are reverse flow, just using it as an example)
Yeah it does allow for higher compression, but you can compensate for that stuff with the right octane-fuel, no need to go and redo the whole engine compartment to just let you run a higher compression unless we're talking about a pure race car. LT1 is reverse flow, but it doesnt just bolt on and work right with the SBC Gen I.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2003 | 01:04 AM
  #5  
jfb's Avatar
jfb
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Default Re: Reverse flow cooling in an 87? (amswak)

The reverse coolant flow in LT-1's comes from the waterpump design, not the connection of the hoses! You cannot reverse the coolant flow in an L98 because the waterpump is designed with it's outlet into the block and the coolant flows into the block and out the heads. Reverse flow must not have been very effective since Corvette doesn't use it anymore.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2003 | 01:31 AM
  #6  
amswak's Avatar
amswak
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Winnetka CA
Default Re: Reverse flow cooling in an 87? (jfb)

you mean the LS1 is not reverse flow?
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2003 | 06:57 PM
  #7  
Alex D's Avatar
Alex D
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Default Re: Reverse flow cooling in an 87? (amswak)

NOPE.........LS1 engines have the thermostat on the inlet side just like the LT engines, but they are not reverse flow.
you mean the LS1 is not reverse flow?
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2003 | 07:01 PM
  #8  
Alex D's Avatar
Alex D
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Default Re: Reverse flow cooling in an 87? (jfb)

It's not jsut the waterpump design. The entire engine block is different. It has four water openings in the front. The two top ones (smaller) route the coolant coming from the thermostat and the pump through block passages to the heads from where it goes back down into the block and then it exits from the block via the two bottom holes in the block (larger holes) back into the waterpump and through internal passages to the upper radiator hose. This cannot be duplicated in the Gen I SBC.
The reverse coolant flow in LT-1's comes from the waterpump design, not the connection of the hoses! You cannot reverse the coolant flow in an L98 because the waterpump is designed with it's outlet into the block and the coolant flows into the block and out the heads. Reverse flow must not have been very effective since Corvette doesn't use it anymore.
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 Oct 25, 2003 | 07:33 PM
  #9  
Aggravated4life's Avatar
Aggravated4life
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: Reverse flow cooling in an 87? (amswak)

If memory serves me right,LPE built 383's Super Ram L98 motors with 11.0-11.5 compression and it ran on pump gas.Crucial selection of parts and a good cooling system should be the ticket.
:)
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Reverse flow cooling in an 87?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:32 AM.

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