My First Big Upgrade
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14,120
Likes: 7,413
From: Pittsburgh
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Your pic didn't work
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,136
Likes: 24,734
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Good choice for a radiator. 
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
yes I wasn’t to impressed with the factory radiator. I put a 180 degree thermostat in and the best it got down to is a 192 degrees. Which is good right now but not when it starts heating up here in Arizona. Yeah I think Chevy really cheap out on the radiator. It makes you wonder how many things go out on a Corvette early because things got to hot.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 46
From: Taylorsville North Carolina
Good choice. First real upgrade I did to mine as it started overheating at the track. When I took it out to repl with DeWitts, there was so much crud in there, I probably didn't need to repl, but did anyway. Rad as held up well in over 9 years of track days. I take it out during the winter and clean it well. Can't imagine the the Ron Davis one being worth the extra dollars, so excellent choice..
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Good choice. First real upgrade I did to mine as it started overheating at the track. When I took it out to repl with DeWitts, there was so much crud in there, I probably didn't need to repl, but did anyway. Rad as held up well in over 9 years of track days. I take it out during the winter and clean it well. Can't imagine the the Ron Davis one being worth the extra dollars, so excellent choice..
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 52
From: Jefferson City MO
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 958
Likes: 177
From: Newark Delaware
You're going to have no problem with cooling with that rad, having the fans on their stock temps. Unless you start putting big power in the engine, I don't see the need to tune the fans on earlier. Just my opinion using real world experience.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
With Arizona temps between 110 and 120 while stuck in traffic, I am not so sure.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 52
From: Jefferson City MO
And, stock radiators work fine with more power.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 958
Likes: 177
From: Newark Delaware
Yes, I agree, but it will not keep temps at 180 without the fans kicking on earlier. Fans do not kick on, even with AC on until temps get to 185. If the OP wants to keep temps at the thermostat rating of 180, fans will need to be adjusted.
And, stock radiators work fine with more power.
And, stock radiators work fine with more power.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 113
Likes: 21
From: Phoenix, AZ
My buddy was an engineer for Ron Davis radiators here in AZ and he recommended that I keep the stock radiator when I mentioned that I was thinking of changing out for a DeWitt. He pointed out that all aluminum radiators will suffer leakage eventually at the welds (vs the plastic tanks that "float" on the factory radiator). He also pointed out some other issues such as steel or brass fittings in aluminum creating galvanic corrosion. (PS I'm not an expert, he just mentioned all of these when I was looking at the Aluminum radiator at the local speed shop).
As he pointed out, all the hot weather testing for the C5 was done right here in Mesa, AZ, and the C5 is meant to run at higher temps that the 180 we are used to in the old days. I haven't owned my 04 C5Z long enough to weather an AZ summer, so we shall see. I'll probably pull the condenser to blow out all of the garbage that accumulates in the rad and condenser as a first step.
As he pointed out, all the hot weather testing for the C5 was done right here in Mesa, AZ, and the C5 is meant to run at higher temps that the 180 we are used to in the old days. I haven't owned my 04 C5Z long enough to weather an AZ summer, so we shall see. I'll probably pull the condenser to blow out all of the garbage that accumulates in the rad and condenser as a first step.