High HP C5 cooling problem, need advice
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 8
From: Indianapolis Indiana
High HP C5 cooling problem, need advice
Here's the problem... a C5 Corvette that has had a heads, cam, supercharger and headers installed. It generates about 650HP at the crank.
At night or cool weather it seems to run at acceptable temperatures. At 88F in heavy stop and go the temp rises to about 250F.
The water pump was changed to a hi flow type and that didn't solve it. On test drive with air off it ran about 230F as soon as the air was turned on it shot up to about 250F,
Could the HP on this have exceeded the radiator capacity?
Do you know what the stock radiator will cover in rough HP?
If this sounds like the problem is there an after market radiator that will provide sufficient additional cooling?
If you have done mods to up your HP to similar numbers have you experienced cooling problems?
Would appreciate comments from those that have high HP C5s/
Thanks!
At night or cool weather it seems to run at acceptable temperatures. At 88F in heavy stop and go the temp rises to about 250F.
The water pump was changed to a hi flow type and that didn't solve it. On test drive with air off it ran about 230F as soon as the air was turned on it shot up to about 250F,
Could the HP on this have exceeded the radiator capacity?
Do you know what the stock radiator will cover in rough HP?
If this sounds like the problem is there an after market radiator that will provide sufficient additional cooling?
If you have done mods to up your HP to similar numbers have you experienced cooling problems?
Would appreciate comments from those that have high HP C5s/
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Just an opinion, but anything over 450rwhp, and definitely any SC engine should get a better radiator. With your setup, you are way beyond the stock radiator capacity. Try Dewitts, BeCool, A & A, or DRM for hi-capacity C5 radiators
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Houston Tx.
I added the BeCool radiator, 160 degree thermostat, tuning, and I run distilled water with two bottles of Redline Water Wetter (no coolant)with my setup that produces around 574HP to the crank and it hangs around 180-195 most of the time and 220 in 100+ weather in traffic. I even run that setup in the winter and it stays around 174-185 all day.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by ndirishr1
What HP do you have and did you have cooling problems or was this preventive?
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,599
Likes: 1,717
From: Converse TX
I put in the DeWitt's when I went to a blower as South Texas is not so kind to us in the Summer. Last week I had my car out in stop and go traffice and saw about 210 with the AC on and then I took it for a blast on the highway and temps back in the 190's. I also modified my A&A setup like Andy is doing on his new kits make a gap between the intercooler and AC setup. I also put on the LG screen in place of the license plate, but this is for open road driving and will not help much when you are in stop and go traffic, and it looks good to boot even though it has a big Corvette tax on it
