Has anyone added a Z06/Z51 power steering cooler to a C5?

Is this a big deal????


DH

 

Appearantly getting all the fittings to connect to the reserviour is a PITA. Do it and take pictures for the rest of us.

 

We have done this in the past! It works very slick. I don't have any kits that I could sell you but it's pretty easy to figure out. You can use tube nut and a sleeve to convert your hard steel lines to AN stuff and then go to a front mount cooler or better yet in the radiator. Don't use cheap hoses because it just not safe for track use.

Randy
Ps if you want to get really trick you can do it all in AN lines, but a fitting must be made, and that just isn't fun.

 

Well an other job for A&A Corvette.......


DH

 

I have a Dewits with EOC and TOC.......already have my tranny cooler now running externally only and am about to do the same with the engine cooler. The Dewitts keeps my coolants fine at the track but oil still gets to 280 on a cool day.....and I need to run in the summer also.

So I am concerned that a PS line thru the radiator will be better than just the stock Z06 setup. I shouldn't need anything more that a track run Z06.

What do you think............and thanks for your input!!!!


DH

 

k am i missing something but doesnt the ps fluid already have a cooler.. unless ur talking about a larger one..

 

Just if you have Z51 or Z06 package.

 

A C5 does not have one unless it has the Z51 option or is a Z06.

They figured us C5 guys would never push the PS to where it heats up and causes problems.

I believe mine is overheating at the track and then steering gets difficult/stiff which is not good in a 120mph sweeper......


DH

 

Corvettes are like boob jobs. Always go bigger than you think you'll need .

 

After blowing my p/s pump I went with the Z06 cooler, its a simple bolt on..

 

I also had the Z06 P/S cooler installed - appeared to be an easy install.

EDIT: Before the cooler I was loosing P/S fluid due to boiling which was causing the fluid to escape out the cap - no longer a problem.

 

Thanks guys ....... EASY INSTALL is what I wanted to hear.

And I assume it works good too ????

I wonder if the Z51 ad Z06 are the same.......anyone know for sure??


DH

 

I think 280 oil temps on a cool day is too much. I also think that the Z06 PS cooler will help but it's not the best cooler you can install. You are pushing your car very hard from what I can tell. You are spinning at High RPM all the time which is very good but not on your pump.

1. install cooler, anything is better then nothing
2. send your pump off to get reworked (slowed down)
3. run smaller front tires
4. run redline PS fluid in there
5. race hard!!!

Randy

 

DH,

A friend of mine put a Z51 cooler in his '00 coupe for autocross after he boiled his PS fluid at MSR at a DE and the steering "locked up" momentarily.

The install is easy, although a bit tight. No more problems since then. My Z51 cooler has stood me well, both at DEs and autox.

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike

 

Randy

Thanks for the input

I figured if its OK for the Z06 it should be adequate for my car. I will not be going to smaller front tires......I love the RII's (285x18 in front). I already am using Red Line PS fluid.

I am getting an air cooled oil cooler.

What is this about reworking the PS pump.....??????


DH

 

very tru!!!

 

Mike

I'm having it installed so I don't have to worry about tight.....

Your friend sounds like he was having the same problem I have been experiencing.......after 1 1/2 sessions when everything is real good and hot......I feel like my steering gets VERY stiff and jerky in high speed turns.....not the best feeling

I sure hope this cures it


DH

 

It should, unless your PS pump was killed by the heat (his wasn't). He said when it happened he had to strain mightily to keep from going off track, and when they pulled into the pits his instructor commented that he was wondering if my friend was going to have a heart attack or stroke, the veins on his neck were standing out so much.

I think you'll be happy with the results.

Have a good one,
Mike

 

I did some custom power steering lines for my twin turbo install on my Z06 (braided stainless). Had to use some adapter fittings from Aeroquip -- I believe they called them Saginaw fittings. They went from the power steering box (sorry, don't know the proper word for this) to the pump and from the box to the cooler.

You could pretty easily make the whole system AN and put an AN cooler in there somewhere. Only downside is the cost, the fittings were around $15 a piece. Times 5 that's $75 in just the Saginaw->AN fittings, plus you'll probably need at least twice that in hose ends, and hose. If I were to guess I'd say you'll end up between $400 and $500 in plumbing alone if you want to do a full braided stainless/AN setup. Then add the cooler price to that.

Note, others have had success in just cutting the OEM lines on the metal tubing, flaring the tubing out a bit and using hose clamp to secure push-lock type hose to the tubing.

 

This may be of value to some. When I installed my TTi TT the stock PS cooler if you can call it that get's deleted because it is in the way. Rather than just removing the steel pipe, I decided to install a custom cooler and re-route the hosing. So what I have done is to pull the factory steel line attached to the rack and modify the line. The line is all low pressure so strength is not a huge concern. The pipe that exits the rack has a natural bend so we'll use that part. Cut the pipe about 3" after the bend and flare the cut end with a flare kit from Auto Zone (free rental). Then attach the 3/8" barbed end/flare fitting to this pipe.


Now re-direct the fitting towards the front of the car.


Now, for my application I have and intercooler and turbo pipes running thru the area so I had to go small but you can buy a used C4 corvette PS cooler and mount it in the same location. The C4 coolers have 9 passes and fully finned. They can be had for $20 on ebay. Hose clamp the rubber lines in and out and bring the return back to the res.



The cooler gets it's cool air from either the brake duct opening or you can modify the radiator shroud to shunt some air out the driver's side to flow over the cooler. Or better yet, install it in front of the AC condensor. The rubber flex lines give you many possiblities for mounting. In the end I used a Mopar OEM cooler bolted to frame. this is better than what the car came with but not enough for racing applications.