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Ron Davis Radiator fitting

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Old Aug 7, 2012 | 07:30 PM
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Default Ron Davis Radiator fitting

hello vetters,,
I am preparing my auto C5 for race track this coming season here in Saudi Arabia.
I did a lot of search about what kind of radiator would be perfect.
I found more hits with Ron Davis radiator with EOC however the fitting is so problematic while Dewitte radiators fit directly JUST LIKE THAT
but I am still with Ron Davis since I am using my vette in tracks.
any recommendations guys..
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Old Aug 7, 2012 | 07:32 PM
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It's my understanding that the Ron Davis radiator is better at higher speeds than the Dewitts, this is due to fin count.
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Old Aug 7, 2012 | 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Supercharged111
It's my understanding that the Ron Davis radiator is better at higher speeds than the Dewitts, this is due to fin count.
We can make a radiator with any fin count you want
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Old Aug 8, 2012 | 12:19 AM
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The Ron Davis needs a little coaxing to fit. You need to trim the rubber bushings the stock radiator sits in since the matching areas of the RD Radiator are larger than stock. The pin (cone) on the bottom of the passenger side of the radiator is larger than the same item on the stock radiator so you need to enlarge the hole in the rubber bushing so the radiator will slide all the way into the bushing. The seams where the end tanks are fitted to the fin section of the radiator are wider than stock so the stock rubber brackets at the bottom and the top of the radiator need to be widened so they fit around the seams and allow the radiator to drop all the way down and for the plastic radiator cover on top to sit tightly on top of the radiator. If you don't cut the rubber pieces the radiator will sit ~ half inch (12mm) to high. Not sure what makes the radiator cool as well as it does all I can say is it will cool the oil too much in cool weather even though the oil cooler is inside the radiator.

Bill
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Old Aug 8, 2012 | 03:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom DeWitt
We can make a radiator with any fin count you want
how is it in the track?
does the oil temp significantly decrease?
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Old Aug 8, 2012 | 03:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
The Ron Davis needs a little coaxing to fit. You need to trim the rubber bushings the stock radiator sits in since the matching areas of the RD Radiator are larger than stock. The pin (cone) on the bottom of the passenger side of the radiator is larger than the same item on the stock radiator so you need to enlarge the hole in the rubber bushing so the radiator will slide all the way into the bushing. The seams where the end tanks are fitted to the fin section of the radiator are wider than stock so the stock rubber brackets at the bottom and the top of the radiator need to be widened so they fit around the seams and allow the radiator to drop all the way down and for the plastic radiator cover on top to sit tightly on top of the radiator. If you don't cut the rubber pieces the radiator will sit ~ half inch (12mm) to high. Not sure what makes the radiator cool as well as it does all I can say is it will cool the oil too much in cool weather even though the oil cooler is inside the radiator.

Bill
that was comperhensive and helpful..
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Old Aug 8, 2012 | 04:00 AM
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Originally Posted by sagrea
hello vetters,,
I am preparing my auto C5 for race track this coming season here in Saudi Arabia.
I did a lot of search about what kind of radiator would be perfect.
I found more hits with Ron Davis radiator with EOC however the fitting is so problematic while DeWitt radiators fit directly JUST LIKE THAT
but I am still with Ron Davis since I am using my Vette in tracks.
any recommendations guys..

I would not recommend any radiator with an internal engine oil cooler. The flow rate of the internal engine oil coolers are very restrictive.

Instead, consider a SETRAB 50-172-7612 oil cooler. This cooler is the same width as your radiator and offers 40,000 to 60,000 BTUs of heat rejection capacity, which is very much needed in Saudi Arabia. Plumb the SETRAB oil cooler with #12 AN fittings and lines.

Here is a picture of how I mounted it in my C5 -




Good luck with your Vette.

-
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Pumba
I would not recommend any radiator with an internal engine oil cooler. The flow rate of the internal engine oil coolers are very restrictive.

Instead, consider a SETRAB 50-172-7612 oil cooler. This cooler is the same width as your radiator and offers 40,000 to 60,000 BTUs of heat rejection capacity, which is very much needed in Saudi Arabia. Plumb the SETRAB oil cooler with #12 AN fittings and lines.

Here is a picture of how I mounted it in my C5 -




Good luck with your Vette.

-
I can see in your pic you have replaced the OEM radiator with aftermarket one. I found some other brands taking the same concept you were talking about. seprate Engin oil coloor.
breathless, pfadt, DRM.
now you made me confused.
definitly I am gonna buy after market radiatro (ron davis vs dewitte)
but I am not sure wether with EOC or seperat oil cooler.

friend of mine recommends to do both,
radiator with EOC and other seprate oil cooler and making the line comes from the engine then goes to seperate oil cooler then goes back to the radiator with EOC then comes back to the engine.
that may be the ultimate oil cooling, he said.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by sagrea
I can see in your pic you have replaced the OEM radiator with aftermarket one. I found some other brands taking the same concept you were talking about. seprate Engin oil coloor.
breathless, pfadt, DRM.
now you made me confused.
definitly I am gonna buy after market radiatro (ron davis vs dewitte)
but I am not sure wether with EOC or seperat oil cooler.

friend of mine recommends to do both,
radiator with EOC and other seprate oil cooler and making the line comes from the engine then goes to seperate oil cooler then goes back to the radiator with EOC then comes back to the engine.
that may be the ultimate oil cooling, he said.

Please consider that if you plumb your engine oil through the radiator's intank oil cooler, it cannot run any cooler than the water. If your water is 220 degrees F, then your oil cannot be any cooler than that. Also consider that cooling your oil in the radiator will raise your water temperture.

Professional race teams DO NOT combine engine oil and water cooling systems. They completely separate the two.

Good luck with your Vette.

-
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 02:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom DeWitt
We can make a radiator with any fin count you want
Do you have a template for cutting the shroud ?
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Pumba
.

Professional race teams DO NOT combine engine oil and water cooling systems. They completely separate the two.

Good luck with your Vette.

-
UH , I've seen it done BOTH ways.
Seriously
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