Just got done cleaning out the condenser and removing / cleaning the radiator. Curious if there's any negative effects removing the radiator cover?

I always removed them on my F-Bodies and always had cooler temps (verified with autometer electronic gauge, not dash).

They're bottom feeders as well and I never had an issue. Any thoughts gents?

Thanks

 

when I installed my blower I left it off because the way the radiator is angled I couldn't get it to fit and it also would have interfered with my inlet pipe so I just left it off... eventually I would like to get a piece of sheet metal formed to cover that area but I have no cooling problems at all

 

If it can be done, it should be done, just ask the Army corp of engineers. Plus the engineers on the car were all crack heads anyway.

a crude attempt at humor.

With any question, one must identify the problem. Are you seeking a goal, or just want to leave stuff off as a kind of personalization. Lower temps are not desirable in every modern engine, they are pretty tightly engineered, even down to the temperatures seen


i suppose if you live in Alaska the answer is different than a guy from Nevada. Being by choice, a low involvement owner, I don't modify critical systems. Then I hope for the best, and still get sucked in.

 

Good fire-back... I appreciate it.

Again, as stated, I've ran all my F-Bodies as such and noticed cooler temps. BUT, I understand the C5 is indeed different. I also know how "great" the engineers were at GM... And bc they are actually in this site, I'll keep my own opinions to myself.

But since you brought up the outstanding Corps of Engineers, again, them sincerely needing quotations around the "engineer" portion, let me tell you a story about my father in laws property:

Butte La Rose Louisiana; they live on the Atchafalaya River. Corps decided they didn't "need" any additional erosion protection, and skipped their house for the pylons and rock they so freely GAVE to everyone else. I do want you to understand they live in the curve of the river...

So, 5 years later, my in laws have effectively lost 15' of land. Sorry to be a dick, but the Army Corps of Engineers strike a nerve with me.

Getting on: no, no goal to speak of, nor personalization. Just going with what went best with my SS that ran a LOT cooler without all the plastic in the way.

I live in Lafayette Louisiana. It's HOT here, with high humidity.

Geoff Skinner (EPS - Engine Power Systems - Founder of Thunder Racing, left in 2008 before it went to **** ) is my tuner, and he always recommends a 160 stat. Even for my Escalade.

 

Mines been off since 2002 made no difference to my temps even with a/c on.

 

I look at it this way.....It the GM engineers even remotely thought it might be an unnecessary piece, the "bean counters" would have NEVER let them put it on in the first place.....

 

I guess I'm more curious to know if it's an EFFECTIVE piece of equipment? Or just put there as a "beauty" cover.

I've been driving with it off and notice no difference. I can say though that it like like my intake is getting cooler fresher air though.

 

well, it's pretty easy to find out instead of speculating.

Someone with hptuners or with torque app on an android phone and a 12 buck OBDII reader sitting in the passenger seat can tell you for sure. go for a ride with and without the thing, and look at the actual IAT temp.

 

I take it you speak from experience?

 

Yes, I have HPTuners, torque app on an Android with a cheapy bluetooth reader, plus an aeroforce interceptor gauge which reads the IAT right from the OBDII port. All of them work fine for giving you live IAT measurements. The cheapy bluetooth reader and torque app on an android is by many magnitudes the least expensive and fastest way to go. If you know anyone with any of the list it wouldn't take you more than a few minutes to test with it on and off and know for sure.

The gauge that is half cut off on the left normally has my IAT as the top reading

 

Torque app sounds the best. Hope they make it for an iPhone. I very well may consider getting a better scanner than the one I have as well. It's simply a code reader / deleter and I can't see anything in real-time.

 

that's basically useless since you can pull and delete codes from the dic... hptuners is a good investment, not only can you data log but you can make any changes needed to your tune as well

 

Oh I know. I bought it on clearance just for the FBody and Escalade. Simply to read codes and delete them only.

Geoff @ EPS is my tuner and I'm not messing with it. I wouldn't even know what I was doing.

 

What holds the radiator and the radiator fan assembly together if you remove that top piece? Won't they just flop around?

 

I removed the big lower portion, that covers the air filter from the "ground" so to speak. The top portion is still installed.

In the pic, imagine the radiator being there and the top portion only...

 

Isn't the bottom piece designed to direct airflow to the radiator?

 

I thought you were talking about removing the top cover which I had to remove in my situation... for forced induction with a front mount intercooler you cannot use the shroud that you removed but if you are still n/a I would leave it there as it directs air to the condenser/radiator... if you are really curious you could datalog it with and without

 

I thought he meant the top too which is the reason I chimed in because I have mine removed too because I am also supercharged.

I am having a problem now, though. I have about 600 miles on it since the super charger install/ removal of the top shroud and my fan assembly has pulled away and down from the radiator and now my driver's side fan motor is hitting the sway bar.

How is yours set up?

 

there should be tabs on the fan shroud that slides into the tabs on the radiator to hold it in place... mine works just fine and the assembly is pretty solid and doesn't move around

 

I forgot I have one of those cheapy Bluetooth readers and the torque app. It's been collecting dust I may use I again this week for a bit if not one of you guys can have it for free Ill just pay it forward..And if you don't use it please send it back or send it to someone else for free please. Quick Google search says it works for iphone and they have the app. but double check