Radiator Advice for Track
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 36
Likes: 4
From: Tampa, Fl
Radiator Advice for Track
Looking for advise on a replacement radiator. While at Sebring this past Sunday, temps would hardly stay below 235/234. When I backed off the temp would drop to 220/225 but go right back up if I ran it hard.
01' Z06, Only engine related performance mods are a cut open stock air box with K&N Air Filter and Billy Boat Stinger Exhaust. In Florida, 90+ degree days, 50% street driven and 50% HPDE.
Long term goal is to keep advancing through HPDE, through Time Trials then eventually cage and race. Hopefully Spec Corvette makes it to Florida by then.
I would like to get the Spec Corvette 2.5" Core Aluminum Radiator and retain AC. But I've spoken with John Nguyen and he hasn't sold this radiator to anyone that has kept AC. He also stated the Spec Corvette radiator does not come with the tabs to mount the condenser but would check to see if the tabs could be made on to one for me. This radiator is keeping the Spec Corvette cars at 210 degrees in full race conditions.
So here are my questions...
Does anyone provide a 2.5" Radiator that allows the factory AC condenser to be retained? Has anyone done this?
Would a 2" Core from say like Dewitts be sufficient for HPDE and Time Trials in 90 degree heat, with the condenser in front of the radiator.. AC not on of course.
What about integrated Engine Oil Cooler option. With the 2.5" Core vs the 2" Core. Or just an external engine oil cooler?
Thanks in advance,
Cecil.
01' Z06, Only engine related performance mods are a cut open stock air box with K&N Air Filter and Billy Boat Stinger Exhaust. In Florida, 90+ degree days, 50% street driven and 50% HPDE.
Long term goal is to keep advancing through HPDE, through Time Trials then eventually cage and race. Hopefully Spec Corvette makes it to Florida by then.
I would like to get the Spec Corvette 2.5" Core Aluminum Radiator and retain AC. But I've spoken with John Nguyen and he hasn't sold this radiator to anyone that has kept AC. He also stated the Spec Corvette radiator does not come with the tabs to mount the condenser but would check to see if the tabs could be made on to one for me. This radiator is keeping the Spec Corvette cars at 210 degrees in full race conditions.
So here are my questions...
Does anyone provide a 2.5" Radiator that allows the factory AC condenser to be retained? Has anyone done this?
Would a 2" Core from say like Dewitts be sufficient for HPDE and Time Trials in 90 degree heat, with the condenser in front of the radiator.. AC not on of course.
What about integrated Engine Oil Cooler option. With the 2.5" Core vs the 2" Core. Or just an external engine oil cooler?
Thanks in advance,
Cecil.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 59
From: North Georgia
My suggestion is to get a DeWitts stand alone radiator and a Setrab 925 oil cooler.
That's what I have done. The oil cooler alone dropped my track oil temps down from over 300 degrees to 260. I run in the Instructor group at Road Atlanta and run pretty hard. Not as hard as my SCCA racing days, but still pretty hard.
My car is very streetable and I intend to keep it that way, but there are numerous other mods I have done, just to keep it together. Like:
Trunion upgrade, GM Blue Valve Springs, Oil Catch Can, Swiss Cheese Radiator Shroud Mod, the list goes on.
You will find that the Corvette that you thought was a track worthy car straight off the showroom floor is anything, but. If you're interested in keep doing HPDEs, you will want to get some help for your brakes, hubs, aero, diff/tranny coolers, polyurethane bushings, not to mention safety gear for the driver. Fluids are really important as well, maybe the most important for our Corvettes.
Let me know by messaging me if you want the complete list of how to keep your car together.
Good luck.
Spaggs
That's what I have done. The oil cooler alone dropped my track oil temps down from over 300 degrees to 260. I run in the Instructor group at Road Atlanta and run pretty hard. Not as hard as my SCCA racing days, but still pretty hard.
My car is very streetable and I intend to keep it that way, but there are numerous other mods I have done, just to keep it together. Like:
Trunion upgrade, GM Blue Valve Springs, Oil Catch Can, Swiss Cheese Radiator Shroud Mod, the list goes on.
You will find that the Corvette that you thought was a track worthy car straight off the showroom floor is anything, but. If you're interested in keep doing HPDEs, you will want to get some help for your brakes, hubs, aero, diff/tranny coolers, polyurethane bushings, not to mention safety gear for the driver. Fluids are really important as well, maybe the most important for our Corvettes.
Let me know by messaging me if you want the complete list of how to keep your car together.
Good luck.
Spaggs
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 375
From: San Jose, CA
If you're looking to run this car hard, you want a standalone oil cooler.
Consider ImprovedRacing's coolers instead of the standard seatrab or mocal.
Dewitts rad and fans are about as close to a drop-in as you can reasonably get. Super effective. Keeps coolant cool fantastically well.
Get a thermostat for the oil cooler, then get the biggest oil cooler you can fit.
Consider ImprovedRacing's coolers instead of the standard seatrab or mocal.
Dewitts rad and fans are about as close to a drop-in as you can reasonably get. Super effective. Keeps coolant cool fantastically well.
Get a thermostat for the oil cooler, then get the biggest oil cooler you can fit.
