Installed a Dewitts radiator this past weekend. Fittment & quality are excellent. Biggest temp improvement I've seen so far is while sitting in traffic. Temps would go to 200* or higher with the stock rad & 178* thermostat. Now I haven't seen anything above 180*. Once moving, the temp drops. We'll see how it does as summer rounds around, but so far I'm very pleased. :yesnod:

 

Thats great I was thinking of using one in my 01.Im glad to see you had no problems.Was there any probs or tricks to installing?

 

there is an isue with 01 and newer automatic . II had to return it because the transmission line fittings do not fit the radiator. You have to gerry rig the installation. the quality of the radiator is EXCELLENT I was very disappointed that I could not install it without a workaround.

 

Are you talking about the transmission cooler lines?If so why could you not just use a external cooler?I am about to buy a new radiator so I need to knoe what im getting into.

 

I had no issues on my 98. Tranny lines connected up fine. The only install problem, if you can call it that, is the manner in which the AC condenser & fan assembly attach, which is the same way on the stock radiator, is you have to adjust by bending the tabs on radiator & condensor so they will slide down into position. This is the only way the condensor & fan assembly are attached to the radiator. No bolt, clamps, etc. I also, installed 2 strips of rubber weather seal on the edges where the AC condensor comes in contact with the radiator just to prevent metal to metal rubbing.

But again, I'm very please so far. :smash:

 

The newer lines use a large Saginaw style fitting. Tom Dewitt says he has adaptors for this.

An easy fix that I did rather than shipping the radiator back:
Just cut off the fittings and use 5/16" brass inverted flare fuel line nipples on the radiator side. Get some HD SAE hose and clamps.

 

This is exactly what I suggested to Fred Hamble but he did not want to modify anything, which I fully understand.

Let me clear a few thing up. BHP was one of first models made. Every Corvette prior to C5's used a 5/16" inverted flare (1/2-20) connection for the tranny cooler. I "assumed" C5's were too but they weren't and a few got out that way. The correct connection on 1997-2000 models is a 3/8" inverted flare (5/8-18). So we supplied adapters to convert 5/16"-3/8" on the first eight or ten we made.

Today, our radiator (A97A) has the correct 3/8" I.F. connection that is the same as the factory for 1997-2000 and no modifications or adapters are required.

The 2001-2004 cars with the metric (o'ring) seal connection will need some kind of re-work to get this hooked up. This method BHP used is a good one. He just purchased a standard inverted flare-to-3/8" barbed fitting, a little piece of hose, and clamp it.

I looking at another possible way without using the hose and clamps. The factory connection on the trans line appears to be a 3/8" tube with a special o'ring seal nut. It may be possible to throw the nut away, slide on a 3/8" I.F. nut and flare the end of the existing tube. Then the factory line will go right in. If anyone has comments on this idea, I'm all ears.

I Just submitted an article on the C5 radiator upgrade in Corvette Fever magazine and hope to see it out in the next couple months. The tips in this story will help others with the install project. I have it in "word" and if anyone wants, I can email a copy now.

I also have a new procedure in place to test fit a "actual" fan shroud to insure the fit is right.


[Modified by Tom DeWitt, 5:32 PM 4/8/2004]

 

Hey Tom can you send a copy to me email is 2-loud4u@msn.com.Also sounds like the fittings needed to be modified is no problem.I dont see the big deal because most people mod their car anyway.

 

:withstupid:
Tom, email the article to david@djcomputing.net :cheers:

 

I had thought about using a 3/8" line compression fitting at the radiator but the only ones I have seen so far are for 5/16" lines with the 1/2-20 thread. If there is a 3/8" version out there I will be happy to try it but I need a good source for brass tube fittings.

I had no problem fitting the shroud and radiator fit like stock in the mounting brackets.

 

BHP,

I bought one of the factory fittings (nut) for the 01-04. It looks like the nut would slide right off the end of the existing tube. You mentioned you have to cut the tube and I was wondering why. Wouldn't the nut come off?

Also, what do you think of my flaring idea. Based on the fitting I bought, it looks like the tube dia. is 3/8". Since the early cooler is 3/8" inverted flare, couldn't you just take the nut off and flare the end? I understand the tube is bent and I don't know how much "straight" section you have to work with on the end. Most flaring tools require at least 1" distance of straight section to flare the end.

I have also contacted a friend at Delphi that might be able to line me up with the oe cooler. If he can get me the source of the stock trans cooler, this will all be mute. I'll just split the model for 97-00 and 01-04 and both will fit right up. :cool:

 

[Modified by MikeV, 11:39 AM 4/12/2004]

 

Nut was pressed on, I had to cut tubing. The dealer told me you have to replace the entire hose/line as an assembly. My car has 3/8" steel tubing from the tranny and the radiator end has a crimped rubber hose with short 3/8" bent tubing to the fitting. Clearance is limited by the sway bar on the inlet side of the radiator cooler. I think if you did a flare on the 3/8" tubing the flare would be too big in diameter to fit the radiator fitting.

 

I think you missed what I am trying to say or I'm just not good at saying it. Let's try this again....What if you installed the new radiator with the 3/8" inverted flare connection. Then you cut the nut off the end of the existing 3/8 tube. Then slide a 3/8 I.F. tube nut (not the old metric one) onto the tube, and flare the end. Now they would match and no hose clamps or adapters.

 

Only problem is, a 3/8 tube inverted flare nut is a 5/8-18 thread and your radiator has 1/2-20 threads.

Tom, the radiator you sold me had fittings for 5/16" lines, C4 I guess. If this is a problem let me know.




[Modified by BHP, 4:39 PM 4/9/2004]

 

Tom,
would you also E-mail me the story on the radiator upgrade and shroud. Also my 2002 A4 coupe is going to get a Magnuson soon any recommendations to radiator size and the cost factor please
rlalberti@***-internet.com

 

Apparently you missed this from above:


Let me clear a few thing up. BHP was one of first models made. Every Corvette prior to C5's used a 5/16" inverted flare (1/2-20) connection for the tranny cooler. I "assumed" C5's were too but they weren't and a few got out that way. The correct connection on 1997-2000 models is a 3/8" inverted flare (5/8-18). So we supplied adapters to convert 5/16"-3/8" on the first eight or ten we made.

The A97A now has a 5/8-18!





[Modified by Tom DeWitt, 6:08 PM 4/11/2004]

 

Thanks Tom for your clarification. Can you send me the adapters? This will allow me to flare the tubing and use a 3/8 IF flare nut to eliminate the hose.