corvette-sickness

Z51 2005...

I took the stock radiator out... I get the basics...

Any tips or suggestions?

I thought it had the "click in" lines for the trans AND oil... But they are only on the trans side...

So... Using the old c-clamp housings for the driverside in and out...

0Tom@Dewitt

We supply the AN type fittings for the oil side for those who want to use steel braided line. If you are going to use the quick connection lines just take the old fittings out of the stock radiator. Screw them into our radiator and plug the lines in.

corvette-sickness

Soo... Got the radiator installed today. (beautiful, sad to cover it!)

Few probs...

Well as soon as I started the car to burp the system, I realized I WAS VERY NEAR OUT OF GAS!!!

Soo.. The engine and resevoir were already filled up with coolant from where it had to sit the last few weeks... And we quickly kept adding coolent...

I really didn't want to run out of gas so I went next door (literally) to get gas. And bam, started getting hot...

So I shut it off, got gas and let it cool down... Started it up and filled it with coolant again.

Got back to the shop... Water dumping out of the water pump...

We think the water pump was already leaking a bit and starting to go...

But... Could I have just done worse than the pump?

Any suggestions?

corvette-sickness

In addition, I ask that you be easy on me...

I DO realize I probably ****ed up.

Bad.

corvette-sickness

Need some advice guys!

Did I potentially do more damage than the water pump?

What water pump should I get?

Beauller?


Beauller?

Flame Red

When I installed my Dewitts, it overheated also because of all the air in the system. I had a couple of leaks. The Pet **** leaked, and I wrapped it with teflon plumbers tape and that sealed it. I also had reinstalled one of the hose clamps crooked slightly so it leaked there too.

I watched it carefully and did not let it go much over 230 and shut it down and let it sit until it stopped sucking in fresh fluid from the reservoir. I also tried putting it at various angles to see if that helped. But in the end I just waited for it to blurp out the air in the system and stopped sucking in fresh fluid from the reservoir. It took several cycles before it stopped overheating - took it about an hour to settle down. I did not drive it until it no longer overheated and it stopped sucking in new fluid. Not sure if there is a better procedure for burping.

My pump did not leak though.

corvette-sickness

Cool.

I feel a bit better about it just being the pump...

Now I have to ask...

I HAD to put some tap water to find the leak.... It will be all drained tomorrow...

I know it's bad to put tap water in it... But it will be ok for a few days... Right?

AORoads

I am certainly not expert on cooling systems, (and this is a "ttt" for you) but I do believe a couple days of tap water will not hurt anything. There are many who still use ONLY tap water altho many have changed to distilled only. Do handle the coolant you drain carefully (not assuming you wouldn't) because it is not good for groundwater if it drains out into the ground.

Others will comment on damage if any, and type/brand of water pump to get.

corvette-sickness

Thanks brother, and yes rest at ease, it is in a shop, and all fluids/oil etc are disposed of properly!

I want to one day duel turbo or supercharge... So trying to decide on just replacing stock or goin for a lighter more heavy duty pump...

Gearhead Jim

IIRC, Service Manual says to slowly fill the surge tank until coolant gets to the bottom of the neck and stays there. Start engine, and idle for 4 minutes and add coolant as necessary, run at about 2000-2500 rpm for a couple of minutes and add coolant as necessary while running. Let idle, shut down and add 1 qt.

We did that twice on our stock 2009, no problems at all. I wonder what's different about other radiators?

corvette-sickness

Maybe because the 05 and 06 z-51 have BOTH trans and oil coolers as well... After 06 they were different...