Z51 HD cooling?
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Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Houston Texas
Z51 HD cooling?
The Chevrolet website says "Z51 has HD cooling". What does this entail? Is there a real difference from base or just marketing BS? Thicker radiator core would be nice. Dewitts sure improved my C6 Z51! Also what does the base and Z51 use for an engine oil cooler? Air or coolant (radiator or near oil filter) or none?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Z51 has rear tranny and differential coolers. That's what the vents on the rear deck are for. Non-Z51 doesn't have those nor functional vents 
Not sure about any engine upgrades however.....
Not sure about any engine upgrades however.....
Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 639
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From: DFW TX
Just a small clarification, the non-Z51 automatics have the tranny cooler and the duct open, but not diff cooler.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Retired to Mississsippi.
It refers to Engine Cooling, probably a bigger Radiator than the Base Model.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,433
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Cumming GA
On order: Torch Red Z51
These days people equate HD to something technical (Hi Def, Hi dynamic range, etc). Many of us are old enough to remember HD for Heavy Duty as in the radiator/oil cooler/water pump package.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 60
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From: Houston Texas
Yeah us old dudes wouldn't have ever thought of a High Definiton oil filter! 62 years old and still bucking modern technology. No cell phone. Probaly wouldn't have a computer is it wasn't for ordering Corvette, Gun or motorcycle stuff on internt, forums and looking at dirty pictures. (Oops!) Hope some one who has Z51 would chime in on EOC or larger radiator core? Waiting for Laguna Blue Z51, 2LT, Black wheels, all performance options with all Carbon Flash Black out on mirrors and spoiler etc and Dual Racing Stripes in Carbon Black. Thanks , Slim.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Retired to Mississsippi.
I haven't been able to find any details of what the Z51 HD Cooling Package consists of. Time to do some homework.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,145
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From: Upland CA
The Z51 dry sump provides some extra cooling for the oil just by sending it out of the engine to an external tank and back. I have not been on track yet, but the oil takes a long time to warm up in normal driving.
As to an actual engine oil cooler, or larger radiator, someone who has taken the systems apart or knows the cars internal design will have to answer.
I am hopeful the C7 Z51 does not require and cooling mods as long as it is stock. My 1999 C5 Z51 ran too hot on the track. The oil got close to 300 degrees in stock form and the water over 250. I added a Be-Cool oversized radiator, an oil to water engine oil cooler, and an Accu-Sump. With those mods the temps and oil pressure were always within safe limits and after over 10,000 miles on the track and 115,000 miles total the motor was better than new (compression, oil pressure, HP, oil consumption, fuel economy, etc).
As to an actual engine oil cooler, or larger radiator, someone who has taken the systems apart or knows the cars internal design will have to answer.
I am hopeful the C7 Z51 does not require and cooling mods as long as it is stock. My 1999 C5 Z51 ran too hot on the track. The oil got close to 300 degrees in stock form and the water over 250. I added a Be-Cool oversized radiator, an oil to water engine oil cooler, and an Accu-Sump. With those mods the temps and oil pressure were always within safe limits and after over 10,000 miles on the track and 115,000 miles total the motor was better than new (compression, oil pressure, HP, oil consumption, fuel economy, etc).
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,764
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From: Cumming GA
On order: Torch Red Z51
I can't speak to the base C7 but my C7 Z51 has an oil cooler on her. As I recall from when it was on the rack, it's low on the passenger side. I know there are some chassis photos from late last summer floating around in earlier posts. Maybe someone can find them.
The Z51 dry sump provides some extra cooling for the oil just by sending it out of the engine to an external tank and back. I have not been on track yet, but the oil takes a long time to warm up in normal driving.
As to an actual engine oil cooler, or larger radiator, someone who has taken the systems apart or knows the cars internal design will have to answer.
I am hopeful the C7 Z51 does not require and cooling mods as long as it is stock. My 1999 C5 Z51 ran too hot on the track. The oil got close to 300 degrees in stock form and the water over 250. I added a Be-Cool oversized radiator, an oil to water engine oil cooler, and an Accu-Sump. With those mods the temps and oil pressure were always within safe limits and after over 10,000 miles on the track and 115,000 miles total the motor was better than new (compression, oil pressure, HP, oil consumption, fuel economy, etc).
As to an actual engine oil cooler, or larger radiator, someone who has taken the systems apart or knows the cars internal design will have to answer.
I am hopeful the C7 Z51 does not require and cooling mods as long as it is stock. My 1999 C5 Z51 ran too hot on the track. The oil got close to 300 degrees in stock form and the water over 250. I added a Be-Cool oversized radiator, an oil to water engine oil cooler, and an Accu-Sump. With those mods the temps and oil pressure were always within safe limits and after over 10,000 miles on the track and 115,000 miles total the motor was better than new (compression, oil pressure, HP, oil consumption, fuel economy, etc).