[Z06] Help needed! Radiator replacement
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Help needed! Radiator replacement
Hi all,
I have 2004 Z06 with 51K miles. It's currently at a shop for putting the new coolant but the shop told me that the radiator needs to be replaced... The draing plug/threads are messed up. Is this common?
i was recommended Dewitt's one but it costs me $890... I'm looking for alternative and your advise/recommendation highly appreciated! Any budget friendly but still reliable one in the market? I don't track the car. I drive it for weekends.
Many thanks in advance!
I have 2004 Z06 with 51K miles. It's currently at a shop for putting the new coolant but the shop told me that the radiator needs to be replaced... The draing plug/threads are messed up. Is this common?
i was recommended Dewitt's one but it costs me $890... I'm looking for alternative and your advise/recommendation highly appreciated! Any budget friendly but still reliable one in the market? I don't track the car. I drive it for weekends.
Many thanks in advance!
Last edited by Aviator_JPN; Yesterday at 11:44 AM.
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There is also ECP that's cheaper than the Dewitt's
https://ecp-radiator.com/collections/corvette
https://ecp-radiator.com/collections/corvette
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
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From: Orange County, CA
Last edited by MetalMan2; Yesterday at 03:07 PM.
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As for the drain plug threads... it's a plastic plug into a plastic tank, so easily messed up by ham fisted dudes.
Last edited by Gorn Captain; Yesterday at 03:09 PM.
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Dewitt's radiators are the best on the market for the C5. If you were running into cooling issues before, this is an excellent option that can definitely help to lower your coolant temps. However, if your car is stock, and you never had temperature issues prior to this, a Dewitt's definitely seems like an unnecessary expense. Especially given the way that you use the car, there's just no need for a top of the line aftermarket radiator. An OEM equivalent will be just fine.
I think it's important to note that while radiator plug issues certainly can happen, it's not something that typically just developes on its own in a stock vehicle with no known cooling issues. It's usually caused by someone not being careful when removing and reinstalling the plug. I don't know if you do any work on the car yourself, or if you've taken it to multiple shops, but it's certainly possible that the damage was actually caused by the shop that's trying to upsell you on a new radiator.
I think it's important to note that while radiator plug issues certainly can happen, it's not something that typically just developes on its own in a stock vehicle with no known cooling issues. It's usually caused by someone not being careful when removing and reinstalling the plug. I don't know if you do any work on the car yourself, or if you've taken it to multiple shops, but it's certainly possible that the damage was actually caused by the shop that's trying to upsell you on a new radiator.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
Hi all,
I have 2004 Z06 with 51K miles. It's currently at a shop for putting the new coolant but the shop told me that the radiator needs to be replaced... The draing plug/threads are messed up. Is this common?
i was recommended Dewitt's one but it costs me $890... I'm looking for alternative and your advise/recommendation highly appreciated! Any budget friendly but still reliable one in the market? I don't track the car. I drive it for weekends.
Many thanks in advance!
I have 2004 Z06 with 51K miles. It's currently at a shop for putting the new coolant but the shop told me that the radiator needs to be replaced... The draing plug/threads are messed up. Is this common?
i was recommended Dewitt's one but it costs me $890... I'm looking for alternative and your advise/recommendation highly appreciated! Any budget friendly but still reliable one in the market? I don't track the car. I drive it for weekends.
Many thanks in advance!
Well if that shop messed up the threads THEY should be replacing the radiator on THEIR dime...NOT YOURS !!...ask them !...if the threads were fine before they drained it the threads should be fine when they fill it up.
Last edited by C5 Diag; Yesterday at 04:51 PM.
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Can't speak for the '04 version, but the original radiator on '99 manual cars did not have an internal cooler for automatic transmissions. The GM/Delco and all the non-aluminum aftermarket radiators I've seen are more 'universal' and have a trans cooler taking up tank space. Not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, just something to bear in mind.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
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From: Orange County, CA
Can't speak for the '04 version, but the original radiator on '99 manual cars did not have an internal cooler for automatic transmissions. The GM/Delco and all the non-aluminum aftermarket radiators I've seen are more 'universal' and have a trans cooler taking up tank space. Not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, just something to bear in mind.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 272
Likes: 66
From: Virginia
Hi all,
I have 2004 Z06 with 51K miles. It's currently at a shop for putting the new coolant but the shop told me that the radiator needs to be replaced... The draing plug/threads are messed up. Is this common?
i was recommended Dewitt's one but it costs me $890... I'm looking for alternative and your advise/recommendation highly appreciated! Any budget friendly but still reliable one in the market? I don't track the car. I drive it for weekends.
Many thanks in advance!
I have 2004 Z06 with 51K miles. It's currently at a shop for putting the new coolant but the shop told me that the radiator needs to be replaced... The draing plug/threads are messed up. Is this common?
i was recommended Dewitt's one but it costs me $890... I'm looking for alternative and your advise/recommendation highly appreciated! Any budget friendly but still reliable one in the market? I don't track the car. I drive it for weekends.
Many thanks in advance!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 2,108
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From: THE BEACH..
Exactly, that's what happens when you let more strength than brains work on your car. Plastic threaded Drain Plug, doesn't take much to thread in and out.
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Dewitt's radiators are the best on the market for the C5. If you were running into cooling issues before, this is an excellent option that can definitely help to lower your coolant temps. However, if your car is stock, and you never had temperature issues prior to this, a Dewitt's definitely seems like an unnecessary expense. Especially given the way that you use the car, there's just no need for a top of the line aftermarket radiator. An OEM equivalent will be just fine.
I think it's important to note that while radiator plug issues certainly can happen, it's not something that typically just developes on its own in a stock vehicle with no known cooling issues. It's usually caused by someone not being careful when removing and reinstalling the plug. I don't know if you do any work on the car yourself, or if you've taken it to multiple shops, but it's certainly possible that the damage was actually caused by the shop that's trying to upsell you on a new radiator.
I think it's important to note that while radiator plug issues certainly can happen, it's not something that typically just developes on its own in a stock vehicle with no known cooling issues. It's usually caused by someone not being careful when removing and reinstalling the plug. I don't know if you do any work on the car yourself, or if you've taken it to multiple shops, but it's certainly possible that the damage was actually caused by the shop that's trying to upsell you on a new radiator.