Radiator options

[WVZR-1]

Originally Posted by Karl

Typo, I have a 1/8" npt fitting and it is the wrong size.

1/16-NPT then and it's still 27TPI. 1/16 NPT certainly isn't found very often but I'd guess it's what you've found OR maybe actually a metric affair but it sure would seem unlikely. I would think they would have supplied information and I might have guessed even applied a sticker/decal or something to keep the user from screwing up an initial install.

*** I doubt the metric and am inclined to think the 1/16-NPT. If you do call I'd be interested in an explanation of "WHY". Maybe there's a very good reason.

[Karl]

It's 1/8" npt and so far so good.

Fluidyne didn't return my phone calls either. Oh well.

[-=Jeff=-]

So is a 3 core overkill? S that ever decided in this thread?

[8cam]

Originally Posted by Karl

Been looking at Porsche 928's (not to purchase) and they all have pusher fans in front.

Looks like that is the key to a cool engine with the a/c on stuck in traffic.

I have some experience here, having run a couple 928s and done significant cooling upgrades on one of them. Funny the 928 guys usually convert to a PULLER for upgrades. They use a similar radiator, aluminum core with plastic side tanks and those tanks are the achilles heel. The 928 flow design causes a hot spot at the top of the tank, which will eventually cause it to split. With a replacement factory radiator at $1,200 going with aftermarket was a no brainer. I installed a Griffin with full aluminum tanks and a BIG Spal puller fan, with an in-line thermostat. That completely solved the car's cooling problems.

I do believe the stock system was excellent and worked well, if it was in good condition. But over the years, tubes clog, vanes get bent, things can corrode, and it wasn't working like it was designed to. After my upgrades, that car ran right around 195 degrees all the time, just like it should.

FWIW I love 928s, really are the "German Corvette" with significantly higher quality. But I will never own another one. Without question, the most expensive cars I have ever run...and I have a Ferrari in the garage!

Originally Posted by Hib Halverson

If the cooling system is working properly and you've got the right combination of coolant, thermostat, fan-on cal and radiator, in my experience, ECT, even with the A/C on is not an issue

Amen. I have spent a lot of time working through cooling systems, both stock and upgraded, on a multitude of cars, both street and track driven. My own opinion is stock is usually best for almost all situations, as long as it's in optimal condition. Get the stock system right, and you won't have any problems. I live in Atlanta, as hot a humid a place as anywhere in the US. My own ZR-1, in summer traffic jams with the a/c on, will run a little warm until the fans come on. Then the temp drops back down exactly like it's supposed to. Get the radiator clean, run it like Hib says, and it should work well.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-

So is a 3 core overkill? S that ever decided in this thread?

I do not think a 3 row/core radiator is overkill. If I had more patience to modify the fan shroud and radiator mounts I would have used the Champion 3 row unit I have. But since all my a/c stuff is new and I did not want open a can of worms I did not want to take a chance of messing up modifying the lower radiator mounts while they are still in the car.

[secondchance]

I don't think it's simple as number of cores. Actual engine cooling seems would depend on number of variables - flow rate, core to fin heat transfer rate, fins to air heat transfer rate, at least.
As for the flow rate, too slow would result in inefficient coolant cooling and too fast would hamper core to fin heat transfer also resulting in inefficient cooling.
Main reason I opted for aftermarket radiator is because I had two OEM radiators fail (typically at 80,000 miles plus/minus) and, with minimal clearance between the fins, are prone to clogging with small particulates. Also, I am hoping dual core construction of Dewitt unit may improve core to fin heat transfer. We shall see...

[Bob Eyres]

Originally Posted by Pete

Some early C4's had a pusher fan from the factory.
Pete

Pete, if that's true why not find a NOS one, or search the bone yards. C4's are all very similar, wouldn't it be a logical solution to add a GM engineered solution that already exists?

For what it's worth, i've got a Bee Cool radiator, a 160deg. Thermo., and a manual fan switch.
That seems to work well for me here in the sub-tropics.

I also used Evans Propylene Glycol coolan,t (100%), for about ten years too, but I've found that the green stuff and water actually cools a little better.

[WVZR-1]

Originally Posted by Bob Eyres

Pete, if that's true why not find a NOS one, or search the bone yards. C4's are all very similar, wouldn't it be a logical solution to add a GM engineered solution that already exists?

All C4 Corvettes with "pusher fans" were '89 or earlier when the radiator was mounted "vertically" in the radiator supports. In '90 the radiator mounting was changed so there's NO OE "pusher" that would work for the '90+ arrangement.

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by WVZR-1

All C4 Corvettes with "pusher fans" were '89 or earlier when the radiator was mounted "vertically" in the radiator supports. In '90 the radiator mounting was changed so there's NO OE "pusher" that would work for the '90+ arrangement.

The 84 was a "sucker". I think the C4 went thru several changes in the orientation of radiators during its build.

[WVZR-1]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

The 84 was a "sucker". I think the C4 went thru several changes in the orientation of radiators during its build.

ALL C4 Corvette primary fans are "pullers" - the only "pusher" fans are the secondary/auxiliary fans and then only those are in the '89 or earlier with the vertically mounted radiator. '90+ cars all have a pair of puller fans.

'84 was the only year that didn't offer the secondary/AUX fan. There's only 2 orientations, '84 - '89 and '90+.