Home page
SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors!  |  Advertise Here

Topic: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982

in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems


Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

Back to top of thread

Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (11/21)
 5/10/14 10:59pm
chronos51
Former Member

Send Private Message

Phoenix, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139

F4Gary said: 150 degrees?  I think you mean 180.  That tick on the gauge between 100 and 210 is where my needle sits with a 180* thermostat.


your probably right. 

I took the radiator out today. I inspected it- the radiator caps  are an inch bigger than the radiator itself. first time ive seen this type of set up. anyways, both side caps are bubbafied, and it looks like the top has been wielded at some point. the top inlet/outlet pipe is cracked pretty bad it broke even more when i was twisting the hose off. 
looking at the rust inside the radiator, a good restore may or may not do any good but im not sure.
I ordered an aluminum one due to arrive early this week and am going to keep the old one until i can find a good radiator shop to restore it.

Now flushing the system, can it be done with the radiator out? i didnt want to try it with the old one in due to how bad it was leaking. I picked up a new thermostat 195 (figured since im in their i might as well, the old one works still and its also 195)
so any ideas on flushing the system? or just wait until i get the other radiator in?

thanks


______________




Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (12/21)
 5/10/14 11:47pm
F4GaryGold Member
Gold Member
Send Private Message

Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

If your car was running at 180 degrees, you didn't have a 195 degree thermostat.  Wacko

______________

   

Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (13/21)
 5/11/14 1:19am
HighDesertDave
Former Member

Send Private Message

Carson City, NV - USA

Vette(s):
Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior


Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239

With the rad out I've just run the garden hose into the manifold water neck and cranked it up. Pull the thermo first....you can try running both ways, put the hose into the water pump opening and blast the other way...might float some crap out wedged up in there. Makes a mess if you have rust....don't do it on a concrete driveway. No point in buying a rust dissolver (flush kit) since you cannot let it sit in the engine without the rad.

______________
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (14/21)
 5/11/14 2:42am
tb2k82ceLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Lemon Grove, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.


Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041

You are running a crossfire system it is set up to run above 170 normally or the car may not go into close loop. This change occurs between 170 and 175 normally.  A crossfire will run great at around 200 degrees I have the stock 195 thermostat in it.  I did have my radiator rebuild and had another core put in it.  I believe I went from 3 to 4 core radiator.  It may have been 2 to 3 cores.  I do not know except I told them to purchase a thicker core than came out of it.

Anyway that gave it lots of cooling power it runs between 195 and 205 (as measured with a temperature gun on the upper radiator hose) I have a 195 thermostat in it.

I always was told it is excessive heat that causes you issues not running at designed temperature.  Most car engines are designed to run around 190 to 205 degrees with 215 -220 getting in the little to warm range.   If I'm wrong please let me know.

If you want it to run cooler run a 165 Thermostat that should do the job.  Stay with the brass and copper radiator in my book with 4 cores.
Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (15/21)
 5/11/14 10:57am
chronos51
Former Member

Send Private Message

Phoenix, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139

I will eventually get my brass radiator restored. but i couldnt afford the cost on that, the aluminum one is just a temporay. my radiator needs a lot of work to be usable again. it looks like a 1 to 2 core, looks very small for the 350 motor.
Since its apart im detailing the engine bay

______________




Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (16/21)
 7/7/18 8:36am
cinorLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1975 L48 Stingray 1992 LT1


Joined: 12/24/2013
Posts: 414

lots of good info on rads, can anyone give me the dimensions of the original rad that would of been in my 75 manual transmission. sold the old rad never gave dimensions any thought. no ac

______________

Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (17/21)
 7/7/18 9:47am
manchestersharkLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2382

Cindy, I have an old one I can measure. The rads SHOULD be the same auto or standard. The auto has the internal cooler for trans lines. Standard does not. I believe they are interchangeable. Standard won't work in auto, as the cooler is absent, but auto will work in standard. Just have to plug lines, for water and dirt contamination.

______________


Click on image for full view

Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (18/21)
 7/9/18 6:33pm
Vman73
Former Member

Send Private Message

Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

cinor said: lots of good info on rads, can anyone give me the dimensions of the original rad that would of been in my 75 manual transmission. sold the old rad never gave dimensions any thought. no ac



Cindy, here are some dimensions from my original ‘73 radiator. My car is a four speed so I do not have any connections for the AT cooler lines. Overal size measured to the outside of the end tanks, not including inlet/outlet pipes 32” x 19” x 3 1/2”. Core only dimensions, not inlcluding end tanks 28” x 18” x 2 1/2”. Hope this helps.. According to the vendors I can find, the same size radiator is used 73 to early 76. Let me know if you have any questions or need any further information.

______________
John Sigmund
valkman57@sbcglobal.net
NCRS Member 61302
NW NCRS Chapter Member



Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (19/21)
 7/9/18 8:30pm
cinorLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1975 L48 Stingray 1992 LT1


Joined: 12/24/2013
Posts: 414

thanks for that info. sites say rads fit from 73 - 76 so should be good. I have a manual as well. rad I had priced out in town which they looked up for me is not even close to the numbers you gave me

______________

Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (20/21)
 7/9/18 10:46pm
Vman73
Former Member

Send Private Message

Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

Cindy, you’ve probably got some wiggle room on the outside width dimension including the tanks. The critical dimension should be the 28” dimension I provided at the core. If you check the brackets at the bottom of your core support, that’s where the radiator is held into the core support. There should also be two brackets that bolt on to the top of the core support. The dimension between should match up with the brackets on the bottom. The dimensions between those four brackets, width, height and thickness are critical to how your new radiator with mount into your existing core support. Not sure what the Canadian pricing would be like including shipping, but I highly recommend Dewitt’s aluminum radiators. I ordered mine in their refinished “Black Ice” set up for a four speed, no cooling fittings to be plugged. Fit perfectly and it’s been running great for the last four years. Good luck !!

______________
John Sigmund
valkman57@sbcglobal.net
NCRS Member 61302
NW NCRS Chapter Member



Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: Radiator-- Replace or Rebuild?? 1982 (21/21)
 7/10/18 8:28am
cinorLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1975 L48 Stingray 1992 LT1


Joined: 12/24/2013
Posts: 414

yeah I know that is what I had planned on all along was a Dewitts but looking at well over a 1000 with the fan set up and that isn't with any shipping, so not sure what I'm doing

______________

Our Sponsors help support C3VR