Time for a new radiator for my '82...any suggestions?

[ironmoo]

The original stock one has been removed cleaned,welded/repaired X3 way past it's prime, it still works if one does not mind the green drips.

I think may go aluminum and keep the old one hanging as "art" on the garage wall.:L

Any good ones for replacement to recommend?

Thanks!

-Moo

 

[bill81vette]

can't get it re-cored???

 

[ironmoo]

can't get it re-cored???

Thanks for the fast reply!

I probably should of included a little history with my original post as I've removed and replaced the radiator it to the point of tired of doing it again! lol.

Even with changing the coolant every 2 years, I've always had problems with the original stock radiator. (I'm 2nd owner since '86.)
I've had it re-cored actually 3 times. Looking at my receipts,I did it first in '89, 2nd in '99 and finally just 3 years ago. Plus general metal fatigue/stress cracks at this point are starting to show on the tranny and hose connections with the 250,000 + adult-driven miles on the car.

I was wondering if there was any issues out there with anyone that has gone with aluminum?

-Moo

 

[Peer81]

DeWitts

Greetings Peter

 

[jims427400]

I just recored my 68 BB and it works well but if to do again I'd go aluminum w/electric fans. My car still gets hot when driving slow and I'm not worried about originality. Someone also told me that removing fan/clutch set up is worth about 15hp gain.

 

[vett boy]

GM Junkie had some under his bed

 

[ChrisR8C]

I bought an aluminum with dual electric fans off of ebay from a company called Entropy. It was a quality product with good instructions.

Chris

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Someone also told me that removing fan/clutch set up is worth about 15hp gain.

Sorry, not true. The stock set up uses only a few HP at the very most, and that's only when the clutch is fully engaged (really hot engine). Otherwise it consumes less than 1HP.

 

[jims427400]

I'm glad I was misinformed. 15hp did seem a tad high.

 

[ironmoo]

Thanks for the info all!

-Moo

 

[82X-FireVette]

I installed a Dewitt's aluminum radiator on my '82. It was a little narrower so the bottom edges barely fit in the lower shroud mounts. The corners of the radiator are square instead of rounded like the stock unit. I had to modify the rubber mounts so they fit the square corners of the Al radiator. I complained about the square corners not fitting the stock mounts and Dewitt offered to take the rad back and refund my money but after successfully modifying the rubber mounts, I was happy with the fit and decided to keep it. I modified the rubber mounts by simply cutting and trimming them to open up the corners. If I hadn't done that, the radiator would be sitting on the points of the corners and would have eventually failed due to the stress loads on them. The radiator is a nice piece. If I ever want to go back to a stock unit, all I have to do is get new rubber mounts that are readily available. Dewitt should look into offering mounts with square corners or making the corners of the radiator rounded like the stock units.

 

[John Dingman]

When did you purchase the radiator? All our 77-82 direct fit radiators come with a new set of cushions to help insure a proper fit.

 

[John Dingman]

The original stock one has been removed cleaned,welded/repaired X3 way past it's prime, it still works if one does not mind the green drips.

I think may go aluminum and keep the old one hanging as "art" on the garage wall.:L

Any good ones for replacement to recommend?

Thanks!

-Moo

This is just the radiator for you. Our part # A77A for automatic or A77M for Manual. It is a direct fit replacement to your copper/brass original. The aluminum will provide 30-40% better cooling.

http://www.dewitts.com/pages/productdetail.asp?
ProdID=282

Thanks
John

 

[82X-FireVette]

When did you purchase the radiator? All our 77-82 direct fit radiators come with a new set of cushions to help insure a proper fit.

I purchased the radiator last summer. I bought the A77A. It did come with a set of cushions. Those were exactly the same as the stock cushions. I used my old cushions and your new cushions to get enough pieces to fit around the square corners of the Al radiator. I glued them on with weatherstrip adhesive. The '82 Corvette's upper metal brackets and the lower support all have very rounded corners. Your Al radiator has square corners. Tom DeWitt responded to my inquiry about the square corners and said that you did not make one with rounded corners like the stock unit. The width was about 3/8 inch too narrow, so I shaved some rubber off and trimmed the nubs off the lower cushions so I could get the radiator to sit properly in the lower support. Your radiator is a little thicker too. I had to trim the foam rubber seals to get it to locate front to back properly. If I hadn't modified the cushions, all the weight of the radiator would rest on the tips of the corners. The corners would bear all the stress encountered during normal operation. Load bearing square corners do not handle stress well and will become fatigued and eventually crack and leak in no time at all, especially Aluminum. Other than that, I am very happy with your radiator. It is the first thing people see and comment on when they look under the hood of my stock Vette.

 

[AGVI]

Get a Be Cool Rad and dual fan setup. You can't beat it.