A while back, I asked Chris at XtremeMotorSports to order me a DeWitts replacement aluminum radiator for my C5Z. I wasn't real happy with the high temps I was seeing while driving in traffic during the heat of the summer months. I understand that higher temps are the norm in the C5s, but honestly, it just made me nervous. I already had a 160 degree thermostat sitting on the shelf that I bought a while back, so I asked Chris to install that at the same time, as well as replacing the upper and lower radiator hoses.
Chris ordered the radiator for me and I left the car over there for half a day while he installed it. While he was at it, he also reprogrammed the fans to be more in sync with that lower temp thermostat.
Well, I've been driving the car for a few months now, and hit some hot spells up in Tallahassee in some stop and go traffic, and I have to say I am VERY please with the results of that new radiator, thermostat and the reprogramming. During regular driving, the coolant temp seems to hover right around 185 degrees, whereas before 217 was more the average. That is quite a substantial difference in temps, if you ask me. And those few times when I would have expected the temps to be inching up to 240 degrees, well, I don't think the temps cracked above 210.
So in my opinion, this is an EXCELLENT mod for someone who wants to just lower the overall temps of their engine in their Corvette. I think this is definitely a DIY project for most people, and from what I have heard is relatively painless to do. Me, personally, I like to allow experts working on my cars these days. Getting my knuckles busted or wrestling with parts that ALMOST work has long since lost the thrill for me......
http://www.dewitts.com/pages/categoryresults.asp?catID=19
Here's a procedure to do the install, if you are so inclined -> http://www.corvettefever.com/techar...corvette_cooling_system_install/photo_20.html
Chris ordered the radiator for me and I left the car over there for half a day while he installed it. While he was at it, he also reprogrammed the fans to be more in sync with that lower temp thermostat.
Well, I've been driving the car for a few months now, and hit some hot spells up in Tallahassee in some stop and go traffic, and I have to say I am VERY please with the results of that new radiator, thermostat and the reprogramming. During regular driving, the coolant temp seems to hover right around 185 degrees, whereas before 217 was more the average. That is quite a substantial difference in temps, if you ask me. And those few times when I would have expected the temps to be inching up to 240 degrees, well, I don't think the temps cracked above 210.
So in my opinion, this is an EXCELLENT mod for someone who wants to just lower the overall temps of their engine in their Corvette. I think this is definitely a DIY project for most people, and from what I have heard is relatively painless to do. Me, personally, I like to allow experts working on my cars these days. Getting my knuckles busted or wrestling with parts that ALMOST work has long since lost the thrill for me......
http://www.dewitts.com/pages/categoryresults.asp?catID=19
Here's a procedure to do the install, if you are so inclined -> http://www.corvettefever.com/techar...corvette_cooling_system_install/photo_20.html
