Replacement Radiator

[Larry T.]

My OEM radiator just will not keep my L-72 car cool enough to comfortably run in south Louisiana when it gets hot outside. I have decided that I will have to sacrifice originality for functionality in this area so I can enjoy my car more.

I know DeWitt's is the radiator of choice, and I do not mind spending the money if that is what I need to do. I have all but made my mind up to go with DeWitt's, but before I do, is there any alternative worth considering?

Thanks.

[Keith B.]

Re: Replacement Radiator

nope. Tom Dewitt is the only if originally is your concern

[Joe L.]

Re: Replacement Radiator

My OEM radiator just will not keep my L-72 car cool enough to comfortably run in south Louisiana when it gets hot outside. I have decided that I will have to sacrifice originality for functionality in this area so I can enjoy my car more.

I know DeWitt's is the radiator of choice, and I do not mind spending the money if that is what I need to do. I have all but made my mind up to go with DeWitt's, but before I do, is there any alternative worth considering?

Thanks.

Larry------


There's no doubt the DeWitts reproduction radiator is going to be the best choice for functionality and originality. However, if it were me, I'd sacrifice a little bit of originality and go with the DeWitts Direct Fit aluminum radiator. Its configuration is very similar to the original and it will provide significantly increased cooling capacity.

[Larry T.]

Re: Replacement Radiator

Joe,

The radiator I have is an OEM correct original for my car. I had hoped that DeWitts could improve the cooling capacity with their correct reproduction radiator but they indicated that it will not improve much, if any, over what I have. So my direction was going to be the direct fit aluminum. That is the one I am curious as to whether or not there is anything else out there worth considering. I am not really expecting anyone to endorse anything else, but I have to ask as things change all the time. I do find the direct replacement looks pretty good, not "boxy" like some I have seen.

Thanks,

Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: Replacement Radiator

Joe,

The radiator I have is an OEM correct original for my car. I had hoped that DeWitts could improve the cooling capacity with their correct reproduction radiator but they indicated that it will not improve much, if any, over what I have. So my direction was going to be the direct fit aluminum. That is the one I am curious as to whether or not there is anything else out there worth considering. I am not really expecting anyone to endorse anything else, but I have to ask as things change all the time. I do find the direct replacement looks pretty good, not "boxy" like some I have seen.

Thanks,

Larry

Larry------


From a functional standpoint, the DeWitts reproduction radiator and the original Corvette radiator will cool about the same assuming that both were in new condition. However, your radiator is not in new condition. So, you can't really compare the two. Nevertheless, while a new reproduction DeWitts radiator will likely cool better than what you have, I would still go with the DeWitts Direct Fit aluminum radiator if you intend to drive the car. Absolutely. Positively. I've seen a lot of Corvettes that had insufficient or marginal cooling capacity with original type radiators but I've never seen one that had excessive cooling capacity. Never. And I never expect to.

[Dennis S.]

Re: Replacement Radiator

Larry
Buy the DeWitts Direct Fit aluminum. It will cool your engine much better. Have them paint it before shipping. Put your original in the box and save it for the next caretaker. Meanwhile, enjoy driving your car and don't bother looking at the temperature gauge.

[Larry M.]

Re: Replacement Radiator

My OEM radiator just will not keep my L-72 car cool enough to comfortably run in south Louisiana when it gets hot outside. I have decided that I will have to sacrifice originality for functionality in this area so I can enjoy my car more.

I know DeWitt's is the radiator of choice, and I do not mind spending the money if that is what I need to do. I have all but made my mind up to go with DeWitt's, but before I do, is there any alternative worth considering?

Thanks.

Larry:

Are you running full-time or ported vacuum advance on your car?? Are you certain that your distributor initial, centrifugal, and vacuum advance are performing per OEM specs??

Both of these can have a marked effect on your cooling system here in the deep south.

Larry

[Larry T.]

Re: Replacement Radiator

Larry,

I am running full time vacuum advance. The TI distributor was set up by Dave Fielder a year and a half ago. I check everything out about twice a year with my timing light. I set it at 10* initial (at 800 RPM), I get another 14* (factory spec is 12*, I have checked the can and it starts at 7" as it should) from the advance at 12" (at idle I have close to 15" vacuum) and at WOT (4000 RPM) another 26* mechanical advance. No pinging issues at 50* WOT. I could back down another 2*, but not sure how much it will help.

Thoughts on the above setup?

Larry

[Ronald L.]

Re: Replacement Radiator

Larry,

I'll say the same thing I think I sent you - if as Larry M asks, you have the vac, timing etc. set good, and that new radiator, assuming the rest of your cooling system is new, meaning rebuilt pump, new hoses and heater core, you won't be having serious problems - unless you are idling in stop & go traffic at 100F+ ambient.

These cars do run hot, but please, all the Newtonian physics in the world are going to change things much if its 100F outside.

You have a big inefficient engine, it will throw out tons of heat everywhere and if it is 100 degrees out side, the coolant is going to be hot.

You have to dissipate that heat somewhere and the radiator fan mechanism to do so is located in front of the heat source so its cyclical process is the most inefficient possible.

I did mine last year, when 85+ and cruizing 45 mph, its still 220 or so and I know the gauge is not that accurate.

It drops to about 185 when the ambient is about 55F.

In either case if you get going 100mph and then come off the highway you are going to get a heat surge, that's life, it called need for speed

If you are trying to keep your car original as I think you are you can't go wrong with the original radiator.

Before I did something like violate a real BB with an aluminum rad, I do a simple bolt on - a 7 blade racing fan - I had one on my car when I bought it and it cooled much better than the original fan/clutch (getting back to physics 101).

If you have an original fan clutch, or a "rebuilt" original fan clutch you might not be getting full effect.

The point is that fan pulls twice the air and puts it somewhere, away from your car. Back then, I never worried about temperature with a completely original cooling system. It was only when I bolted on the original fan to a rebuilt original clutch the problems began.

The point about the racing fan is you could bolt it on the front pulley and if you were to show you car, it takes 10 minutes to un bolt and bolt on the original. Like running an aftermarket air filter and then putting one of those "fleebay multi mil incorrect for 66" specials in place for the show.