Who has outgrown their radiator or waterpump?

[Bersaglieri]

In the heat of New Mexico I'm having trouble keeping things below 190-200 while street driving. I have a CSR E-WP and after thinking the stock radiator wasn't cutting it I upgraded to a big Dewitt unit. After the upgrade the temps stayed about the same and now I'm wondering if I need more water pump. I have nothing infront of the radiator except for a small B&M supercooler for the trans. Stock fans and factory air dam.

Who has run into this issue and what worked for you?

[96z28SideSwype]

Have you tried running a switch to the radiator fans? Or are you just running the one for the trans my green car has the fans wired to a switch that I set to low when driving around and on high when I'm at the track


Silver 96 Z28 SideSwype-DD
Green 96 Z28 NightMare-Drag car

[Fastbird]

I did. Was running stock radiator and Meziere EWP. Couldn't control temps. Moved into a big BeCool Custom Fit and haven't had an issue since. 3 Hotlaps at the track and temps only went from 200 to 215 (running a front mounted turbo setup).

[Bersaglieri]

Fans are on a switch, they can be on high the whole time even on the highway and still it creeps up.

Which Meziere WP do you have the normal or HD?

[Fastbird]

Mine is back from before they had the regular and HD. I think it was installed on the car in like 2001 or 2002.

[blkchevyz]

the the stock fan shroud fit well on the new radiator?
what thermostat are you running? could always drill a couple holes in it to let a little more fluid past to the radiator.

[Bersaglieri]

Fits pretty good, the system runs coolest with no thermostat, but still isn't enough.

Have any pictures of it Fastbird?

Really I need to just dig into it and really investigate WHY rather than throwing more parts at it. Although I might get a MezHD pump and run it with the stock radiator and see if that makes it better or worse... sort of see which is the more limiting factor.

[CARLOS]

Fits pretty good, the system runs coolest with no thermostat, but still isn't enough.

When I decided to ditch the t-stat I had to plug the hole that sits right under the t-stat inside the wp housing, that way the hot water gets pushed straight to the rad instead of just circulating inside the motor and heads. Either that or drill a bunch of 1/8' holes around the stat.

[Bersaglieri]

Thanks Carlos, maybe I'll try drilling the holes in the stat and see how that goes, I've got plenty of extras. Unfortunately with the cold weather we're in right now I doubt I'll get a chance to try any of this till at least spring time.

[1sickta]

I had issues with mine when I drilled 4 1/8" hole around the stat. It wanted to heat up while on the interstate. I put a 160 in without the holes and it worked great. I'm currently on the stock rad and fans csr e-pump, Without the a/c on in 95* heat it stays at 180* if I turn on the a/c in heavy stop and go traffic it won't keep up with it very long. If I'm running over 45 mph it will stay around 200-210.

Make sure you have all the baffles and shields in place. I took off the air dam and that cause mine to run hotter than normal.

[Tinbender59]

check your steam pipe from the back of the heads, if it is plugged or restricted you are screwed. your heads will get verry little water to flow through the upper part of them. this is way more common than we want it to be. the last LT1 I had in my tuck ran over 200 and then some all the time, when It blew I found the steam pipe plugged on the left head (temp sensor side) and 60% plugged on the right head, since I put the new LT in (7K miles) with a new steam pipe and bolts, It has never gotten over 203 with a 195 stat. I run a ford fan, as it moves more air than the GM units. I also had a 1982 GM diesel copper/brass wide/tall 4 core radiator modded to work with the LT.

P.S. the steam pipe should be cheacked yearly to help elieavate this problem

this should be in the general maintenance stickies

[Bersaglieri]

CSR might have been getting weak, today it died. If you tap it it will sputter to life then cut out again. Seems like a good time to try a Meziere SD or maybe the HD. Meziere claims "The standard 43 GPM pump is suitable for normally aspirated engines up to 650HP. Supercharged, turbocharged and high compression, high horsepower applications should use the 50GPM Heavy Duty pump only. " So I guess I qualify for a HD, plus is claims another 500 hours of expected life.

I had to clearance the fans for the CSR, looks like the HD will need a lot more, anyone have some pictures of how much?

[bRock]

It'll fit if you trim the fan shroud. I trimmed mine down to the fan blade.