Two radiators?

tscott9330 · 05-10-03, 04:49 PM

Alright here is a little puzzle i have.

As i was taking the engine out of my vette I noticed something i had never noticed before. It appears my car has 2 full size radiators. By the time I noticed this little quirk I had already taken the cooling system apart, so i'm not sure if it was actually cooling something or if it had gone bad in the past and had just been left in place to support the new radiator. The 2 units were stacked against each other with a few pieces of black foam betwwen them to keep them seperated. Also, the units are not the same, they are definetly not 2 of the same unit.

Is it possible that one of these was actually a trans cooler? I thought those were alot smaller than a radiator.

Or, Is it just likely the slob that let this beutiful car sit in his back yard for 10 years just got lazy and put a second non stock radiator in the car?

Tom "Soon my vette will be resurected in glorious new form" Scott

JohnZ · 05-10-03, 05:35 PM

Are you sure one of them isn't an A/C condenser? Never saw a Corvette with space behind the radiator support for two radiator thicknesses. Is one on the front side of the rad support and the other on the rear side of the support? Can you post pics of them?

tscott9330 · 05-10-03, 06:10 PM

I never considered it may be the ac condensor.

Are they the same size as a radiator?

Tom

billybob · 05-10-03, 06:45 PM

It will cover and occupy about the same space but will be about 1/2 the tickness, it mounts on the other side of the radiator supports so to get it out you will have to pull the hood off.

Bill

tscott9330 · 05-10-03, 07:14 PM

That may very well be it.
Do they make them htings smaller now, or do i have to use up that much space again?

Tom

Richard Cooper · 05-11-03, 08:16 PM

Scott,
What you are talking about must be your A/C condenser. It will be the same size as your radiator, but only about 1/2 as thick ( as mentioned before) and is mounted in front of your radiator.

billybob · 05-11-03, 09:22 PM

Heres my plan,

I only drive on nice days, days that the tops are off and windows down, so I am ripping the A/C out.

In place of the ac rad I'm dropping in a dual circuit cooler from summit racing prm-3318, something that I feel will be of more use.

Bill

LEEJANDZ · 05-11-03, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by billybob
Heres my plan,

I only drive on nice days, days that the tops are off and windows down, so I am ripping the A/C out.

In place of the ac rad I'm dropping in a dual circuit cooler from summit racing prm-3318, something that I feel will be of more use.

Bill

I pulled out all the heating & A/C parts not too long ago.
It frees up a lot of space but you have a nice big hole in your firewall.

If you are going to do it the "right" way and pull out the controls and wiring... all I have to say to you is

GOOD LUCK!!!

That was the hardest part.

JASON *** BRAND NEW 350 cid GASKET SETS FOR SALE!!! *** 1979 L-82

billybob · 05-11-03, 11:17 PM

LEE,

I should probably clarify this just a bit, I only ripped out what will be easily replaced if I decide to sell one day.

All the major hoses into the firewall are capped, not cut and removed, the air to the ac controlls are capped aswell. The ac pump is already out along with the pully and brackets.

Actually the front <condenser> is all that remains and its coming out this week.

It had nothing to do with so called performance gains or what not as it was the original which was totally discharged and I didnt want to convert it.

Weighed my options and what I wanted to add, oil and tranny cooler and couldnt think of another sutable location then I saw the ac rad.. walla.

Bill