1968-1982 Corvette Radiator Hoses
Need new upper or lower radiator hoses for your 1968-1982 C3 Corvette, but concerned about the quality of the Corvette Parts you would receive from your local auto store? Then look no further than Zip. We offer exact reproduction radiator hoses for all C3 Vettes. With the GM numbers stamped on the hoses, pre-bent to your application and the original support springs on the inside of the hose, you won’t find a more correct piece. Big block or small block, manual or automatic and every option in-between, Zip has the correct Corvette Radiator Hoses to get the job done right!
View all Corvette Parts Blog Posts specific to C3 Corvettes here.
Corvettes are highly susceptible to front end damage or collisions, therefore Zip has added several new reproduction Corvette Parts that have been previously discontinued by GM. All are needed to properly repair the front end of your Corvette both for aesthetics and proper cooling efficiencies. These new 1984-1996 C4 Corvette Front End Parts are just a few of several new reproduction parts that are now available from Zip.
C4 Corvette Lower Baffle
On many early model C4 Corvettes, the Air Intake Radiator Lower Baffle is often seriously damaged or in the worst cases, missing all together due to parking lot stops or curbs. Not having the radiator lower baffle can inhibit your Corvette’s cooling system from cooling the engine properly by not directing airflow through the radiator. This reproduction radiator lower air baffle, also sometimes called a radiator duct, is necessary to keep your engine at the correct operating temperature. Fits 1985-1989 Corvettes only.
C4 Corvette Valance Panel
Often the casualty of concrete parking stops or curbs, it’s not uncommon for a C4 to be missing the Corvette Lower Valance Panel/Air Deflector. This C4 Corvette item is critical for keeping your Corvette operating at normal temperatures by helping to direct air into the radiator for efficient cooling. Fits all 1984-1989 Corvettes.
Lower Valance Panel Brace
The Corvette Lower Valance Panel/Air Deflector Brace attaches to the radiator lower air baffle in the middle to give support to the front air deflector. If your car’s brace is missing, it can raise the temperature of the engine significantly. This deflector brace is a reproduction of the 1986 and later model which was engineered to be heavier than the flimsy 1984-1985 style braces. Fits all 1984-1990 Corvettes.
Corvette Air Dam Retainer
The Corvette Lower Air Dam Center Retainer is an important part to support and strengthen the lower plastic baffle. Replacing this retainer with this new reproduction insures the air baffle is properly supported and helps to insure cool air is properly directed into your early C4 Corvette. Fits all 1984-1996 Corvettes.
If you have not signed up for our e-newsletter then you don’t know about our 10% off all Corvette cooling parts sale running 8/12 through 8/14 at midnight EST. The sale covers radiators, thermostats, water pumps, expansion tanks, hoses hardware and a whole lot more. Visit zip-corvette.com or shop for Corvette Cooling Parts here and save big this weekend.
Corvette Cooling Sale at Zip
C5 Corvette Skid Plate/Radiator Support Cradle
Damage to 1997-2004 C5 Corvette Front Skid Plate & Radiator Support Cradles is very common. They are very susceptible to dents, cracks, and scrapes from running into parking lot stops and curbs. If the damage is serious enough your Corvette’s radiator could be dislodged, creating havoc with cooling issues. If you have had a front end collision then you certainly must replace this item when rebuilding your Corvette’s front end.
We see many C5 Corvettes in our shop that have cracked cradles and many times the owner doesn’t even know it. These cradles crack easily when hitting speed bumps or other road obstacles. While a cracked cradle may not be something to be overly worried about, many owners choose to replace the cradle anyway. Installation is not simple, many of your Corvette’s front end pieces will need to be removed and it will take some time to replace the cradle. When you go to GM to try to buy this piece, do not be surprised if they charge you twice the price of ours.
Our new reproduction C5 Corvette Front Skid Plate & Radiator Support Cradle bolts to the front frame extensions allowing you to return your Corvette to its factory condition. Each skid plate & cradle includes the correct small and large hex head rivet nuts for installing to your Corvette’s frame assembly. These hex head nuts are typically only available through GM where you will pay approximately $7 a nut. Without these nuts you would have to install a generic round head nut that requires a special tool to install. The correct nuts are included with a new support cradle or separately if needed.
One way that you can help prevent your Corvette skid plate/radiator support cradle from being damaged is to install some of our C5 Corvette Skid Plate Stiffeners and/or our C5 Corvette Front Bumper Skid Rollers. Our skid plate stiffeners install easily in 15 minutes and will save your Corvette from damage often cause by parking stops and curbs. Our front bumper skid rollers take about an hour to install. They feature an active skid plate design with proprietary integrated urethane wheels that will eliminate costly front-end damage caused by lowering, steep driveways or other obstacles. Each set includes a pair of bumper savers and all necessary hardware. Welding is not required to complete installation but is recommended.
C6 160 Thermostat
Until now, Corvette Parts vendors have been selling 2004-2008 style Corvette thermostats to 2009-2010 Corvette owners. With the appearances of the two 160 degree thermostats being so similar it is easy to understand why. We want all 2009-2010 Corvette owners to know that the 2004-2008 style thermostat, even though it does fit, will not work properly on your Corvette and will cause a leak.
C6 Coolant Leak
What is different on the new C6 Corvette 160 Degree Thermostat is the size. GM changed the size of the thermostat on all 2009-2010 Corvettes, which causes sealing issues when installing a 2004-2008 style thermostat. We offer and stock Motorad 160 degree thermostats for all 2009-2010 Corvettes. Motorad is an OEM supplier and has designed a direct replacement 160 degree thermostat that literally drops in place. With this addition to your 2009-2010 Corvette you can now improve your Corvette’s overall performance by allowing the engine to run cooler than the factory thermostat’s setting. Cooler running engines produce greater horsepower and operate more efficiently. If you are looking for a more efficient C6 Corvette Engine consider this direct replacement 160 degree thermostat that uses the stock housing and installs in about 10 minutes.
If you have been looking for a way to manually cool your C6 Corvette by controlling the speed of the fan then the new C6 Corvette Hi/Low Speed Fan Controller from Zip Corvette is for you. The function of the fan controller is very simple and it can be installed in less then one hour.
C6 Corvette Fan Control Switch
The manual C6 Corvette Hi/Low Speed Fan Controller installs easily to the PWM-controlled coolant fan found on the C6 Corvette because the factory coolant fan incorporates a solid-state controller instead of relays (as in previous years and models). This fan control module interfaces with the factory controller and permits manual coolant fan control. The fan control module simply plugs into the fan connector and includes a round rocker switch that matches similar designed control switches found in the Corvettes console. Using this switch allows the Corvette operator to manually override the ECU control of the coolant fan, to force-cool the engine, even when the car is unattended and not running.
This C6 Corvette Hi/Low Speed Fan Controller is ideal for off-road racing and competition use. The fan control module is designed to plug in-between the sealed fan connector and its mate. The included wiring harness can be run through the driver side door jamb, under the weatherstrip and into the passenger compartment without the need to drill through the firewall. This C6 Corvette Hi/Low Speed Fan Controller fits all C6 Corvettes including the Z06 and ZR1.
Upgrade your 1955-1968 Corvette cooling system with a Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator:
1955-1982 Factory Corvette Radiators do not age well; GM did not design them to last longer then 10 years so if the coolant is not flushed out regularly, dissimilar metals in the cooling system and inefficient anti-corrosion inhibitors lead to internal structural failure. This will ultimately lead to a loss of heat transfer from the built-up deposits inside the radiator tubes leaving you with a hot running Corvette. If your 1955-1982 Corvette is running hotter than you think it should and you have a factory style radiator installed, then a direct-fit aluminum radiator may be in your future to solve your Corvette’s Cooling System problems.
Corvette Radiator
Aluminum radiators have become the standard for Corvettes because of their lightweight and durable structure. Some factory Corvette radiators are made of aluminum (Original 55-82 radiators were copper/brass EXCEPT for 61-62, 63-67 327 & 68-72 350 4sspd w/o AC. They were originally aluminum.) and would work great if they had a larger core, were not sealed with simple crimp tabs and did not have plastic end-tanks, but they are all made this way. With that said, the ideal Corvette Radiator would have a larger aluminum core and be completely welded together to make a complete one-piece unit. Many aftermarket aluminum radiators do cool much more efficiently then the stock Corvette Radiator but will fall into one of two categories: Epoxy sealed and those that are not truly “Direct-Fit”
Epoxy: Some use epoxy to seal the coolant lines running to and from the end-tanks. Though it may seem like one complete unit, it can still be highly susceptible to leaks once this epoxy breaks down. When this happens, it is back to square one- shopping for another radiator all over again.
Not Truly Direct-Fit: There are other aluminum radiators manufactured without the use of epoxy and because of the excellent craftsmanship, they will keep your Corvette running cool for a long time. The problem is you will not be spending a nice Saturday afternoon installing them. Many will require multiple modifications some even to the extreme of manually bending the brand new radiator to make it fit your Corvette. Although they may be advertised as an “easy fit”, they are not truly “Direct-Fit” Radiators.
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As with many low riding vehicles, C4 Corvettes are prone to getting cracks and chips in the lower air dam. Though most of the damage goes unnoticed, it can have a direct effect on the performance of your Corvette’s Cooling System.
C4 Corvette Lower Air Dams
The purpose of a C4 Corvette Lower Air Dam is to direct air flow into the radiator cavity which begins the process of cooling your Corvette’s engine. If the first stage of the cooling process is interrupted by a cracked or chipped lower air dam, the engine will not perform like it should. The reason for this is simple; lower air dams are designed a specific way causing the air flow to move smoothly into your Corvette’s engine. More cool, smooth air means more horsepower. Without a correct lower air dam, less air will be directed into the engine ultimately leading to horsepower decreases.
At Zip Corvette, we have everything needed to replace the lower air dams for all C4 Corvettes. Our 1984-1990 reproduction air dam kits are available in both the first and second designs. The first design air dams came without stiffening ribs and were used on 1984-85E and 1987-90 W/O Z51 Corvettes. The second design air dams came with stiffening ribs and were originally used on 1985L-86 and 1987-90 w/Z51 Corvettes. All 1991-1996 Corvettes used the same lower air dams.
When replacing your Corvette’s Lower Air Dams take notice of the lower outer retainers, the lower center retainer and the air dam mounting hardware. If any of these components look a little beat up, we have reproduction retainers and hardware kits to mount original style air dams on 1984-1996 Corvettes.
Upgrade your C4, C5, or C6 Corvette cooling system with a Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator:
With a 100% stock 1984-2009 Corvette, the factory radiator will work efficient enough to keep the car running cool. As soon as you begin modifying your Corvette, you are going to push the factory radiator beyond its limits. The reason for radiator failures in modified Corvettes is a result of the single row core design. The end tanks were made of plastic and held in place with small crimp tabs and a neoprene rubber gasket was used to seal the tanks to the core. Frequent end tank failures and gasket leaks are just a few of the common problems associated with factory radiators installed in modified Corvettes. For complete assurance that your next radiator will not fail, consider a Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator. They feature press formed end tanks that are tig welded directly to the double row core, providing a permanent seal.
Stock Single Row vs. Direct Fit Double Row Radiator
Zip Corvette offers the best Direct Fit Radiators on the market for C4, C5, & C6 Corvettes. Our Corvette Direct Fit Aluminum Radiators are just what the name implies; a direct fit. Many companies offer replacement Corvette radiators that are considered “direct fit”, but in fact, most require some alterations. True Direct Fit radiators are designed to install into the stock mounting and use the factory connections without any modifications or adapters. Each Direct Fit Radiator starts with a USA made core that is furnace brazed in a force nitrogen furnace. They feature two rows of 1″ cooling tubes (which will help double the cooling capacity of stock radiators), a serpentine fin and are epoxy free. Each Direct Fit tank is manually tig welded by expert craftsmen, providing the ultimate in strength and appearance.
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Today’s Zip Corvette technical question comes from Jim, who owns a 1990 Corvette:
I have a 1990 Corvette convertible with 350 and 6-speed that I can only drive when the weather is cool because I cannot get the cooling fan to run. The fan motor is good (works when voltage is applied) and I have replaced all of the temperature sensors and the cooling fan relay, but still no fan operation. What else could be preventing the fan from running?
Answer: Your Corvette’s main cooling fan is controlled by the PCM. The PCM sends a ground signal to the fan relay when it sees the desired temperature to run the fan has been met. You need to check the relay and make sure you are getting your battery 12V and ignition 12V when the key is on. With the key on, jump the ground wire in the relay. If the fan turns on, you have an issue in the PCM and it may be time for a rebuild. If it does not turn on, then your problem lies in the fan circuit between the relay and the fans.
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