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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator End Tank vs. Factory Radiator End Tank

The one and only flawless 1955-1982 Corvette Radiator on the market is the Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator from Zip Corvette. They install into the stock mounting locations 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 your stock radiator), 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.
View the image to the right to see how close the Direct Fit Aluminum Radiators are to the factory radiators in design. As you can see, the only difference is the color. If this one turnoff is keeping you from upgrading to a Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator, Zip Corvette has a solution. We can have your new Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator coated with “Black Ice” before it leaves the warehouse. This will give you the added performance of a Direct Fit Radiator and the looks of a stock GM radiator installed from the factory. The Black Ice Coating is not a costly addition to any new Direct Fit Radiator and will not increase or decrease the performance levels at all.

1968-1982 Corvette Radiator "Hood Relief"

When it comes down to the ultimate cooling decision, you want to know that the radiator you are about to spend hundreds of dollars on is going to be a good fit for your Corvette. There are many companies that provide aftermarket Corvette Radiators; but there are very few who offer radiators specifically made for Corvettes. All Direct Fit Aluminum Radiators purchased from Zip Corvette are guaranteed to be manufactured by Corvette enthusiasts for Corvette enthusiasts.

To the right is another example of the detail and correctness included in the design of all Direct Fit Corvette Radiators. This photo shows the “hood relief” that GM stamped in every 68-82 Corvette Radiator. Without this small flat spot, your hood may not close all the way. Our C3 Corvette Direct Fit Aluminum Radiators are the only performance aluminum radiators on the market that have this relief. It is the small details that make a true Direct-Fit Radiator the best choice for your Corvette.

With so many different options available on 1955-1982 Corvettes, it only makes since to install a radiator that has been designed with all of these options taken into consideration. Zip Corvette’s Direct Fit Aluminum Radiators are top of the line. Do not settle for a cheaper radiator because in the end, you could get stuck with a bigger drain than what you started with.

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.

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.

From the earliest C4 to the latest C6, Zip has a Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator to match your Corvette. If you would like to install a Direct Fit Radiator but you want to keep your Corvette looking as original as possible, then simply have the radiator coated with ”Black Ice”. This Black Ice paint is applied to the outer surfaces of the radiator only, so the cooling tubes and any other components inside the fin material are not affected. Tests show that the Black Ice Coat will not disrupt the cooling process therefore allowing the Direct Fit Radiator to continue to out-perform all of its competition.

If you have had trouble finding a quality C4 Corvette Radiator read, on about Zip Corvette’s Direct Fit Radiators; we have them available for all 1984-1996 Corvettes with both automatic and 6-speed transmissions. Also available to purchase for 1990-1996 Corvettes are Direct Fit Radiators with an optional, built in Engine Oil Cooler. No extra modifications are required for this radiator and all installation instructions are included.

C5 Corvette Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator

The stock LS1 and LS6 engine will thrive with a new C5 Corvette Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator from Zip Corvette. They are available for all 1997-2004 Corvettes with both automatic and 6-speed transmissions. If you would like to add an engine oil cooler to your C5, Zip can offer that as well. Purchase a Direct fit Radiator with the EOC option and the separate Engine Oil Cooling Kit which includes necessary adapters, hoses and fittings to complete the installation. With the EOC option, your C5 Corvette will be able to keep the engine oil running at optimal operating temperatures.

• The first is a direct replacement for the 2005-2009 non-Z51 6-speed transmission. This radiator does not have the engine or transmission oil cooler option.
  

  C6 Corvette Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator W/EOC

• The second Radiator is for the 2006-2009 Z06, 2005-2009 Z51 automatic, and 2007-2008 Z51 A6 equipped Corvette. This radiator includes the transmission cooler but not the engine oil cooler option.
• The third Direct Fit Radiator includes a factory style engine oil cooler only. It is a direct replacement for 6-speed non-Z51 Corvette owners who want to add an engine oil cooler. This radiator includes a high performance 7 plate aluminum engine oil cooler with 3/4-16 SAE oil ports which are identical to the factory GM radiator. You can use the factory GM oil line assembly (quick connection fittings required) or install the #10AN fittings (included) and use stainless steel hose assemblies.
• The last C6 Direct Fit Radiator offered from Zip Corvette Parts is a direct replacement for 6-speed or automatic Z51 equipped Corvettes. This radiator includes a factory style transmission and engine oil cooler.

Corvette Dual Fan Upgrade Kit

Another great cooling system upgrade to any C4, C5 or C6 Corvette is a Dual Fan Upgrade Kit. These upgrade kits will boost air flow up to 40% over stock allowing your Corvette to run cooler then ever. The C4 Dual Fan Upgrade Kits are available to fit both the factory radiator and the Direct Fit Aluminum Radiators in 1990-1996 Corvettes. All required relays and wiring is included. The C5 Dual Fan Upgrade Kit fits all 1997-2004 Corvettes. It is designed to fit both the factory radiator and a new Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator. Note that the electrical connectors are different than factory fans and splicing will be required for installation of this kit. The C6 Dual Fan Upgrade Kit fits all 2005-2009 Corvettes with a Direct Fit Aluminum Radiator. This kit like others includes all relays and wiring for a complete installation.

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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If you are looking for a way to upgrade your C5 Corvette’s engine department, consider a silicone radiator hose kit from Zip Corvette. Silicone holds up to deterioration and high temperatures better than your stock rubber hoses and looks much better, too. The 8-piece hose kit is available in red or black and fits both standard C5 and Z06 applications.

C5 Corvette Silicone Radiator Hose Kit

C5 Corvette Silicone Radiator Hose Kit

Upgrade your Corvette’s cooling system and its looks under the hood at the same time!