Radiator upgrade - Christmas gift for my 456

Living in Texas the stock cooling system on my 456M GT always seem to be borderline with temp gauge needle slightly past 1/2 way on hot days. I have replaced the stock fan with a SPAL 3000 which pulls 20% more than stock but the impact has been minimal. The couple of time I have used the car for track work, the temperature creeps up to 2/3. Looking at the stock unit, it is looks quite small and while there is no space to make a wider unit there is an opportunity to add a couple of rows (5 vs the stock 3) with minimal modifications. Sooooo I decided to contact the experts at Ron Davis Racing to make a custom aluminum one with enhanced cooling... 6 weeks later UPS delivers - the workmanship is excellent!

I will show pics of it installed tomorrow. The good news for those interested, Ron Davis now has the pattern for the 456 so you wont have to send your unit in for them to measure (and have the car parked for 6 weeks!)
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Looks great. Looking forward to hearing from you on positive feedbacks with the installation. 456s in general, and most 550s suffer the bane of overheating where I come from (high humidity and high 20's to mid 30's deg.Celsius) and this may just be the cure, along with the SPAL upgrade.

 

Wow, looks really good: can't wait to hear how it works out for you.
I am surprised to hear though that you are having problems even after replacing the fans, which is something I was considering.
I do not have problems with the cooling temperature, but the A/C could use some help.
I was considering installing a bigger radiator for the A/C or adding another one in series to the existing one.

 

RD make great vette race radiators. I think he has the only T1 legal oem replacement. What did that piece of artwork cost you? It is pretty! When you go up from 3 to 5 rows do you think there is any pressure drop problems using a stock waterpump?

Did you ever fix the suspension light?

 

After, 3-4 hours of interrupted work the radiator is in (including oil change)and fit is quite good. It only required some minor trimming of the shroud to fit the slightly wider size, since is it cold (60F outside) it is hard to determine the impact. I may take the car out to the track next month to check the impact, but will have to wait till spring is here to see how the overall system performs. I still need to do some touch ups on the shroud - but I plan to leave is aluminum. BTW, the price was really competitive, 1/3 of OEM at $1.2K.

FBB, I still have the suspension light although everything is good - I plan to corner weight the car with my new scales (Christmas gift for the race car ) - then I'll take to the Indy to reset.
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Nice clean mod!

Have you gotten any photos since you lowered the car?

 

are the radiators the same in the M and Non Ms? tks

 

Slightly different mounting brackets - Ron Davis already had the template for the 456, so you can get it with out having to send yours in.

 

I have had the opportunity to drive the car with the new rad. At idle the temp is about the same as before (no real surprise there) but the fans do not stay on as long when they cycle and the temp drops faster - again no real surprise as the cooling is more efficient. The real surprise is what happens once the car gets moving, even in spirited driving (redlining the gears, straight into the triple digits) the temp stays at 1/3 and even under - so much so that I thought I had lost all the coolant the sensor wasn't picking anything up and pulled over. Anyway this bodes very well for the summer and potential track use. While really didn't have an overheating problem - it's good to know that I have extra cooling capacity especially once it get into the triple digits Texas heat.

 

RIFLEDRIVER
redid my 456, along with the heater core gaining much lost room between the Oil and water boundary connections. Not much, maybe a few percent, but by intertwining the tubes a bit better, we gained some needed capacity.

He may have some pics or better take on it than I, but if you are, regardless, not watching for exhaust leaks from gaskets or such, into the coolant or not changing the coolant enough, then these 456's may experience the same problem you indicate, regardless of tracking.

Saying this as I drive to heated areas, twice per week for, typical 1.3 hr runs one way, > 80mph with exterior temp > 85, typically, and used to have these hit temp issues too...especially with the A/C running. Now, not worried.

Good mod, and radiator btw

rik

 

Hi, I´m willing to make a radiator with Ron Davis too, but they ask me the measurements. I´ll like to make it the biggest possible to have it perform better. Anyone have this measurements? My car is a 456 GT - 1995 - manual trans!

 

Eric- What they really need is photos of your current radiator since there were differing details on hose connections during production. They already have the measurements for the 456 GT and one like Jagbuff installed should work fine without changing the basic core dimensions.

 

I agree should be the same, But the price has increased quite a bit he quote me
$1.740..
Daniel.

 

Why doesn't that surprise me

 

I'm sure glad they are available to us and I have no problem with profit but $500
is a big step.
D.

 

I agree and for future reference I have had PRW make rads for me, I note they have a US branch.
https://www.pwr.com.au
Under 1000 AUD.

 

Daniel- Remember, that post was over 7 years ago and prices on metals have gone up disproportionately. Last ones I had heard about were $1700, about what you were quoted.

 

I will pay there price $1740 + shipping with a good heart, but a $500 increase smells
a bit like "Ferrari tax", Then again who would install a cheap heart pacemaker.
D.

 

I´ve solve my problem with a brasilian radiator manufactor, costs me 1,3K. They done over my stock but they add some size. As soon as I have it install I´ll post some pics. I hope that solve my problems...

 

P.S.: My car is in Brazil, thats why I get the part here!

 

I´got my new radiator, with 60mm wide... it worked better, but it ain´t perfect... they suggested to remove the water thermostatic valve for better flow... What you guys think?

 

Eric, you do not want to do that. certainly will run cooler but will do other damages.

 

When my oem rad goes in my 456, I'm gonna get me one of those!!!

I used Saldana all aluminium rads in my 355 which are half the size of this one and they cost me 1100$ each from Euroquipe in Illinois.

I'm very happy with them but at 1200$, I'd say Ron Davis sounds like the best option for the 456 and more bang for your buck.

 

Do NOT remove the thermostat for I understood that removing it will open up the radiator bypass continuously, so also when hot, and send less water through the radiator instead of more.

 

Yes I'm pretty sure the owner's manual states not to ever remove the thermostat.
I purchased a Ron Davis radiator as well for my 456M and am very happy with the quality of it, it was about $1.8k about a year ago. It definitely made a big difference in cooling but I do still have issues with it getting hot when sitting in traffic/moving slow on a hot day >80F and the AC on. With the AC off it's able to cool the car back down till the fans shut off under any conditions.
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