This is a very interesting thread to me since my 79 350 CU and TH350 trans runs on the highway at 230*. I added a passive trans cooler, without a fan, under the radiator support. It has done little to cool the engine, but trying to save the trans. BeeJay has done a super job and deserved thanks for sharing the information.
After following this thread awhile I'm confused, as there are too many variables. Maybe I'm missing something, but is the front crossmember/ram completely eliminated or modified and must the bumper be removed? There is mention of brackets made to add support after the tank/ram is removed, but I don't see a picture of any brackets and can they support the front end as well as the plate? Norval showed his Swiss Cheese parts, but I'm not that ambitious and some of his holes look punched and I don't have that machine.
Getting back to my primairy goal of dropping operating temps of 230* to 190* and Losing weight without compromising structural integrity is a plus. My car is primairly a bracket racer, but never on a trailer; so it must be streatable. I am considering swapping my copper four core radiator for a two core aluminum unit to lower temps and shed weight. I found this thread to aluminum radiators interesting.
http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131059
I am looking closely at this particular unit to promote better cooling for my 79.
http://www.radiatorexpress.com/prod...ow+Replacement&part_id=218033&aaia_id=1041118 If the link doesn't go directly to a 79 Corvette radiator, do a search on the radiator experss site.
Replacing my radiator would go well with modifying the front ram/tank. Right now I'm unsure of any consequences of removing the ram/tank and plate. Norval suggests not to do this, but another suggests replacing it with brackets that are not pictured. I don't need to start painting the car, just a simple way I can modify the car to get better cooling conditions without pulling my rubber bumper. BeeJay's black vent looks Great, but what lies underneith? Does your radiator have a seperate trans cooleror oil cooler? I want to use a rad with a tank for trans cooling and an additional trans cooler. Please keep me straight on removing or not removing the ram/tank and the requisite brackets. Thanks!