ls1 cooling....Has anyone done a engine fan install mod to an ls1?

[dons vs]

After having my ls1 powered ute the last few weeks i have noticed the temp fluctuates a hell of a lot due to no constant engine fan and just a thermo fan.
I would rather see a lower stable temp so just wondering if anyone has pissed off the thermo before and installed a normal engine fan with thermo coupling on it?

Also what are the factory rads like and is it worth getting a descent bigger full alloy one?


Im a sucker for a good cooling system and would rather see it top notch so i dont mind spending money serving all the cooling system.

[ashbox]

depends, a bigger alloy one prob would help keep the car cooler but at the same time where does your ls1 normally sit temp wise?
mine sits half way between half and 1/4 cold.

When you think about it the thermo fan wont do anything above 40kph because the car is in motion

[helicraze]

It sounds like your thermostat may need replacing, the temp should stay very stable

[Drewie]

depends, a bigger alloy one prob would help keep the car cooler but at the same time where does your ls1 normally sit temp wise?
mine sits half way between half and 1/4 cold.

When you think about it the thermo fan wont do anything above 40kph because the car is in motion

My VX SS sits exactly like the above, about midway between 1/4 and half, doesn't seem to matter if is 40 degrees or 10 degrees outside, it sits pretty much in the same area. Fans probably come on more often in the hot weather though.

[dons vs]

if im cruising hwy or fwy above 80km it will sit around 1/4, but around town and in traffic it will sit about half way between 1/4 and half.
On the way home from winton on the weekend i was dropping off some gear at a mate house so had about 500kg of tools and shit in the tray and was going up alot of hills at a slow pace (seriously who puts speed humps on a 60deg climb) anyway by the time i got to the top of the hill the temp went over the half way mark just but cooled back down as soon as i stopped with the engine running as the thermos where bringing the temp back down.
I am not having any over heating problems just the fluctuation of 1/4-1/2 just seems silly to me.
Im thinking of getting a ebay alloy rad and possibly making some ducting in the front bar to go through the rad a bit better, but ill be doing new thermostat,water pump, hoses and a good flush and new coolant soon as well as i always do this when i get a new car.

cant stand over heating problems.

[Gokz777]

if im cruising hwy or fwy above 80km it will sit around 1/4, but around town and in traffic it will sit about half way between 1/4 and half.
On the way home from winton on the weekend i was dropping off some gear at a mate house so had about 500kg of tools and shit in the tray and was going up alot of hills at a slow pace (seriously who puts speed humps on a 60deg climb) anyway by the time i got to the top of the hill the temp went over the half way mark just but cooled back down as soon as i stopped with the engine running as the thermos where bringing the temp back down.
I am not having any over heating problems just the fluctuation of 1/4-1/2 just seems silly to me.
Im thinking of getting a ebay alloy rad and possibly making some ducting in the front bar to go through the rad a bit better, but ill be doing new thermostat,water pump, hoses and a good flush and new coolant soon as well as i always do this when i get a new car.

cant stand over heating problems.

I think you just worrying too much. Aslong as you have coolant in the radiator, a decent thermostat and no holes in the radiator you are fine. You had 500kg worth of tools in it? The car weighs 1.2-1.4tonnes, no bloody wonder. And up a hill!!! The only time you really need to worry is when the engine gets to the last bar before overheating. If your still worried dont bother putting another fan in, go buy a $59 pod filter and throw that on there. You'll notice the difference

[AndyVKSSA]

iv had my VT SS LS1 for 2 weeks now and every time i drive it the temp is always half way between 1/4 and half, so there might be another issue causein it to fluctuate

[11gothevt11]

I think you just worrying too much. Aslong as you have coolant in the radiator, a decent thermostat and no holes in the radiator you are fine. You had 500kg worth of tools in it? The car weighs 1.2-1.4tonnes, no bloody wonder. And up a hill!!! The only time you really need to worry is when the engine gets to the last bar before overheating. If your still worried dont bother putting another fan in, go buy a $59 pod filter and throw that on there. You'll notice the difference

Are you saying a pod filter will make car run cooler??

[vr1uz-fe]

holden and gm have worked out the best system for the ls1 why change it if it aint broke then dont fix

buy a thrmostat put it in and wait

[cracker]

i dont see the problem, mines the same
cooling system is obviously doing its job perfectly why stuff about with it.

[chevy_big_block_bro]

Yea of course its going to rise if your hill climbing, thats why you have a whole range between hot and cold. I have a normal temp gauge mounted in the VY binicle and it moves a few deg when im sitting around for a while or climbing a steep hill.

Try holding the set and mode buttons in while starting the car then flick through to temp with the mode button and watch it in numerical form. That way you can see exactly what deg it is

[dons vs]

yeah i know im just being paranoid haha like i said i cant stand over heating cars so i always want a killa cooling system.

Ill chuck in a new thermostat and water pump before the next race meet.

has anyone used those ebay alloy rads before???? notice any difference like needle sits a tad lower?