Is an expansion tank enough after adding cam with current mods - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BlackMambaZL1 · 12-04-2017, 02:51 PM

I have been looking all over the boards to see how much cooling everyone has for their builds. I can not find one to show if what I have is sufficient for my build.

I am currently running a 2.55 upper and installing a 9.5 lower. I have ARH 1 7/8" with xpipe, CAI, Ported and polished TB and snout, 160* tstat, and doing my E85 swap now. Going with ID1300, the DSX kit with a flex fuel sensor and the Fuel Lab filter. There are not a lot of places where I live that sell E85 and 91 is the highest octane we get, which is what I will be primarily running.

I already have the rotofab coolant jug in now. I am thinking about doing a midrange cam and I want to know if this is going to be enough cooling. I know a heat exchanger is preferred but is it "required" when I get this installed and tuned? I know it is better to be safe than sorry and that you can never have enough cooling. I am wanting to make sure I am not spending more money when it really wasn't needed.

Expunge · 12-04-2017, 03:21 PM

Depends on what you are doing. If you are doing track days in 90* heat, I would say no it is not enough.

I had a friend who had a similar setup to yours. (His was an A6.)

On a hot Texas day at the track with a D3 1/2 gallon expansion tank and a RON Davis LSA intercooler upgrade from JDP he still managed to put it in limp mode.

I think he then subbed out the fluid with Redline's Water Wetter (which I use) and it helped a lot on his issue.

Good luck.

BlackMambaZL1 · 12-04-2017, 03:53 PM

I don't beat the living crap out of it. I drive it once a week to work and get on it once or twice when I do drive it. The hardest thing I do to it is drive on a mountain road that runs next to a river that helps me blow off steam and get it out to stretch its legs haha.... ever gone 120 on a mountain road? That will relieve work stress real quick!

I plan on taking it to the drags once or twice next year. Just to make sure it's in the 10's.

hammdo · 12-04-2017, 04:30 PM

With the pulley combo, Ron Davis HX and expansion tank will be enough for your occasional fun. It will help a lot on the drag racing.

For context:

I road race mine so, I have 3 Heat exchangers in parallel, 2 intercooler pumps, and a reservoir. 2.45 griptech, ported blower, 9.17 lower, forged and stroked LSA — so I need the extra cooling for the Texas heat. Basically I have coolers for everything but my diff...

Only do as much as you need ;o)

-Don

Crash76 · 12-04-2017, 04:50 PM

Damn, 3 in parallel, i have a Ron Davis HE and Radiator and Rotofab SC Resv...

Ive run in the high 90s here in CA road course. No sure how hot the SC got... 23% lower...

Hey Ham, do you think the S/C porting was worth the cost?

Can'tHave2MuchHP · 12-04-2017, 05:01 PM

2.55" + 9.55" is going to be hard to keep cool no matter what you have done. A mid range cam, E85 and expansion tanks will help, but a upgraded Heat Exchanger would keep it cool short of high temp tracking or long mountain road driving sessions in warm weather.

How about Meth? It can be an octane booster and cool your shit down if it gets hot. If you're "Mostly" going to be on 91 (Which is brutal on a Cam/2.5/9.5/Ported car to be honest) then I'd HIGHLY recommend either tuning in Torco or Meth OR "Mostly" using E85.

Now I am the kind of guy that wants to guarantee safety and longevity with my stuff so if I were you I'd definitely do Meth + Heat Exchanger. YMMV.

hammdo · 12-04-2017, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crash76

Damn, 3 in parallel, i have a Ron Davis HE and Radiator and Rotofab SC Resv...

Ive run in the high 90s here in CA road course. No sure how hot the SC got... 23% lower...

Hey Ham, do you think the S/C porting was worth the cost?

Porting, yes I do. Jokers did it for me. I make 13.5 PSI so with my current combo, it’s breathing very well...

I did the snout, rotor-pack, and 90mm port. Torque went through the roof!

-Don

jrhagen · 12-04-2017, 09:58 PM

I have GT9 cam, 160 tstat, Ron Davis HX, 2.5/9.5 pulleys, 1 7/8 headers, Rotofab tank, meth on 93 and I never get hot even in Texas summers. And I drag race the hell out of it with 16 psi.

BlackMambaZL1 · 12-05-2017, 09:08 AM

I appreciate your input guys. I do think that I need to get one. It gets in 100's here most of the summer and I think that I would rather be safe than sorry.... Now I need to figure out which one I want to put in. I know everyone likes the Ron Davis. I may need to look into how much of a pain it is to install. I know the bumpers come off... just not a fan of soldering and wiring haha... scares the bejesus out of me.

hammdo · 12-05-2017, 09:31 AM

RD is plug n play. The Reservoir is too. Not sure what you'd have to solder -- DSX E85 kit is pretty straight forward (I have it).

Lots of info on the site about bumper removal -- its not as bad as you think -- purging the air is the only thing that takes more time -- to make sure you get all the air out.

-Don

leemozoid · 12-05-2017, 10:48 PM

Making 14.5 pounds of boost on 2.85/9.17 with a progressive single nozzle meth injection system, E85 and Big 3 Racing expansion tank my IAT2s are in the 80 degree range regardless of ambient.

BlackMambaZL1 · 12-06-2017, 01:42 PM

Actually looking at chillers now haha.

Anyone have any input on Killer Chiller's? I know AI gets a lot of high marks. But, if I have to cut a few hoses to save $600 I am going to cut a few hoses haha.

12-04-2017, 02:51 PM	#1
BlackMambaZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Black Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 68 View My Garage	Is an expansion tank enough after adding cam with current mods I have been looking all over the boards to see how much cooling everyone has for their builds. I can not find one to show if what I have is sufficient for my build. I am currently running a 2.55 upper and installing a 9.5 lower. I have ARH 1 7/8" with xpipe, CAI, Ported and polished TB and snout, 160* tstat, and doing my E85 swap now. Going with ID1300, the DSX kit with a flex fuel sensor and the Fuel Lab filter. There are not a lot of places where I live that sell E85 and 91 is the highest octane we get, which is what I will be primarily running. I already have the rotofab coolant jug in now. I am thinking about doing a midrange cam and I want to know if this is going to be enough cooling. I know a heat exchanger is preferred but is it "required" when I get this installed and tuned? I know it is better to be safe than sorry and that you can never have enough cooling. I am wanting to make sure I am not spending more money when it really wasn't needed.

12-04-2017, 04:30 PM	#4
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,690 View My Garage	With the pulley combo, Ron Davis HX and expansion tank will be enough for your occasional fun. It will help a lot on the drag racing. For context: I road race mine so, I have 3 Heat exchangers in parallel, 2 intercooler pumps, and a reservoir. 2.45 griptech, ported blower, 9.17 lower, forged and stroked LSA — so I need the extra cooling for the Texas heat. Basically I have coolers for everything but my diff... Only do as much as you need ;o) -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577

12-05-2017, 09:31 AM	#10
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,690 View My Garage	RD is plug n play. The Reservoir is too. Not sure what you'd have to solder -- DSX E85 kit is pretty straight forward (I have it). Lots of info on the site about bumper removal -- its not as bad as you think -- purging the air is the only thing that takes more time -- to make sure you get all the air out. -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577

12-04-2017, 03:21 PM	#2
Expunge Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6, '99 Tahoe 2Dr Sport Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: South of Houston, TX Posts: 890 View My Garage	Depends on what you are doing. If you are doing track days in 90* heat, I would say no it is not enough. I had a friend who had a similar setup to yours. (His was an A6.) On a hot Texas day at the track with a D3 1/2 gallon expansion tank and a RON Davis LSA intercooler upgrade from JDP he still managed to put it in limp mode. I think he then subbed out the fluid with Redline's Water Wetter (which I use) and it helped a lot on his issue. Good luck.

12-04-2017, 03:53 PM	#3
BlackMambaZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Black Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 68 View My Garage	I don't beat the living crap out of it. I drive it once a week to work and get on it once or twice when I do drive it. The hardest thing I do to it is drive on a mountain road that runs next to a river that helps me blow off steam and get it out to stretch its legs haha.... ever gone 120 on a mountain road? That will relieve work stress real quick! I plan on taking it to the drags once or twice next year. Just to make sure it's in the 10's.

12-04-2017, 04:50 PM	#5
Crash76 Team 913 Drives: '14 ZL1, '15 Jeep GC, ‘22 Ram 2500 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA, Central CA Posts: 1,119	Damn, 3 in parallel, i have a Ron Davis HE and Radiator and Rotofab SC Resv... Ive run in the high 90s here in CA road course. No sure how hot the SC got... 23% lower... Hey Ham, do you think the S/C porting was worth the cost?

12-04-2017, 05:01 PM	#6
Can'tHave2MuchHP Drives: Fast Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,696	2.55" + 9.55" is going to be hard to keep cool no matter what you have done. A mid range cam, E85 and expansion tanks will help, but a upgraded Heat Exchanger would keep it cool short of high temp tracking or long mountain road driving sessions in warm weather. How about Meth? It can be an octane booster and cool your shit down if it gets hot. If you're "Mostly" going to be on 91 (Which is brutal on a Cam/2.5/9.5/Ported car to be honest) then I'd HIGHLY recommend either tuning in Torco or Meth OR "Mostly" using E85. Now I am the kind of guy that wants to guarantee safety and longevity with my stuff so if I were you I'd definitely do Meth + Heat Exchanger. YMMV.

12-04-2017, 09:58 PM	#8
jrhagen Banned Drives: Camaro Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: USA Posts: 2,701	I have GT9 cam, 160 tstat, Ron Davis HX, 2.5/9.5 pulleys, 1 7/8 headers, Rotofab tank, meth on 93 and I never get hot even in Texas summers. And I drag race the hell out of it with 16 psi.

12-05-2017, 09:08 AM	#9
BlackMambaZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Black Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 68 View My Garage	I appreciate your input guys. I do think that I need to get one. It gets in 100's here most of the summer and I think that I would rather be safe than sorry.... Now I need to figure out which one I want to put in. I know everyone likes the Ron Davis. I may need to look into how much of a pain it is to install. I know the bumpers come off... just not a fan of soldering and wiring haha... scares the bejesus out of me.

12-05-2017, 10:48 PM	#11
leemozoid Drives: '15 Silverado LTZ & '13 ZL1 ragtop Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Edmond, Oklahoma Posts: 313 View My Garage	Making 14.5 pounds of boost on 2.85/9.17 with a progressive single nozzle meth injection system, E85 and Big 3 Racing expansion tank my IAT2s are in the 80 degree range regardless of ambient.

12-06-2017, 01:42 PM	#12
BlackMambaZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Black Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 68 View My Garage	Actually looking at chillers now haha. Anyone have any input on Killer Chiller's? I know AI gets a lot of high marks. But, if I have to cut a few hoses to save $600 I am going to cut a few hoses haha.