I've had one of these PS coolers fracture before and leak anti-freeze into the PS system. I don't want it happening the other way around someday. I've heard this was just WS6/SS option on LS1 cars. Is it something I could do without? I'm just curious if any of you guys have gotten rid of yours, disconnected, or re-routed to a simple air cooler type setup?

 

You don't need it. Only SS/WS cars had it from 98-00 IIRC and then all 01-02 cars got it. I don't have it and if I did I would bypass it.....

 

So by "don't need it" I should probably bypass to some other method of cooling? Or, just disconnect the hoses and link them together with no way to cool the fluid whatsoever?

 

You don't need it. You can just get a regular coolant hose or replace it w/ aftermarket cooler and mount it somewhere else like infront of the radiator.

 

so all i would need is a elcheapo cooler off amazon ? which hoses would i hook up to the ports on the cooler?

 

To bypass, buy a new upper radiator hose from a regular z28 non cooler equipped car, the go to home depot, in the brass fitting section and buy a 3/8 to 3/8 barbed connection fitting and two nice stainless screw clamps. Install your new hose and the two power steering hoses that are left over just loop them to each other with your fitting and clamps.

 

Ive never had one on my car and Ill never get one. I dont see the point for a regular streetcar to have a cooler unless its doing auto x races often. I just keep fresh fluid in it and check it. FWIW my pump has 230k + and is fine.

 

Everything you need to know is in the sticky thread https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...g-success.html

 

This isn't even necessary as one can just cut down the length of the return hose from the rack and hook it directly to the reservoir.

 

That's a good point, I been meaning to look into shortening my line. I had the brass barb already so I just plugged the two hoses together. Good catch on that detail.

 

I like the barb fitting in one wants to retain factory lines and whatnot (sort of like when doing a throttle body coolant bypass), but it's also nice to clean things up by removing the extra hoses -- and more opportunities for leaks!

 

Yeah you don't need it. Mine did the same thing and I bypassed it for a few months, them I bought a aftermarket cooler. Looks good and works better. I mounted it in front of the rad.