'78 L82 Radiator help
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
'78 L82 Radiator help
original issue solved but PLEASE look below at my post (post #7) for a new problem holdng me up.
the car is a '78 L82 w/ AC.
the car is a '78 L82 w/ AC.
Last edited by BarryK; Mar 5, 2006 at 10:57 AM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
From: Glenn Heights Tx
they are cooler lines because when i cut the rubber area colorful tranny fluid came flowing out....i have the same on my 80 L82, i cut them right at the rubber hose area when removing my radiator..2 short little pieces of rubber is cheaper to replace then rounding a nut off that connects to the radiator...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Originally Posted by BarryK
I'm in the middle of removing the radiator and fan shroud from the car.
I have the upper and lower hoses off plus the overflow tube off and the two top brackets off.
I noticed that on the engine side of the radiator, on the right side (passenger side) just inside of the endcaps there are two hardlines coming into the radiator. About two inches down from where the hardline connects into the radiator the hardline connects to a hose help on by sidescrew clamps. the soft hose to hardline coonection MUST have been made previous to the radiator going in as the screwhead on the clamp is facing down and no way to get a screwdriver to it. The top hardline connection to the radiator is accessable with a flair line wrench but there is no way to reach the lower connection that I can see and have room to move the wrench to undo the connection.
what are these two connections? the car is a '78 L82 w/ AC.
I looked in both my AIM and my shop manual but neither book mentions or shows these two connections.
more importantly than what are they, any clues on the best way to disconnect them, particulally the lower one that I can't seem to find a way to reach in a position to be able to move the wrench?
I have the upper and lower hoses off plus the overflow tube off and the two top brackets off.
I noticed that on the engine side of the radiator, on the right side (passenger side) just inside of the endcaps there are two hardlines coming into the radiator. About two inches down from where the hardline connects into the radiator the hardline connects to a hose help on by sidescrew clamps. the soft hose to hardline coonection MUST have been made previous to the radiator going in as the screwhead on the clamp is facing down and no way to get a screwdriver to it. The top hardline connection to the radiator is accessable with a flair line wrench but there is no way to reach the lower connection that I can see and have room to move the wrench to undo the connection.
what are these two connections? the car is a '78 L82 w/ AC.
I looked in both my AIM and my shop manual but neither book mentions or shows these two connections.
more importantly than what are they, any clues on the best way to disconnect them, particulally the lower one that I can't seem to find a way to reach in a position to be able to move the wrench?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Rye TX
When I removed my radiator, I cut the cooling lines, which are rubber, from the steel lines under the car and pulled the radiator out. Remember who is who. When I went back in with the radiator, I had overleangth new rubber lines installed. got back under the car, cut 'em to proper leangth, and hooked them up.
Last edited by AlCherry; Mar 5, 2006 at 07:19 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
thanks for the info guys! I never thought about the tranny coolant lines but it makes sense. My '65 is a 4-speed so it just never occured to me.
i have no intention of removing the front A arm so it looks like I'll have to come up with another method. As "bubba" as it sounds (no offense meant The Ram), I'll cut the rubber hose and replace it before having to deal with the A arm. I'm replacing enough of the other hoses under the hood as it is so what's two more short ones. I just hope I can at least lift the radiator up enough to get access to the rubber hoses enough to be able to cut them, especially the lower one.
there is always SOMETHING to hold you up or throw you for a loop on these projects.........
i have no intention of removing the front A arm so it looks like I'll have to come up with another method. As "bubba" as it sounds (no offense meant The Ram), I'll cut the rubber hose and replace it before having to deal with the A arm. I'm replacing enough of the other hoses under the hood as it is so what's two more short ones. I just hope I can at least lift the radiator up enough to get access to the rubber hoses enough to be able to cut them, especially the lower one.
there is always SOMETHING to hold you up or throw you for a loop on these projects.........
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Al
i must have been typing while you posted.
yep, it looks like that's what i'm going to end up doing also - cut them suckers.
I see no way to access them from the top so was going to try to find access from underneath so I'm glad you chimed in and confirmed there was. Thanks!
i must have been typing while you posted.
yep, it looks like that's what i'm going to end up doing also - cut them suckers.
I see no way to access them from the top so was going to try to find access from underneath so I'm glad you chimed in and confirmed there was. Thanks!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
ok, just spent three hours fighting with this thing and got NOWHERE!!!
I maganged to get both the rubber transmission coolant lines off the hardlines from the bottom without any trouble.
My friend showed up and we took the hood off the car.
Bad news is that the radiator and fan shroud will NOT come out of the car.
we tried just removing the fan shroud first but it hangs up on the upper A-arms so than we tried pulling just the radiator by itselt first but again after lifting it about halfway out the lower rad hose housing on the radiator hangs up on the A-arm on the passenger side.
We even tried pulling both the radiator and the shroud together. No matter how we tried it or how we tried to angle the pieces on the way out it keeps hanging up on the A-arms of the suspension.
Now, I know there is no way it must be required to remove the front suspension of the car just to get the radiator out so what am I missing here??
There are no lines or hoses still attached to the radiator - the biggest issue is simply the lower radiator hose housing prevents it from coming past the A-arm.
Please, any suggestions are greatly welcome!!!
I maganged to get both the rubber transmission coolant lines off the hardlines from the bottom without any trouble.
My friend showed up and we took the hood off the car.
Bad news is that the radiator and fan shroud will NOT come out of the car.
we tried just removing the fan shroud first but it hangs up on the upper A-arms so than we tried pulling just the radiator by itselt first but again after lifting it about halfway out the lower rad hose housing on the radiator hangs up on the A-arm on the passenger side.
We even tried pulling both the radiator and the shroud together. No matter how we tried it or how we tried to angle the pieces on the way out it keeps hanging up on the A-arms of the suspension.
Now, I know there is no way it must be required to remove the front suspension of the car just to get the radiator out so what am I missing here??
There are no lines or hoses still attached to the radiator - the biggest issue is simply the lower radiator hose housing prevents it from coming past the A-arm.
Please, any suggestions are greatly welcome!!!
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
yep, the fan clutch, the fan blade and pulley are removed.
from everything I can see it's definitely seems like the issue is the A-Arm of the front suspensing is what's hanging everything up from allowing it to pull out.
from everything I can see it's definitely seems like the issue is the A-Arm of the front suspensing is what's hanging everything up from allowing it to pull out.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Ganey
we tried moving the radiator at every possible angle while pulling it out - top toward the motor, top straight up, angles to try to get one side out before the other, etc. It looks like the bottom needs to go towards the front of the car more to cleaer the A-arm but it can't because of the radiator support bracket and the evaporator for the AC. I think I only need an inch or two but it's just not there!
i'm seriously confused and frustrated!
If I could manage to get the shroud out I think I would enough manuerving room to get it out but the shroud won't lift out past the A-arms either - it's too tight and the shroud is actually molded around the A-arms so it seems you need to get the radiator out to get the shgroud out but at the same time you need to get the shroud out to get the radiator out!!
the more I look at it and try to fool with it the
i'm getting.
I've alreadyt walked away from it 3 times to cool down and collect myself and try to think it thru but each time I go back to it it's the same thing all over again!
we tried moving the radiator at every possible angle while pulling it out - top toward the motor, top straight up, angles to try to get one side out before the other, etc. It looks like the bottom needs to go towards the front of the car more to cleaer the A-arm but it can't because of the radiator support bracket and the evaporator for the AC. I think I only need an inch or two but it's just not there!
i'm seriously confused and frustrated!
If I could manage to get the shroud out I think I would enough manuerving room to get it out but the shroud won't lift out past the A-arms either - it's too tight and the shroud is actually molded around the A-arms so it seems you need to get the radiator out to get the shgroud out but at the same time you need to get the shroud out to get the radiator out!!
the more I look at it and try to fool with it the
i'm getting. I've alreadyt walked away from it 3 times to cool down and collect myself and try to think it thru but each time I go back to it it's the same thing all over again!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
...Barry, the best way to pull a radiator on "most" C3s is to pull the shroud/radiator/core support/condensor as a one piece unit. Some C3s, such as the non-A/C cars with the earlier style steel barrel shroud could the radiator be pulled WITHOUT pulling the core support. I changed the radiator on my Silver '75 coupe and Yellow '80 4spd coupe I used to have and on both occasions pulled the radiator as one with the core support, shroud & condensor. There are really only three bolts down each side(need to remove one bolt from the hood hinge)and I believe two at the bottom. I have found it easier just to also remove the hood. 
It sounds and looks involved, but to me after doing it twice, it's much easier than what you're going through.
It sounds and looks involved, but to me after doing it twice, it's much easier than what you're going through.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Paul
I'm starting to realize you may be right about pulling the core support and condensor. It seems that's goinb to be the ONLY way it's coming out.
the hood is already off anyway.
I was trying to avoid that only because I didn't want to have to fool with the A/C system much and the condensor in the front had me concerned but it looks as though I'll have to move it.
With the hardlines on the condensor in front of the radiator support is there enough movement allowed to just unbolt the condensor from the core support, lean it back out of the way so that the core support/radiator/shroud can all pull out as one or am I really going to have to open up the AC system and loose the charge in able to pull the condensor out also?
I'm starting to realize you may be right about pulling the core support and condensor. It seems that's goinb to be the ONLY way it's coming out.
the hood is already off anyway.
I was trying to avoid that only because I didn't want to have to fool with the A/C system much and the condensor in the front had me concerned but it looks as though I'll have to move it.
With the hardlines on the condensor in front of the radiator support is there enough movement allowed to just unbolt the condensor from the core support, lean it back out of the way so that the core support/radiator/shroud can all pull out as one or am I really going to have to open up the AC system and loose the charge in able to pull the condensor out also?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Rye TX
I tell you what I did. I removed the core support bolts, which allowed movement foreward. Otherwise, you'll damage your radiator. There are three on each side. Top, Middle and bottom. Be patient. Grab a beer, look it over and move slowly! it will work.Any questions, call me. I just did this and it is still fresh in my mind. 281 787 1734
Last edited by AlCherry; Mar 5, 2006 at 02:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
thanks Al
I need to run out on an errand so won't be able to work on it for a few hours now but hopefully tonight I can give it another try with your suggestion.
BTW, I wrote your number down so you may want to edit your post and take it off so it's not so public anymore.
I need to run out on an errand so won't be able to work on it for a few hours now but hopefully tonight I can give it another try with your suggestion.
BTW, I wrote your number down so you may want to edit your post and take it off so it's not so public anymore.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
From: Victoria Texas
I have had the radiator out of my 78, L-82 pace car several times and it will come out without pulling the support forward, it is not easy but there is one position that it will come out.
I do agree that it is best to tilt the support forward and this will allow you to pull the radiator and shroud together.
I just did this to a 73 L-82 car and took the support out first.Then worked way back to the engine as the engine was comeing out also and the support was rusted badly, needed to be replaced .
I do agree that it is best to tilt the support forward and this will allow you to pull the radiator and shroud together.
I just did this to a 73 L-82 car and took the support out first.Then worked way back to the engine as the engine was comeing out also and the support was rusted badly, needed to be replaced .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Loosen the core support (remove the 2 upper bolts on either side). Tie foward with a bungee cord or wire. When removing the radiator, lift the drivers side more than the passenger side- (tilt). This way takes 2 patient people...lol. When the lower neck is at the right control arm, push the lower part of the rad. foward and lift up. Once the neck is clear of the control arm, it comes out easily. 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
big
thanks.
I just got back in so will try it a little later on when I get a chance to get back out to the garage sometime after dinner.
unfortunately, There are no longer two patient people........ only one very impatient, frustrated and PO'd person..... but i'll see if I can manage.
Man, I gotta tell you, other than the fan should bolts being a real PITA to get to, the shroud and radiator came out VERY easily on my '65 - that one was a complete no-brainer.
thanks.
I just got back in so will try it a little later on when I get a chance to get back out to the garage sometime after dinner.
unfortunately, There are no longer two patient people........ only one very impatient, frustrated and PO'd person..... but i'll see if I can manage.
Man, I gotta tell you, other than the fan should bolts being a real PITA to get to, the shroud and radiator came out VERY easily on my '65 - that one was a complete no-brainer.
Last edited by BarryK; Mar 5, 2006 at 05:47 PM.