Radiator install
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
It is truly a PITA to wiggle it in--it will go in just when you think it won't. There's no other way I can think of to explain it--I've done it 3 times over the years. Attaching the lower radiator hose to the radiator is a MF too--but it will eventually go on. I put the end of the hose in boiling hot water then rush it to the car and try to slip it on while its still soft and hot.
I am sure this is the reason a lot of us switch to electric fans.
I am sure this is the reason a lot of us switch to electric fans.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: Southeast WI
Yep, I agree with the previous posts. The shroud has to go in before the radiator.
Another tip I learned is to squirt a little coolant on the inside of the lower hose before connecting to the radiator. It helps to lubricate the hose as you wiggle it.
Another tip I learned is to squirt a little coolant on the inside of the lower hose before connecting to the radiator. It helps to lubricate the hose as you wiggle it.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
I did miine with putting the radiator in first, but mine is a 70 with a/c. It also has a two peice shroud (exztension on the bottom portion) that was removable and it gave me enough room with the fan and belts off to squeeze the shroud on. Not easy, but was do-able.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,780
Likes: 1,936
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I Concurr
Originally Posted by PhotoVette1
Shroud goes in before radiator. Sorry.
&&&&&&&
use lots of hot boiling water & soap to help slide hoses on.....
ZIXXX PACKER
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
From: Beacon NY
I must have been lucky, but the few times I've pulled and put my radiator back on my '79 I haven't had any sort of problems. The hoses just slid right on. (I bought my radiator hoses from ZIP)
1) connect the lower radiator hose to the engine
2) place the shrowd in the propper position
3) install the fan and bolts
4) slide the radiator between the radiator mount and shrowd
5) fight the lower hose and hose clamp
6) install and tighten the radiator brackets
7) install the top radiator hose
1) connect the lower radiator hose to the engine
2) place the shrowd in the propper position
3) install the fan and bolts
4) slide the radiator between the radiator mount and shrowd
5) fight the lower hose and hose clamp
6) install and tighten the radiator brackets
7) install the top radiator hose
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
75 Automatic
This may not help you at all but when I did mine it seemed like all the adjusting in and out up and down was just going to f-up my new rad
so right at the perfect point I split my shrouding ,and then my rad slipped and i mean slipped right in and the way the shroud went back together you could not see or even feel the cut where its split in half. And yes put the lower hose on first.Hope this is not to late to help you out.
so right at the perfect point I split my shrouding ,and then my rad slipped and i mean slipped right in and the way the shroud went back together you could not see or even feel the cut where its split in half. And yes put the lower hose on first.Hope this is not to late to help you out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 298
From: Midlothian VA
Originally Posted by swensonm
CRAP
So I have the support in...IF I put in the shroud how will I get radiator in with the shape of the lower rad inlet?
So I have the support in...IF I put in the shroud how will I get radiator in with the shape of the lower rad inlet?
There should be 6 bolts holding the radiator support to the car.
Your radiator is mounted to this support.
Loosen the lower bolts on each side of the radiator support and remove the remaining upper bolts from each side of the radiator support.
This should allow you to tilt the radiator/support assembly toward the front of the vehicle enough for you to slip the shroud in place.
Be careful not to let go of the radiator/support assembly as it can also tilt toward the motor, waterpump, upper A-arms and will leave a lasting impression on your radiator (don't know what size radiator you have so don't know which it will hit first).
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
not yet
Waiting for the wife to get back for the extra hand!
I just cant believe how frustrating this is...I want to drive!
Was told to try to hole the shroud and rad together and slide it in...gonna try that now!
Mike
Hope I did not screw up my new dewitts
I just cant believe how frustrating this is...I want to drive!
Was told to try to hole the shroud and rad together and slide it in...gonna try that now!
Mike
Hope I did not screw up my new dewitts
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
Like I said, I have done it three times. The first and third times were ballbusters like you're going through. The second time it slid right into place, the first time, doing it all by myself--I can't think of what I did different the second time.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Did It
Cut right at the upper a-arm so that the a-arm is almost covered Bolt the lower piece in ,my bolt was rusted so I broke it getting it off so i just put in a new one .After that it went in like a dream.Also Like I said Before you cannot even see the cut.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
You said you hoped you did not mess up the radiator...If you think that you did, you might want to fill it up with water before you try to put it in again to make sure that you didn't damage anything.
I did not have a problem with mine...but, before I installed, I filled it up just to make sure there was no leaks...others may say that this is not neccessary, but I wanted to make sure it didn't leak before I got it together and filled it up with coolant....just my .02.
I did not have a problem with mine...but, before I installed, I filled it up just to make sure there was no leaks...others may say that this is not neccessary, but I wanted to make sure it didn't leak before I got it together and filled it up with coolant....just my .02.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 298
From: Midlothian VA
Originally Posted by Hammerhead Fred
There should be 6 bolts holding the radiator support to the car.
Your radiator is mounted to this support.
Loosen the lower bolts on each side of the radiator support and remove the remaining upper bolts from each side of the radiator support.
This should allow you to tilt the radiator/support assembly toward the front of the vehicle enough for you to slip the shroud in place.
Be careful not to let go of the radiator/support assembly as it can also tilt toward the motor, waterpump, upper A-arms and will leave a lasting impression on your radiator (don't know what size radiator you have so don't know which it will hit first).
Your radiator is mounted to this support.
Loosen the lower bolts on each side of the radiator support and remove the remaining upper bolts from each side of the radiator support.
This should allow you to tilt the radiator/support assembly toward the front of the vehicle enough for you to slip the shroud in place.
Be careful not to let go of the radiator/support assembly as it can also tilt toward the motor, waterpump, upper A-arms and will leave a lasting impression on your radiator (don't know what size radiator you have so don't know which it will hit first).
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
Tried
Fred
I tried that I guess I am just to frustrated at this point...gonna leave it alone for a day or two and try again....I took the old one out but cant get the new one in!
TTT
I tried that I guess I am just to frustrated at this point...gonna leave it alone for a day or two and try again....I took the old one out but cant get the new one in!
TTT
