Looking to take the radiator out and reseat it. The bottom pipe is sitting on the sway bar.



Any good tips on getting it out and the reasons why it will be sitting so low?

 

It might be the angle of the photograph, but your radiator looks like it is sitting way too low and tilted too far back toward the engine. It should go forward and up a bit.

Are you intending to replace the missing fan shroud and seals?

 

Hi Bill
I think you need to take the radiator out and inspect what you have for support hardware that holds the radiator in place.. You should invest in a 1975 Corvette AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual) this is what the factory personal use to assemble your corvette. They can be ordered from several of our sponsors on this site.
I have enclosed in the mean time a couple of pictures of my 1972's AIM it should be close if not the same as your 75's. I also enclosed a picture of the parts page for your car so you can see what you may be missing. From your picture I see the the top left hand (drivers side) radiator hold down bracket is in place, but the right one is not (Missing?)
It doesn't look like much is holding your radiator in place from the picture all you need to do is remove the left hand hold down bracket and radiator hoses and of coarse drain the radiator fluid and pull the radiator up and out.
Maybe send another picture after you get it out. I hope this isn't you daily driver.
After you have inspected everything and see whats missing the rubber that the radiator sits in will be a must to replaced.
It would also help if you order several parts catalogs from our sponsor venders listed to the left, there are a lot of diagrams and a lot of replacement parts available for your year. I don't know what their policy is for shipping to Scotland you will have to investigate that.
Regards John

 

Cheers Mike & John.
I've got a 77 AIM manual and a Shop manual I got online.
Didn't realis the passenger side top mount was missing, might be why the left side is so low.

I'm on the lookout for a shroud. Friend of mine was saying to get twin electric fans and I won't need a shroud. Would that be right?

Aint a daily driver by any means I think I will take the hood off cmpletely to get better access, it has the dash out at the moment as welll
Not be on the road for a good while.
I should really start a photo thread of the progress rather than threads here and there.

Cheers again troops

 

I just went through this myself. I am also rebuilding the control arms so that was already out of the way - made the job much easier. After unbolting the radiator it came out easy, i think the most difficult part was unhooking the hoses as they were "stuck" on the radiator ends. A little screwdriver prying and twisting got them off. The lower one was the worse so I just disconnected it at the engine end first and removed it with the radiator.

Inspect the radiator support, they are prone to rusting, just like the crossmember right under it. I am replacing both.

In the end....pretty easy job. I was able to get everything out alone. Look in the AIM or Paragon schematic diagrams to identify if you are missing any parts, seals, etc.

As for the bottom hose resting on the sway bar. Is it actually resting on it or does it only look like it? My radiator bottom hose connecter has a dimple that the sway bar fits into perfectly....

Good luck

 

Bill
I wouldn't remove the Hood unless you feel it is really necessary. if you remove the hood be sure to mark around the hood hinges as to their present location, it will be helpful when you reassemble the hood to the car. This will assure the proper alignment of the hood to the fenders and locking devices. I read your profile is your car a 75 or a 77?
Electric fans usually mount close to the radiator and usually come with their own shroud type and would of coarse remove the existing fan on the water pump.
It all depends where you intend to go with your car back to stock or modified.
Replacement shrouds like the originals can be pricy , but so are electric fans.
It's all up to your choice
John

 

I'd bet your lower rubber cushions are missing, at least on one side. Either that or you have rust issues with the support bracket itself.

You won't need the factory shroud if you go with electric fans. I'd recommend the dual Spal setup as sold by DeWitts. That's what I went with and am very happy with it. Depending on what else you have planned for your car, you might need to upgrade the alternator to run electric fans.

I did not remove the hood when replacing my radiator. Laying a thick piece of cardboard on top of the engine helped me slide the old radiator out and the new one in without damaging either.

DC

 

Thanks for the tips guys. The previous owner had fitted the radiator so I reckon it is fairly new. Once it is off I can check all the components are there. I reckon that there is a support missing on the passenger side. Have to look into that.

I am not planning a restoration, just looking for a nice runner that looks good. Over here in Scotland we don't have the heat issues you guys have over the pond.

I'll take some pictures as it goes.

 

I had to remove the hood when I had to pull the radiator on my 69 bb and on my 74 small vettes.

 

Removing the hood makes things sooooo much easier

 

If you remove the hood, my advice would be to leave the hinges on the car and to remove the hood from the hinges. Scribe around the hinges on the hood, loosen those four bolts, and lift the hood off.

Leave the hinges mounted to the skirts.

The hood is not heavy. Two people can easily lift it off once the hinge bolts are removed.

 

Cheers guys, I'm planning to paint the car anyway and the hood isn't a perfect fit as it is. Might be an opportunity

 

Mine is real close too but clears it. The bottom neck of the radiator "intentually" has a notch (dent or whatever) because of the clearance issue. That's the way GM decided to deal with the issue. No matter what you do on a Corvette, it seems you need just 1/4" more.

 

Spot drill a small hole in your hinge to hood connection. Scribing leaves too much room for error. With the spot hole, just insert the appropriate drill bit to line it up and bolt her home. Too easy.

 

are you sure that is the correct radiator for that car?

 

How can I tell? Is there part numbers on the rad that I can reference?
Its 0836 over here, planning to get out today to remove it. I'll take some pics.

 

it just looks like the inlet and outlet tubes don't align with the pictures in the AIM, the transmission lines look like someone had a pair of vise grips on them and rounded them off, the radiator looks like it has been painted. This to me, looks like someone has been playing around here? Also, check the rubber mounting pads below and on top of the radiator. Also the seals, without them it won't cool down.

 

I went out yesterday and started looking at the radiator. Took some pictures so your feedback will be greatly received.
Took the hood off to get better access.


Rad pics.
Lower side



I take it these 2 are oil cooler pipes?


From the top






Needs to come up a fair bit I reckon. The rad looks fairly new but the last owner has improvised with the lower supports I think. Looks like a bit of rubber hose cut to fit

Got side tracked and took the seats out as well

 

Great pics. I am pretty sure the additional pipes are not oil, but for transmission fluid, only seen on automatics which you have.
I suggest changing out the A arm bushings soon - they look cracked and worn. I did mine after an A arm came loose and went thru my radiator shroud on my 73.

 

Thanks, I do have a rebuild kit for them which I will do when the radiator is out...