Radiater removal
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 39
From: cincinnati ohio
Cruise-In V Veteran
Radiater removal
Radiater in my 75 has developed a small leak and I want to remove it to have it repaired.Any suggestions or tips on the best way to remove the radiater?Looks like it is going to be a pain.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by jlsru75
Looks like it is going to be a pain.
my radiator developed a very small leak in the solder joint between the core and the end that would only show up after driving for a while. i pulled it out and tried to fix it. put it back and it still leaked. pulled it out again and did a better job of fixing it, but in a months time it was leaking again. finally i had had enough. pulled it out, took it to a radiator shop, had them compleatly remove the end, clean it and resolder it. that did the trick. put it back in and haven't had to mess with it for better than a year now.
loosten up the radiator support frame and shove it as far forward as possible. it will make it easier to remove the schroud and the radiator. the bolts for this frame are accessed through the wheel well.
take your time and try not to get to frustrated. have plenty of beer on hand. this is easily a 4 to 5 beer project.
good luck and i hope this helps.
Mike.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
yep, It's a PITA
Drain the system and remove the radiator hose off the lower radiator hose housing.
if you have an auto trans undo the trans cooler lines from the radiator.
if you have the air duct that goes across the top of the radiator remove it.
unbolt the fan shroud and top radiator brackets
there are three bolts on each side that hold the core support in - they are found in the wheel wheels. Unbolt the top two bolts on each side so you can tilt the entire coresupport forward as much as you can. It won't be much at all, especially if you have A/C and therefore the condenser mounted in front of the radiator but believe me, even a little bit of extra room is going to be a big help!
now you can pull the radiator out of the car - the trick is to watch very carefully on the passenger side as you are lifting it up as it's tigh trying to manuver the lower hose housing section past the upper control arm of the suspension - this is where even the little bit of extra room you gain by tilting the core support forward helps.
reinstall is the exact opposite of the removal procedures
Drain the system and remove the radiator hose off the lower radiator hose housing.
if you have an auto trans undo the trans cooler lines from the radiator.
if you have the air duct that goes across the top of the radiator remove it.
unbolt the fan shroud and top radiator brackets
there are three bolts on each side that hold the core support in - they are found in the wheel wheels. Unbolt the top two bolts on each side so you can tilt the entire coresupport forward as much as you can. It won't be much at all, especially if you have A/C and therefore the condenser mounted in front of the radiator but believe me, even a little bit of extra room is going to be a big help!
now you can pull the radiator out of the car - the trick is to watch very carefully on the passenger side as you are lifting it up as it's tigh trying to manuver the lower hose housing section past the upper control arm of the suspension - this is where even the little bit of extra room you gain by tilting the core support forward helps.
reinstall is the exact opposite of the removal procedures
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cut the top of the shrouding in half. It doesnt move anywhere near as nicely as the haynes and chiltons manual says it will.
once you cut the shroud and manage to yank that pile of crap out, get too people to yank the radiator.
you will need to pull the driver side out first because the lower radiator hose input will hit the lower control arm when you try and pull it out straight.
once you cut the shroud and manage to yank that pile of crap out, get too people to yank the radiator.
you will need to pull the driver side out first because the lower radiator hose input will hit the lower control arm when you try and pull it out straight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
if you tilt the core support forward as both Mdj21 and I suggest you don't need to butcher up your shroud by cutting it. Why destroy a perfectly good part and than have to bubba rig it together afterwards just to save a couple minutes to remove 4 bolts from the wheel well?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
Is your A/C functioning?
If not, then you can disconnect the condensor and remove it first. You will need to loosen the drier bracket. Disconnect the shroud bolts and let it sit. Remove the rad support screws from inside the wheel well. Push the radiator and support outward so that you can now easily remove the shroud. Remove the radiator and support together. Install rad and support together.
I just did it this way. Took a little longer but everything came out and went in pretty easily. I was able to line up the radiator seals to the support very nicely with it out of the car. Also cleaned up the support and repainted it. BTW, make sure that you plug the A/C lines so that no moisture enters the a/c system.
If your A/c is functioning, then do not disconnect it. Remove the radiator support screws at the wheel wells and move the support enough so that you can remove the shroud and radiator. It is trickier this way since the lower rad outlet will get hung up on the upper control arm...but it can be done with a little patience and definitely a second person to help out.
If not, then you can disconnect the condensor and remove it first. You will need to loosen the drier bracket. Disconnect the shroud bolts and let it sit. Remove the rad support screws from inside the wheel well. Push the radiator and support outward so that you can now easily remove the shroud. Remove the radiator and support together. Install rad and support together.
I just did it this way. Took a little longer but everything came out and went in pretty easily. I was able to line up the radiator seals to the support very nicely with it out of the car. Also cleaned up the support and repainted it. BTW, make sure that you plug the A/C lines so that no moisture enters the a/c system.
If your A/c is functioning, then do not disconnect it. Remove the radiator support screws at the wheel wells and move the support enough so that you can remove the shroud and radiator. It is trickier this way since the lower rad outlet will get hung up on the upper control arm...but it can be done with a little patience and definitely a second person to help out.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
Originally Posted by BarryK
if you tilt the core support forward as both Mdj21 and I suggest you don't need to butcher up your shroud by cutting it. Why destroy a perfectly good part and than have to bubba rig it together afterwards just to save a couple minutes to remove 4 bolts from the wheel well?
Don't need to destroy the shroud.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Inside the woods living my passion
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Originally Posted by Guru_4_hire
Cut the top of the shrouding in half. It doesnt move anywhere near as nicely as the haynes and chiltons manual says it will.
once you cut the shroud and manage to yank that pile of crap out, get too people to yank the radiator.
you will need to pull the driver side out first because the lower radiator hose input will hit the lower control arm when you try and pull it out straight.
once you cut the shroud and manage to yank that pile of crap out, get too people to yank the radiator.
you will need to pull the driver side out first because the lower radiator hose input will hit the lower control arm when you try and pull it out straight.
Cut the shroud?
I agree with Barry K.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: san diego ca
Originally Posted by jlsru75
Yep my AC works great.Do I need to remove the hood to remove radiater?Thanks so much for the help.
definitely a PITA job overall.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
i get to look forward to doing it this winter. my radiator support is falling to pieces.
on the upside, ill be getting to learn how to weld. the lower half of it is rotting out terribly, so were just going to cut it off and weld in a new half.
on the upside, ill be getting to learn how to weld. the lower half of it is rotting out terribly, so were just going to cut it off and weld in a new half.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by C3Racing
Cut the shroud? I agree with Barry K.
I agree with Barry K.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Guru
that's right , the shroud won't come out and will get hung up exactly where you say it does until the radioator is pulled out. All C3's are like that. The radiator must come out before the shroud will.
Once the rad is out the shroud will lift out easily.
No need to destroy the part if you wait to take it out in the correct order.
that's right , the shroud won't come out and will get hung up exactly where you say it does until the radioator is pulled out. All C3's are like that. The radiator must come out before the shroud will.
Once the rad is out the shroud will lift out easily.
No need to destroy the part if you wait to take it out in the correct order.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Tried that too, but the radiator kept getting hung up on the shroud. It wasnt worth the effort and curse words as a dewitts radiator with the dual spals.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Re: Hood
I Found Removing Mine Made It Much Easier Even Just To See.........& Easy To Do
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
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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
Re: Hood
I Found Removing Mine Made It Much Easier Even Just To See.........& Easy To Do
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: Southeast WI
I lost count on the number of beers that were consumed in the process, but we got the radiator and the shroud out of my car completely intact. As a matter of fact, I cleaned and painted the shroud before I installed the new DeWitts radiator. Everything looks great now!
