chstitans42

I made this video since I was doing the work anyways. Hopefully it will help someone along the way work on their C3. Enjoy!

20mercury

Nice video and very helpful! Much Thanks!

Torqued Off

A very recent thread on radiator removal had the experts claiming the radiator cannot be removed without taking the hood off....I would say this video makes it clear about that.

Gordonm

I have removed several radiators and many motors out of C3 cars. Never have I removed the hood. Can be done no problem. The radiators are not the easiest to get out but it can be done.

jnealg

well 72's are a lot easier than my 75 i guess.
my shroud had loops that go around the bottom support bolts. they would have had to have been cut if I didnt remove the support anyway.
I was able to remove the old one with difficulty but the new one would not go in without dropping the right side control arms due to the lower hose inlet.
It took 3 people to wrestle the new one in without removing the hood. next time the hood will come off.

Glad yours went so smoothly!

Brcmpbl

Year specific. I have both a 1970 and a 1976. The 1970's radiator can be removed with the hood on.

The early design 1976, L-82 at least, absolutely not (unless a guy wants to start cutting stuff or maybe pulling control arms). The hood has to come off.

Nice video.

scrappy76

I have a early 76 and I was able to remove the old radiator by myself without removing the hood or the control arm. I was a battle but it was done. You have to kinda pick up inch by inch slowly toward the driverside first and twisting it at the same time while bringing the bottom inlet around the a arm. Now the shroud was a different story, but since I was going with electric fan, I cut the shroud in half to get it out.

7t9l82

i took my radiator out of my 79 and others and never pulled the hood. later cars are a little tougher than early cars. i prefer to pull the radiator and leave the shroud in the car why take it out anyway.

RATT7

Great video !

Brcmpbl

Therein lies the difference - the shroud. That's what I meant when I said it could be done if you wanted to start cutting stuff.

The later cars, like a 79 for instance, have a much smaller lower spout. Makes things much easier. This all assumes stock parts to start.

V4motorsports

Wow.....Great video!!!!

I am in the process of removing mine along with the engine. I found that I had trouble getting the shroud off the lower right bolt. Once I did, the shroud seems to be hitting the sway bar.

Guess I'll try again today.

Thanks for the video!

Russ

C3Hawk

Thanks for taking the time to make and post this!

chstitans42

I will have to try that next time! awesome idea


Experts huh?

AboveTheLogic

I never understood that. My '79 doesn't have a shroud (previous owner discarded it for some reason), and an electric fan. I could go out to the garage and have my radiator out in 15 minutes.

I can only imagine that the huge shroud and fan are the reasons why some folks say you have to remove the hood.

Callin Cole Mote

How did you end up getting the shroud out? I have a 79, and I’m having the same issue with the shroud hitting the sway bar! Am I going to have to cut it?

MelWff

the thread is from 2014. Some things I found unclear, why did he remove the thermostat housing to pull a radiator unless he was changing the thermostat at the same time. On my 69 you remove the side radiator support bolts and loosen but do not remove the lower radiator support bolts. You also remove the front radiator support brace. Tilt the complete radiator and shroud assembly forward to gain clearance to remove the radiator and shroud. A car with an AC condenser in front of the radiator maybe more involved.

7t9l82

I made note of the same thing.I question pulling the water pump pulley,and I don't recall pulling the fan either. It seemed he was trying to just get everything possible out of the way. I'm suprised he didn't pull the water pump too.why stop there let's get that timing chain cover out of the way too.
My suggestion is just dive in and start taking things apart and remove what's in your way.

7t9l82

The shroud doesn't need to come out to remove the radiator just lay it back over the fan and the radiator will come out, it's tight but it comes out.