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Recently acquired a '73 BB auto with a/c and need to pull the radiator to install the missing radiator and fan shroud seals. Can the radiator be pulled with the hood in place? Any tips on doing this job would be appreciated.
I found the easiest way to do this is pull the hood and remove the rad, rad support and shroud as a unit. Remove the three bolts in each wheel well, two underneath along with the brace, both hoses and the ground on the drivers side,then the fan and lift everything out as a unit. It saves a lot of frustration and swearing trying to get the rad past the shroud or vice versa plus you can clean it all up and install your new seals out of the car. The whole thing takes about an hour or so and is pretty straight forward. The only other suggestion I have is to use a piece of vacuum hose on the exposed end of the sway bar bolts to prevent gouging the rad when you install it back in the car. You can also either mark or use masking tape on the hood for the hinge position.
Yes, with the hood off the radiator comes out easily and it only takes one person to take the hood off and put it back on IF you lay towels onto the fenders and over the headlight air pots.
yes you can pull a BB radiator w/o removing the hood (at least on a '68!). I did mine that way this summer. remove fan, and fan shroud obviously, hoses, and brackets.
Thanks gungatim. Assume you unbolt the fan at the pulley closest to the engine?
yes, a little tricky but one nut at a time.
Contrary to the guarantee, I did NOT damage my radiator removing, or the new one going in. my shroud was already separated in two and screwed together so that part was easier than a factory shroud that is stapeled (you need to carefully separate it then screw it back together if it hasn't already been done.) BTW, I removed the old one myself, but had a buddy help carefully lower the new one in place.
Pulled mine ('70 BB 4M) the same as CanadaGrant and will do it no other way -easy, clean and you can really get a good fit of all the seals when 'bench assembling' the support, rad and parts.
Another piece of advice is to cut some thick cardboard the size of the rad fin area and tape on to avoid bending the fins when they catch on anything and everything.
Also, I had some nose droop (as I took three weeks to complete the job) and lining up the 6 bolts during reinstall was painful. Gentle jacking of the nose incrementally until the bolts slid in was required. I would recommend supporting the nose if you'll be leaving it for a period of time.
Last edited by spinadog; Nov 12, 2015 at 01:00 PM.
Folks, I think it is only fair to Saddlehorn that the term "easy" might need clarification. Pulling a radiator and reinstalling it is still going to be a chore.
All the seals were missing on my 1973 when I pulled my radiator and support, does anyone have pictures of where the new seals go?
Pics might be a problem since the seals are usually hard to see with the radiator and shroud installed. Do you have the 73 AIM? The AIM shows seal installation.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Mar 25, 2016 at 09:45 AM.
Thanks Easy Mike.
I agree, the pictures are really hard to see, I did take a few of the seals that were in place when I took it apart.
I have the 73 AIM and will use it.
I did find some good Illustrations on the Dr Rebuild site after I made this post.
Very similar to AIM but with other parts out of the way so a bit easier to see where they go.
BB Radiator removal question
