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I've done the radiator once before and just around to doing it again for the second time. The shroud was an issue the first time and is a bigger issue this time around - reasons unknown.
There have been folks that say they "cut the shroud in half" to make removal and installation easier.
So were they cut in half so you have top and bottom parts, or left and right parts???
What about a "stress relief cut" - if you get my thought.
I cut mine years ago into left and right halves. I put it back together with thin alum. plates and machine screws top and bottom. I'm not a purist and I like things easy.
I removed mine 2 weekends ago on my 79 AC Vette. I was actually able to remove the radiator FIRST and THEN the shroud... -I wasn't afraid to get angry at it, though because neither one is going back in my car.
I cut the shroud in 1/2 top and bottom, on the bottom section, I put tabs on, little fingers sticking up to engage both the inside and outside of the top... bolted the two sections in place with normal procedure, it was that way with the stock fan, and even with an attempt at electric fan...junkyard style....
Later on I went Dual Spal fans....owned my '72 since '95....
whats wrong with removing the side bolts of the radiator support, loosening the bottom bolts of the radiator support, removing any nose brace for the radiator support, possibly moving the AC condensor, and tilting the radiator support forward to remove the radiator and shroud as a single unit.
Hi, just a few comments -
Removing bolts and tilting core support does help a bunch. I have also cut my shroud, making a top and bottom half and that makes removal of shroud and radiator easier also. My 74 350 had a factory shroud extension, which is NOT cut, that bolts to the main shroud at several places on the top and bottom halves. That helps keep the cut top and bottom pieces together when all are installed.
Cutting it in half is a half as__ed bubba way of doing it. Remove the fan and fan clutch. You may have to loosen the core support side bolts and move the core to remove the shroud.
On my 75, auto we just cut the bottom of the shroud, in the middle.
You will be able to bend the sides in to reinstall it, very simple. Looks stock from the top.
Mod 75, that was what I was thinking. My shroud isn't brittle (yet), so it has a lot of flex.
As to bubba method, this car may go to some drive in shows, but certainly not any sort of concourse or judged show - it's nothing special and it is a non-numbers motor. As long as it remains as "stock looking" as possible, most folks would just see a nice looking car.
Tilting the support forward provides some relief, but when you have A/C connected, things get a bit more complex. Cutting the shroud at the bottom to give it some relief so it can go in easier without having to remove most of the support bolts makes the whole process much much easier for the non purist.
Cutting it in half is a half as__ed bubba way of doing it. Remove the fan and fan clutch. You may have to loosen the core support side bolts and move the core to remove the shroud.
I was around when the c3's first hit the street. Looked to me like they were put together by half-azed bubbas to start with. Leaking tops and windows, horrible door fitment and in one case, mismatched paint that caused a brand new car to be repainted twice.
Not every improvement to a bad design is bubba.
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Originally Posted by MelWff
whats wrong with removing the side bolts of the radiator support, loosening the bottom bolts of the radiator support, removing any nose brace for the radiator support, possibly moving the AC condensor, and tilting the radiator support forward to remove the radiator and shroud as a single unit.
Exactly! Far less "anger" in the removal/install process and reduced risk of damaging the rad.
Radiator Shroud
