The bonnet is off for access, and after a full engine compartment refurbishment, its time to put the rad back into the car.

This has proved to be a tight fit with the radiator frame in place, and I am having difficulty in getting into into place without fouling the shroud etc.
- is it a good idea after putting the shroud in place to fit radiator to the frame and install as one piece or indeed mounting the shroud as well before dropping all three into car
- Is it easier to fit the radiator by dropping into place from the top, or remove sway bar and put into place from underneath the car?

Kind regards
Paul

 

I just did this with my 73 BB. I took the fan and fan clutch off. I put the shroud over the water pump and tied it back. What I don't remember is if I had the radiator frame on or off. IIRC I believe I first tried with the frame, condenser and radiator as a unit, but wound up removing the radiator and installing that after the frame and condenser. With a helper, we lowered the radiator down and mounted it. With the hood/ bonnet of it was pretty easy. I installed the fan shroud. Then I put the fan/ fan clutch on.

It was difficult to angle and hold with one person; two people made the job easy. Also I remember the radiator frame binding in the fenders which is why I believe I removed it and mounted it separately

 

remove the bolts in the inner fender on both sides holding the radiator support.
loosen but do not remove the bolts on the bottom of the radiator support
if there is a support brace in front of the radiator support remove it.
tilt the radiator support forward and insert the radiator and shroud as one piece.

 

As MelWff said. There was no other way to get the radiator in along with the shroud on my 70 big block.

 

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html

 

Many thanks guys.

Paul

 

All the parts involved had been restored and painted, and a new replacement frame purchased (which fitted perfectly) as the old one was beyond repair, this may have made things easier. Radiator is now in the car; I had not done this task before and I am not a mechanic so it took quite a bit of time (I reckon around 4 hours), however it was after quite a bit of trail and error and learning along the way with the tips and hints provided by the forum proving very useful; so not a guide but hopefully containing some useful tips to bear in mind;

I first protected the paint either side to prevent it from any damage and note I had the hood off as this makes access so easy I cant imagine doing this by myself with the hood in place.
Removed fan
Transmission cooler hoses and all the other hoses tied out of the way
New seals added to frame and shroud (self-adhesive, so this is easy), I suggest you take photo of the where the old seals before removing them so you can position the new ones in the correct position, as its not obvious where they go, and NOTE where the upper frame seal covers or is close to the holes for the larger upper bracket, keep the backing tape on on this last few inches of the seal as you will need to stick it over the larger upper bracket later in the installation, when this bracket is bolted on
Added the two lower radiator bracket rubber supports to the frame (a little silicon grease on the rubber lugs on the support makes it easier to push them into the holes)
Put radiator frame into place, added all six of the fender bolts to ensure all the holes line up (accessed though the wheel arches; no need to remove wheels), took out the top two fender bolts each side leaving only the bottom ones in place but very loose, if you replace these with new bolts (corroded as they are very exposed to rain etc.). I found stock replacement bolts are a little shorter, so keep the old ones as you will probably need them for the bottom two holes to get them to reach the threads on the frame (I speak from experience here)
I did not need to remove the lower front frame brace (loose was ok), but make sure its tied out of the way
Frame pulled forward pivoting on the lower fender bolts (this gives loads of space) and tied or braced to hold it there
Cardboard placed on front of radiator to protect fins (cut to size and tied in place with some thin string - (this was a good tip)
Radiator gently lowered into place, lots of room and was easy to do (CARE - may wish to consider using a hoist or friend to help you here to protect your back, as you will be slightly leaning forward to do this)
Shroud then wriggled into place (for me this did not need to be put in at the same time as the radiator; its was tight but there was sufficient space)
Add radiator upper brackets: these were a tight fit with the rubber supports in place and I initially took them off, tightened everything up and added them later.
Shroud bolts added and lower shroud piece added
Frame aligned back into place and all bolts added
All bolts then tightened up.
All bolts fixings etc. double checked that they are all tightened (as there were quite a few)

Kind regards
Paul