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I don't think there's a way around it. Not a big deal to remove it with a buddy helping. Just be sure to mark the hinges where they attach on the hood before removal. Then a piece of cake reinstalling it with the proper fit.
PS: Be sure to place tape on the edges of the fenders so that they don't get dinged.
Last edited by Jud Chapin; May 7, 2022 at 11:30 AM.
You could probably " manage " to do it with the hood on, but if you have a buddy to help they are easy to take off and would make the whole job a ton easier. Just run a sharpie around the bolts so you can position them the same way. My wife and I remove mine once a year for something or another it seems.
I removed the radiator on my 78PC without removing the hood. You need to remove the fan clutch and move the shroud towards the engine. It would be good to have help lifting the radiator out. I got mine out by myself, but it's better with an extra set of hands.
Removing the radiator is one of those C3 jobs that will have you cursing and kicking puppies before you finish. Once you start trying to coax the radiator upwards you will see that removing the hood is the way to go.
I would. I do it by myself.
Shove a bunch of towels and /or blankets in front of the rad-condenser, mark the hinges, put a pole to hold up the hood in the engine compartment when you loosen the hinges..... ENSURE YOU HAVE A CLEAR PATH FOR WHERE YOU WILL PLACING THE HOOD BEFORE PROCEEDING.
From the front of the car, making sure you don't have any jewelry or zippers that will scratch the hood, lift it and move it where you wish to place it.
Originally Posted by 70worm
I have a 76 with AC, do I need to remove the hood to do the radiator? I have a book that says yes, and one that doesn't say too.
79 with AC removed without removing the hood. Unbolted the fan shroud and pulled it back towards the engine as far as I could, which if I remember isnt much. Had to do this twice in the last couple years one time with help and the other by myself
79 with AC, removed rad without removing the hood. Unbolted the fan shroud and pulled it back towards the engine as far as I could, which if I remember isnt much. Had to do this twice in the last couple years one time with help and the other by myself
After removing my crappy copper and brass radiator, I could not imagine installing it by myself. It needed to be replaced so I went with an aluminum and was able to do it by myself with the hood on. Something to consider.
On our 75 with air i have removed the radiator 2 times and left the hood on, two person job, wife helped.
It really helps if the shroud has been modded.
I have electric fans on my 77. removed fans. pulled rad and installed new big block 4 row aluminium radiator without taking off the hood. It wasn't the hood that was in the way.
it's the darn upper A arm shafts. But with creative wiggling and angling. it it went. Hood was not a concern.
You can get the hood off yourself, just mark the hinges to make it easier to go back on (and use a better pulley than this, but it did work). I needed the hood out of the way to push the radiator forward to remove the stock shroud, but it did come out intact.
But what do I know. @gkull can pull his engine with the hood still on.
Hey OP, I had the same question on our '68 when I replaced the radiator 2 years ago. One book said to remove the hood, the other didn't. Here is what worked on our '68 (your car may be different):
I removed the fan, fan clutch, shroud, and water pump. I was replacing the water pump anyway.
That gave me enough room to get the radiator out - don't try to do it alone, have a helper. Take it out at about the same angle as it sits.
When you take the radiator out (unless it's really shot), or put your new one in, don't forget to do this: cut out a heavy cardboard box and cover up the core/fins of the radiator. Tape the cardboard over the core/fins. This will protect your valuable radiator as the chances are that you'll - even slightly - hit it against something as you remove/install.
It's not all that bad if you just take your time, take a breather when needed, and realize it's 'part of the adventure'. Best, Paul
The whole idea, imho, is not whether you can do some engine work with the hood on, it just allows for much more room with it off making the job easier. Removing the hood can be done by 2 in a few minutes.
The whole idea, imho, is not whether you can do some engine work with the hood on, it just allows for much more room with it off making the job easier. Removing the hood can be done by 2 in a few minutes.
Or by yourself in 10 minutes.
You'll then have so much more space to work, and might pick up some while you were in theres, like the vacuum actuators.
I just replaced the radiator and condenser on my 82 and removed the hood. It made it very easy to get to everything and it was the easiest part of the job.
I recommend removing the hood and taking the opportunity to inspect/change your headlight control vacuum lines if they are old since they are extremely easy to get to also.
I ended up having too replace The support pillar, so taking the hood off worked out. Along with the the other issues. Also the issue I found with my car vs the books are the fan shroud cant be moved til the radiator is out. Most places say to move it up on the engine, but mine is molded around the A arms so it has to go back to go up.
It is easier with the hood removed. When I did my 75 I bolted the shroud and seals to the radiator and dropped it in as one unit. The radiator is big and awkward so I made some handles I bolted to the top of the radiator and with 2 people it easily dropped right in. Not to mention the radiator was very expensive so I cut,taped some cardboard to the radiator to protect the cooling fins. This job was a total pain in the *** so feel free to send me a message if I can help. I forgot to add I bolted the radiator support to the radiator before installation.
1973 Vette with AC Radiator Removal and Installation Steps. Prior to the below steps you will need to drain coolant, remove the upper & lower radiator hoses, belts, fan and water pump pulleys. Dump AC charge if removing condenser.
REMOVAL 1) Remove Hood 2) Remove upper radiator and fan shroud braces 3) Remove the two upper side bolts on each side of the radiator support 4) Loosen but do not remove the lower side bolts and two bolts on the bottom of the support
5) Remove the two lower fan shroud nuts. 6) Remove the AC condenser or headlight actuators (pick one) 7) Pull the radiator support forward 8) Pull the radiator up and out tilting the driver's side higher than the pass side 9) You can now remove the shroud
Now is a good time to replace all the radiator and shroud seals
INSTALLATION
1) Install shroud 2) Pull the radiator support forward 3) Lower the radiator tilting the driver's side higher than the pass side 4) Push radiator support back into place 5) Install the AC condenser or headlight actuators 6) Loosely install the two upper side bolts on each side of the radiator support 7) Loosely install upper radiator and fan shroud braces 8) Install the two lower fan shroud nuts. 9) Tighten the side bolts and two bolts on the bottom of the support 10) Tighten the upper radiator and fan shroud braces 11) Install Hood
With the condenser and/or headlight actuators removed (I removed the condenser) and radiator support pulled forward there is enough room to drop a fire truck in that space. Below is a tool I made (3/8" 1/4 drive socket, J-B Weld, flat stock) to remove the lower condenser mounting screws. Dumping the AC charge and removing the condenser took all of 30 mins, way easier than pulling headlight actuators.
