Radiator Swap
- Thread starter shlby123
- Start date
4bangstangvert
Member
as long as you're putting another stocker in it's actually pretty easy....i switched mine out for a new one in less than an about an hour when the old one sprung a leak. This is one of the times you'll be thankful for having a tiny little 4 cylinder because it leaves plenty of space to get to the rad, drain it, remove the hoses, and remove it. It's all pretty straight-forward without any hidden tricks or special tools.
it's been awhile since I did mine but I'm pretty sure that the bottom just slides into some brackets and there are just a few bolts at the top plus the hoses holding it in place, but don't hold me to that.
it's been awhile since I did mine but I'm pretty sure that the bottom just slides into some brackets and there are just a few bolts at the top plus the hoses holding it in place, but don't hold me to that.
Anlushac11
Founding Member
Is your car a later model with a electric fan?
Is it a automatic or manual?
Be sure to catch the radiator fluid. If the fluid is discolored or rusty looking it is best to backflush the system with hte old radiator still in then swap to the new radiator afterwards. This avoids getting all the particles and debris knocked loose from clogging any parts of the new radiator.
I would rate the difficulty of swapping a radiator as a good beginner project.
If you have a electric fan just unplug it, then IIRC you pull the two top bolts and
the bottom support rods slide out of their slots and you carefully lift the fan out.
If you have a automatic transmission then there are probably two steel lines running into one of the side tanks. Take these loose and be careful not to round off the ends of the steel line fittings, see that way too often.
Then disconnect the hose clamps and wiggle the hoses loose and lift radiator out and reverse procedure to reassemble.
The first time going carefully may take an hour or two, after you have done it a few times it takes about 15-20 minutes.
Is it a automatic or manual?
Be sure to catch the radiator fluid. If the fluid is discolored or rusty looking it is best to backflush the system with hte old radiator still in then swap to the new radiator afterwards. This avoids getting all the particles and debris knocked loose from clogging any parts of the new radiator.
I would rate the difficulty of swapping a radiator as a good beginner project.
If you have a electric fan just unplug it, then IIRC you pull the two top bolts and
the bottom support rods slide out of their slots and you carefully lift the fan out.
If you have a automatic transmission then there are probably two steel lines running into one of the side tanks. Take these loose and be careful not to round off the ends of the steel line fittings, see that way too often.
Then disconnect the hose clamps and wiggle the hoses loose and lift radiator out and reverse procedure to reassemble.
The first time going carefully may take an hour or two, after you have done it a few times it takes about 15-20 minutes.
While you have the chance make sure like Anlushac11 said to do. FLUSH THE SYSTEM FIRST. Yo need to make sure that you run that hose through everything you can before you make this swap. This way you can take some time and clean the interior of the hoses, the heater core, and everything else. You will be happier for this in the long run. TRUST ME. While you are at it, replace the older hoses with some new ones so you wont have to worry about doing that later on, and toss in a new Thermostat too. (man I am creating more work here LOL)
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