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Radiator Swap

  • Thread starter Thread starter shlby123
  • Start date Start date Feb 23, 2006
S

shlby123

Founding Member
Apr 19, 2002
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0
Dallas
Feb 23, 2006
#1
  • Feb 23, 2006
  • #1
Can anyone tell me what the difficulty level in swapping out radiators is? Im just doin a stock swap.
 

4bangstangvert

Member
Jun 8, 2003
81
0
7
Pittsburgh
Feb 23, 2006
#2
  • Feb 23, 2006
  • #2
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.
 

4stanger

New Member
Feb 13, 2006
26
0
0
Feb 23, 2006
#3
  • Feb 23, 2006
  • #3
That's all there is, 2 brackets on top, disconnect the fan and it slides right out.
 

Anlushac11

Founding Member
Feb 17, 2001
2,270
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0
Indianapolis, Indiana
Feb 23, 2006
#4
  • Feb 23, 2006
  • #4
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.
 

kiddiccarus

The first widely accepted Tranny
20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 24, 2003
1,789
1,051
143
30 Mins from a Ragged GT
Feb 24, 2006
#5
  • Feb 24, 2006
  • #5
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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