August 4, 2008 – It’s hot under there
It felt good to make progress last week, so I was anxious to try and get the radiator out. I started by redraining the radiator by removing some hoses connecting it to the water pump. The fans are pretty simple to get off, just lift up off the supports and pull them down under the car. They’re heavy though. Next up is the radiator, but I don’t want to remove the condenser. I’m trying to avoid emptying the A/C system because I can’t get the charge out without emptying it to the atmosphere. Also, I hope to reuse it when everything is put back together.
The trick to the radiator is the same as the fans – go out the bottom. You have to lift the radiator up a little and wiggle it over the frame mount. Before it will go anywhere you need to remove all the hoses and the coolant level sensor. Mine was pretty gunked up and it’s clear that is why the low coolant light is on. Being careful to separate the condenser from the radiator, especially at the passenger side bottom, the radiator comes out pretty smoothly. The fins will gash your knuckles fast though.
Next up I hope to remove the exhaust manifold and catalytic converters. I need to see what I need to remove the power steering pump and A/C compressor from the engine prior to pulling it. I hope to leave all the lines for those systems connected to avoid draining and refilling.
In the event this doesn't work out, I'll put another engine in so I need to remember where all the wires went
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