Radiator support

[Bill 77]

New problem was changing anti freeze the other day. When Inoticed radiator was sagging. Bought used radiator support.Wondering how tough a job.Any adice would be helpful.Thanks Bill.

 

[Robin7TFour]

Bill, i am going to do the same thing over turkey weekend. i too have a used support that i repaired . doesn't look too serious once the shroud is removed.

Robin

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Does the shroud have to be removed to pull the support? You see lots of posts about unbolting the lower support and pulling the bottom of the radiator forward to remove the shrod. Can the support be removed once the support bolts are removed?

 

[Bill 77]

I love this website

Robin thanks for your reply.Everytime I do something to my car I find somthing else that has to be done. The job looks easy enough but is there something else I should be a where of. Thanks again.

 

[lone73]

I did this job a few months ago. Not too bad. If I remember correctly I unbolted the support everywhere and shoved it as far forward as I could get it to get the shroud off. It was a lot easier to remove the hood first. Also, removing the headlight cans gave me a lot more space to work with on my '73, especially when reinstalling the assembly. With the headlight motors in place I was just banging up the fins on the ac condensor trying to wiggle it back into the hole. Might as well take them out first. The two inner fender walls sagged inward a bit when the old unit came out - not noticeably so, but be prepared to do considerable aligning of the holes with a fat punch or screwdriver when you go back together with it. If the support is shot then probably that center support rod that runs from the bottom center of the rad support up to the spot just in front of the hood is rusted out on the lower end as well, might want to consider replacing it. Mine was almost rusted in two near the lower end.

This is a REAL good time to consider the condition of your radiator. If it hasn't been replaced in the recent past I would probably at least do a recore - funds permitting of course. If there is any crumbly pale green looking substance around the ends of the core tubes where it connects to the tanks thats corrosion of (I believe) the soldered joint. Had more than one radiator guy tell me thats a sign it is about to go.

Don't forget to replace the foam seals between the support and the radiator. I went nuts with mine and sealed all around the condensor as well. I just got some fairly dense foam from an upholstry shop, cut into 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" strips (roughly), stuck it on with some spray-on contact cement and shot a coat of flat black on it. Haven't had a chance to recharge it yet to see how it works, next summer maybe.

Good luck with it...
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[Robin7TFour]

Lone,,, sounds like you had a good plan to do the job. i am going to remove everything that will come out fan, belts , pulley. then see how much movement i have in the shroud.
pulling the hood is no big deal, i just put it on this past August,so i know its picadillos.
my current support is completely gone,you would believe me if i told you what's holding the rad in right now.and yes i too am going to rework the radiator and possibly (funding) replace the leaking condensor.
also i like the idea of adding extra foam sealer around the condensor..

thanks

Robin

 

[Paul Borowski]

This job is best done, hood off the car and pulling the core support/radiator/shroud as a unit, especially the C3s which had the plastic shrouds right up against the front upper A-arm bolts. Very few C3s(such as the non A/C metal barrel shroud cars)can the radiator be properly pulled without the core support/shroud. One of the hood hinge bolts interferes with removal of the top core support bolt, so it too has to be removed. Just put my a new GM core support in my '75 recently and this is how I did it. It's not that bad of a job, just had the wife help a little as the coresupport/radiator/shroud is'nt real heavy, just more "bulky" guiding into place.

 

[joe1975]

I've got mine out right now ,Paul you left your shroud attached to your rad. to replace is that correct

 

[Paul Borowski]

I've got mine out right now ,Paul you left your shroud attached to your rad. to replace is that correct

Yes, with the hood off, I took it out the same way I installed it-as a unit. Had the coresupport, radiator & shroud bolted "together", radiator brackets, nuts & bolts ALL TOGETHER, then installed as a package. Went super, probably less than 20 minutes. I also had the lower radiator hose, upper radiator hose, fan clutch & fan off of the car. If your car has A/C, put the condenser back in AFTER you have put this unit in.

ps Also, I see you have a '75 L-82. That's what mine is. I did a Survey since '98 of 1975 L-82 Corvettes and have "catalogged" about 66 of 2372 L-82 cars. If by chance you're interested, send me an e-mail, I'll catalog your car, then send you a copy of the catalog with your car in it. The way I set up my catalog, VIN #s and names are strictly confidential to me only, they are not shared in any way by any of the owners who received my "catalog" of these cars.