Reporting back a week after starting this PM.
Out with the old and in with the new. Unfortunately this job took me around 12hrs this time around, and this was my 2nd time doing this. I've said it once and I'll say it again...the hardest part of this job is getting the radiator out. The two bottom mounting bolts on the radiator were seized on the mounting tabs, so they kept spinning.
After I was finally able to get a secure grip on the tabs and start backing the bolts out, the bolts broke off. Luckily both were clean brakes and I was still able to get the radiator out.
After that part of the adventure, everything else was smooth sailing. I was however unable to get access to the drain plug on the PS side of the engine block due to the AHC bracket being in the way.
I was only able to get out a gallon and a half from the radiator, plus whatever came out when I removed the the thermostat, and water pump.
I still have 4 gallons of coolant in the garage, so I'll just drain from the radiator once I've put 1,000 miles on the new radiator.
Something else I want to share, is that this was my first time swapping out the fan bracket. Swapping that out was not as hard as it looks. Just make sure you spray a little PB oil on the 10mm bolt at the end of the coolant pipe right by the A/C compressor once you remove the radiator.
Then remove all the bolts, and hoses seen in the last picture. With all of this stuff removed, slowly wiggle the hard line back and forth and you will eventually be able to manipulate the line to get a flex head in and back out the 12mm bolt. I was also able to slip a 1/4" inch per pound torque wrench in there for the final tighten.
Final word to the wise. Make sure you use an inch per pound torque wrench when putting everything back in (water pump, fan bracket, lines, thermostat, etc.) b/c the chance of snapping a 10mm or 12mm bolt is real. Myself and other's can attest to this.
Out with the old and in with the new. Unfortunately this job took me around 12hrs this time around, and this was my 2nd time doing this. I've said it once and I'll say it again...the hardest part of this job is getting the radiator out. The two bottom mounting bolts on the radiator were seized on the mounting tabs, so they kept spinning.
After I was finally able to get a secure grip on the tabs and start backing the bolts out, the bolts broke off. Luckily both were clean brakes and I was still able to get the radiator out.
After that part of the adventure, everything else was smooth sailing. I was however unable to get access to the drain plug on the PS side of the engine block due to the AHC bracket being in the way.
I was only able to get out a gallon and a half from the radiator, plus whatever came out when I removed the the thermostat, and water pump.
I still have 4 gallons of coolant in the garage, so I'll just drain from the radiator once I've put 1,000 miles on the new radiator.
Something else I want to share, is that this was my first time swapping out the fan bracket. Swapping that out was not as hard as it looks. Just make sure you spray a little PB oil on the 10mm bolt at the end of the coolant pipe right by the A/C compressor once you remove the radiator.
Then remove all the bolts, and hoses seen in the last picture. With all of this stuff removed, slowly wiggle the hard line back and forth and you will eventually be able to manipulate the line to get a flex head in and back out the 12mm bolt. I was also able to slip a 1/4" inch per pound torque wrench in there for the final tighten.
Final word to the wise. Make sure you use an inch per pound torque wrench when putting everything back in (water pump, fan bracket, lines, thermostat, etc.) b/c the chance of snapping a 10mm or 12mm bolt is real. Myself and other's can attest to this.
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