Radiator removal

[Norwester]

'86, sbc

It appears I have a radiator leak. I say "appears" as I really don't see the leak, only coolant dripping from the radiator area. I replaced the lower hose as it was looking suspect and I was hoping that was the issue. No such luck, still dripping.

My thought is to pull the radiator and take it in for repair. My question: I watched a youtube video and all the fellow did was disconnect all hoses/lines, remove the upper brackets and yank the radiator straight up. Didn't even remove the shroud

Is it that easy? No fan removal? The upper /lower shroud is stapled together. No bolts to take out of the lower shroud?

I do appreciate any advice. Thanks!

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I say yes with everything you said except the upper fan shroud. I'm not there to look at mine, but it's only two bolts up top. You said it's stapled? It's sorta bolted together on mine where I can just pul them apart by hand. If you don't feel like splitting them, you can take the the two bolts out of the bottom, but that there's that's only a few seconds. But yeah, no clutch, no fan, and it's that easy.

 

[Norwester]

I say yes with everything you said except the upper fan shroud. I'm not there to look at mine, but it's only two bolts up top. You said it's stapled? It's sorta bolted together on mine where I can just pul them apart by hand. If you don't feel like splitting them, you can take the the two bolts out of the bottom, but that there's that's only a few seconds. But yeah, no clutch, no fan, and it's that easy.

Hey! Thanks for the response. Ok, sounds like two shroud bolts on the bottom and two on top. Easy enough. Yeah, the two halves of the shroud are attached with heavy duty staples, maybe three on each side. I really didn't want to tear them out.

Thanks, again

 

[jetman]

Pulled my radiator last week. Unbolted the fan, but that was not needed. Shroud was not stapled, just pulled the upper half and slipped out radiator leaving lower half shroud. Very simple & easy. On yours you can probably leave the entire shroud in place, just push it toward engine and out of the way.

The leak was on a fairly new radiator. "leak" turned out to be the cheapo plastic drain valve assembly, located off to the lower right on radiator. RTV'd valve and put er back in to service.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Pulled my radiator last week. Unbolted the fan, but that was not needed. Shroud was not stapled, just pulled the upper half and slipped out radiator leaving lower half shroud. Very simple & easy.

The leak was on a fairly new radiator. "leak" turned out to be the cheapo plastic drain valve assembly, located off to the lower right on radiator. RTV'd valve and put er back in to service.

Almost the same thing happened to me. I pinched the seal on mine every time I screwed it back in, and I had to pull it out to see that and get it in correctly. They don't make them like they used to.

 

[Norwester]

Thanks Fellas!