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Topic: How do you get the radiator shroud out???

in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems


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How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (1/15)
 11/13/18 6:20pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
Posts: 319

I have all the top and bottom mounts to the shroud out on my '75 4-speed coupe, including the top radiator mounts, but the shroud will not slide up and out.  It appears to be tight to the upper A-arms, and maybe a bit on the upper radiator hose fitting.
Does the radiator have to come out with the shroud?
Help!


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Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (2/15)
 11/13/18 9:09pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

You either have to do it that way or like I did was to split the bottom of the shroud so you could spring it together enough to get it out with the radiator still in. I did take the ring off first before I cut the bottom of the shroud.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (3/15)
 11/13/18 11:57pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


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73shark said: You either have to do it that way or like I did was to split the bottom of the shroud so you could spring it together enough to get it out with the radiator still in. I did take the ring off first before I cut the bottom of the shroud.


Okay, thanks!
Working on these Corvettes never ceases to amaze me -- things that are simple on other cars are always a challenge here.


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Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (4/15)
 11/14/18 1:52am
Vman73
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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

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1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


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Bill, cutting the shroud is not necessary if you prefer not to. The radiator core support is held in by 8 bolts, 3 down each side, just below the hood hinges, and 2 up from the bottom. If you remove the bottom bolts and the top two on each side (loosen the bottom two but don’t remove), the core support will pivot forward at the top to allow the radiator to be removed. Once the rad is out, the shroud can be removed. Two caveats to this process, 1. You’ve already removed your hood and 2. You have also removed the A/C condenser on the front of the radiator, if A/C eqipped.

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Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (5/15)
 11/14/18 10:34am
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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Vman73 said: Bill, cutting the shroud is not necessary if you prefer not to. The radiator core support is held in by 8 bolts, 3 down each side, just below the hood hinges, and 2 up from the bottom. If you remove the bottom bolts and the top two on each side (loosen the bottom two but don’t remove), the core support will pivot forward at the top to allow the radiator to be removed. Once the rad is out, the shroud can be removed. Two caveats to this process, 1. You’ve already removed your hood and 2. You have also removed the A/C condenser on the front of the radiator, if A/C eqipped.

I had thought about removing the core support anyway to provide more room to get the engine out, but my concern was that removing this support would allow the front end to drift apart.  Is that a possibility?



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Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (6/15)
 11/14/18 11:08am
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

I hope not cuz I've had mine out for over a year now. It definitely made it easier to get the engine and transmission out as a unit.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (7/15)
 11/14/18 2:32pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


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I had my radiator and core support out for about 6 months waiting for a new core support.

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Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (8/15)
 11/14/18 10:14pm
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

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1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
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Another answer is to take the two bolts out of the upper control arm. Front one on each side. They are pressed in, so it takes a little doing. Remember where the shims go, and don't turn the wheels. Worked well on my 72 and 75.

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Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (9/15)
 11/14/18 11:20pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


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I think I'll unbolt the core support.  That will also provide more room to pull the engine/transmission.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.  I didn't want to do something rash without hearing that others have had the same issue.


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Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (10/15)
 11/15/18 3:59pm
Vman73
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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

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1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


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Bill, as mentioned by others, having the core support out of the car for a while is no big deal. Just don’t lean on it or put something heavy on the front end while it’s out. Removing the core support is the way to go if your pulling the engine/trans. Also a good time to inspect the bottom of the support, they like to rust out. Good luck.

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John Sigmund
valkman57@sbcglobal.net
NCRS Member 61302
NW NCRS Chapter Member



Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (11/15)
 11/18/18 2:01pm
vince vette
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You may not need to actually take the support out. As I recall on my 80 it required just taking out the two top bolts on each side and loosening the the ones on the bottom. Then the top could rotate forward about 1/4". That is all it took to get out - still tight and two people makes it way easier. But then be careful when you put it back in. At the top of the support where they spot welded the parts together the "flash" around the spot welds sticks out a couple mm's. Again, not much, but enough to punch through a copper tube if it bangs into it - speaking from experience. 

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As it once looked and hopefully will again
Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (12/15)
 1/29/19 3:32pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


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Well, I did unbolt the core support, and got the shroud out that way, but it was still very tight.

After getting everything back together, and replacing the bearings, seals, and syncros in the 4-speed, it still jumped out of 2nd gear, so I pulled it all out again and sent the transmission to a transmission shop.  This is the first transmission out of at least a dozen that I have been into that did not work correctly after.

In the second attempt to pull everything, I pulled the core support, radiator, and shroud all out as a unit, and this went well.  I had no help, so I used the engine hoist to pull the assembly out.  I hope it goes back in as easily. . .



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Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (13/15)
 2/17/19 9:37am
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
Posts: 319

BillHanna said: Well, I did unbolt the core support, and got the shroud out that way, but it was still very tight.

After getting everything back together, and replacing the bearings, seals, and syncros in the 4-speed, it still jumped out of 2nd gear, so I pulled it all out again and sent the transmission to a transmission shop.  This is the first transmission out of at least a dozen that I have been into that did not work correctly after.

In the second attempt to pull everything, I pulled the core support, radiator, and shroud all out as a unit, and this went well.  I had no help, so I used the engine hoist to pull the assembly out.  I hope it goes back in as easily. . .



Update:  I reinstalled the radiator, shroud, and core support as a unit yesterday, and it was almost easy.  I had another person helping.

This seems to be the best way to get the radiator out and back in, but I have not heard of anyone else doing it this way.


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Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (14/15)
 2/21/19 9:22pm
Vman73
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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

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1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

BillHanna said:
BillHanna said: Well, I did unbolt the core support, and got the shroud out that way, but it was still very tight.

After getting everything back together, and replacing the bearings, seals, and syncros in the 4-speed, it still jumped out of 2nd gear, so I pulled it all out again and sent the transmission to a transmission shop.  This is the first transmission out of at least a dozen that I have been into that did not work correctly after.

In the second attempt to pull everything, I pulled the core support, radiator, and shroud all out as a unit, and this went well.  I had no help, so I used the engine hoist to pull the assembly out.  I hope it goes back in as easily. . .



Update:  I reinstalled the radiator, shroud, and core support as a unit yesterday, and it was almost easy.  I had another person helping.

This seems to be the best way to get the radiator out and back in, but I have not heard of anyone else doing it this way.



Interesting, never thought of that option. Perhaps I’ll give that one a try on my next radiator endeavor !!

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John Sigmund
valkman57@sbcglobal.net
NCRS Member 61302
NW NCRS Chapter Member



Duct tape is the new Black !!
Re: How do you get the radiator shroud out??? (15/15)
 3/4/19 3:25am
daveo76
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Vancouver, WA - USA

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1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.


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Radiator replacement was the first thing I had to do as a new Corvette owner on my '76 18 years ago.  Getting that shroud out was extremely frustrating and I didn't have C3VR back then to help.  Unfortunately, it ended up breaking but it turned out OK - I turned it into a two-piece and haven't been sad once about it and it sure is a lot easier to get it in and out now.  It broke on the top pass side and when I got it out I cut it down the middle on the bottom.  At that time I worked for a company that had aluminum fab as part of its business and some guys in the shop helped me fabricate splice plates to bolt on to it.  Painted the plates flat black and you really have to look to notice they're there.  

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1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
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