Topic: Radiator shroud
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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COPPERAS COVE, TX - USA
Joined: 7/6/2002
Posts: 417
Vette(s): 1972 corvette stingray convertible
2007 coupe


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Equinunk, PA - USA
Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2466
Vette(s): 1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.
Taking the upper control arms off made it a WHOLE lot easier for me. BUT, I rebuilt the entire front end in the process. You will have to re-align the front end any way.

COPPERAS COVE, TX - USA
Joined: 7/6/2002
Posts: 417
Vette(s): 1972 corvette stingray convertible
2007 coupe
We did it that way first then couldnt get A/arms in. I guess the saw's all and a welder will come in handy if it doesnt go in tonight, I can make anything fit with these tools
When I replaced mine on my 74 I unbolted the 3 bolts on each side of the the radiator support/mount and rotated it forward at the top to gain the clearance to work in. Of course this means draining rad and taking top rad hose off.


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DanT

COPPERAS COVE, TX - USA
Joined: 7/6/2002
Posts: 417
Vette(s): 1972 corvette stingray convertible
2007 coupe
Thought about that also but for some reason my car has a brace on the right side fender well that blockes the upper bolt and I cant get to it, I dont know what the brace is for or if it is supposed to be there. I'm thinking of knocking the a/arm cross shaft bolt on the left side out so I can get the a/arm in and then push bolt back through. This might be the easy way to do it if I can get the bolt out.

Equinunk, PA - USA
Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2466
Vette(s): 1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.
Pulling the bolts out of the frame mount was my next suggestion. That was what I did in the beginning, they are knurled and take a little persuasion. They can be driven back in with a long punch and G.B.H. (great big hammer) It worked well for me.

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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
I found that removing the radytator first makes getting the shroud off fairly easy....I realize that ain't exactly the answer you wuz lookin for, but....
Knocking the A-arm bolts out will help, but I would use the nuts with spacers to pull them back into the frame bracket, instead of the GBH....not that that doesn't werk, but....ya gotta have a good aim, and you stand the chance of bending something ya wuzn't tryin tuh bend....like the frame brackets for the A-arm boltz...

When I restored the suspension on the '74, I left the bolts for the control arm bushings loose, so I could wait until I had it back down on the ground to tighten them....that's when I found out I couldn't get to the bolt on the pass side upper/front with the shroud on....

Knocking the A-arm bolts out will help, but I would use the nuts with spacers to pull them back into the frame bracket, instead of the GBH....not that that doesn't werk, but....ya gotta have a good aim, and you stand the chance of bending something ya wuzn't tryin tuh bend....like the frame brackets for the A-arm boltz...


When I restored the suspension on the '74, I left the bolts for the control arm bushings loose, so I could wait until I had it back down on the ground to tighten them....that's when I found out I couldn't get to the bolt on the pass side upper/front with the shroud on....






Joel Adams
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As Dan stated, I removed the bolts on the side of the trans support and rolled it back. I did not take the bottom bolts out all the way. I did this on the 72 convertible as well and the body man had a fit because he said that supports the front end from dropping. (I did have to lift back up to rebolt) It was harder on the 72 to get the bolts back in because I had the whole support out.
Good Luck
Rodney
Good Luck
Rodney

My car has a "two piece" shroud. It has for 10 years now. Radiator was leaking when I bought the car and it was the very first repair I did. Shroud broke on removal (yep, there were some "Bubba" mechanic practices involved) and fortunately I had access to a structural steel shop through my employer at the time so I designed some brackets to bolt the two pieces back together. Had one of the fabricators help me cut out, bend and drill the pieces and now it bolts in (and comes out) quite easily. Unfortunately the break is at the thinnest portion on top, but the bracket mostly covers it up and most people don't notice it.

COPPERAS COVE, TX - USA
Joined: 7/6/2002
Posts: 417
Vette(s): 1972 corvette stingray convertible
2007 coupe



in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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