OT - Is it hard to put a radiator in a car?

[jasin4000]

98 blazer to be exact?

 

[pokerpills]

I changed a radiator before in a Mazda and it's no walk in the park. I'm no mechanic but I've changed my own oil, brake pads, and struts before. The struts are no cakewalk either. Best piece of advice I can give you is to buy the factory radiator. I know you can save some bucks on aftermarket parts but the fit is not the same. The brackets may not fit and you're kinda forced to ram it in there.

 

[jasin4000]

so what all do I have to do...?


like what would a simple outline directions be?

 

[pokerpills]

Do a Google search on it. That's how I found the instructions when I did mine. The main steps are draining your old radiator, disconnect all the hoses, and unbolting it from the brackets. For me the hardest part was installing the new radiator. I made the mistake and went with the aftermarket radiator which took a while trying to make it fit.

 

[WVU]

radiator job is about 1.5 hours

 

[PO69]

If your car needs a new radiator, then it is time for a new car I believe! No reason to fix it now as certainly other things will break down

 

[jasin4000]

thanks for the responses

 

[jasin4000]

If your car needs a new radiator, then it is time for a new car I believe! No reason to fix it now as certainly other things will break down

:monsters-

 

[tatehill2000]

When you do begin removing it, you need to follow 1 more Crucial piece of advice, and thats to put ALLLL the Bolts and such in ORDER from how they are removed,,

and make sure you place them far enough away from you that you dont scatter them,,

goood luck Jason,,
tater

 

[BASEHEAD]

When you do begin removing it, you need to follow 1 more Crucial piece of advice, and thats to put ALLLL the Bolts and such in ORDER from how they are removed,,

and make sure you place them far enough away from you that you dont scatter them,,

goood luck Jason,,
tater

Sometimes its a little crowded it the front of the vehicle.Makes a big difference whether your truck has and electric fan or one driven by a fan clutch directly from the waterpump.You will find vehicles with electric fans are much easier to remove the radiator.The ones with an engine driven cooling fan leave very little room for manuvering and require more peripheral parts removal.

 

[Presto]

I agree with pokerpills, if at all possible get an OEM radiator. If an OEM is too expensive, you might be able to find a reconditioned unit. You probably already know, but replace the hoses and cap (and belts)while you are at it.

 

[CapNCash]

Easy job. Not something to be intimadated by. BUy a chiltons if ur not sure!