I have been unable to remove the shroud on my 73 L-82 so that I can remove the radiator and have it worked on. I have removed the rear half of the shroud and hung it on the fan and have removed all bolts holding the shroud to the radiatior frame. The shroud is somewhat free to move but I can't get it to move upward completely. There is some interference with the upper A-arm pivot bolts but the problem appears to be that the shroud fits so tightly around the radiator sides. Can anyone offer some tips on this project? Thanks.
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
Easiest way that we have found to remove radiator on these cars is to remove hood; loosen radiator core support and tilt forward. This will get you away from the control arms and give you plenty of room.
Good luck
DickDick Whittington -
Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
Jerry my 70's fan shroud should be the same as your 73. I have always just unbolted the right front top control arm which allows the removal of the shroud leaving the radiator to be removed without having to remove the hood or the radiator support. Supporting the weight of the right front with a floor jack under the lower control arm there is no weight on the upper control arm. I unbolt the upper two control arm bolts and move the control arm back into the wheel well, it moves freely. The shroud and radiator can them be removed. I also take a punch and knock the top rear control arm bolt out of the frame to make it easier to remove the control arm. The bolt has a serrated edge which retains it in place. Keep your alignment shims separated by taping them together and identify the position they were removed.Comment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
I have removed the radiator from my 73 at least 2 times. I usually have done it as Dick Wittington has explained. Be advised that is is a fustrating job and time consuming so that the radiator fins are not damaged. I have always used some extra hands to help at certain times. You will be proud of the results when finished. Take your time and good luck.
AllenComment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
Important point that I forgot. Keep up with the shims and locations. The sides were sometimes shimmed and the lower bolts most alwaysDick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
Dick, I have removed the upper radiator support brackets and the dense foam rubber padding along the top of the radiator, but I still cannot move the radiator forward. I assume that I have to some how remove the foam padding along the sides of the radiator also to get any movement in it. One other thing, in your last post, you mentioned the need to note shim locations. Are you suggesting like others that the upper control arms need to be removed? Thanks.Comment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
Jerry I have many 73's and do this job often. On a non A/C car you can leave the bottom bolts in the support and tilt it forward and get the radiator out. If you have A/C you can remove the vacumn canisters to gain more room because of the A/C condenser or take off the RH upper A arm which ever way you think is the best for you. Bubba just took the (Saws All) to alot of them,much faster but not recomended by me. LyleLyle
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Re: Core support to the body AND frame Jerry
My 68 A.I.M. clearly shows shims for both locations.
Don't know if 73s are different, but I'll bet the process was the same.
They plowed them shims into any ole nook or cranny they could on those sharks
ChuckComment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
Lyle, Jerry probably doesn't understand why the approach should be different for A/C and non-A/C cars. In addition to the condenser complicating things, I believe there is an additional problem to moving the radiator support forward.
Jerry, Dick Whittington was talking about removing the screws (top and center, leave the lower) on each side of the radiator support to the inner fenders. You will find the screw heads inside the forward part of the fender well with steel reinforcing plates. The entire radiator support can then be leaned forward making more clearance for removing the radiator and shroud.
BUT, on an A/C car, the top right side radiator support screw is inaccessible because it is inside the A/C hose tunnel on the inner fender (I assume 73 same as 68-72). If you have A/C...take Lyle's suggestion to unbolt and displace the upper control arm.
So, Lyle, doesn't the spring compression tend to force the upper control arm upward after you unbolt the shaft? Also, I guess you have to drive the studs out of the frame...or can you displace the suspension into the wheel well far engough to clear the stud ends?Comment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
"So, Lyle, doesn't the spring compression tend to force the upper control arm upward after you unbolt the shaft? Also, I guess you have to drive the studs out of the frame...or can you displace the suspension into the wheel well far engough to clear the stud ends?"
Chuck,
The spring is between the lower control arm and the frame. One can remove the nuts from the studs on the inner shaft of the upper control arm (UCA), and lever the shaft toward the engine (it really doesn't take much force at all) with the weight of the car on the wheels. Alignment shops do it all the time on Long Arm, Short Arm (LASA) suspensions to change the UCA shims. The sole purpose of the upper control arm is to locate the upper ball joint. It only has forces applied to it during cornering, or when the front wheels are turned. With the car at rest, wheels pointed straight ahead, it is doing nothing.
I think Dick is saying one will have to push the rear stud out of the frame for clearance to move the control arm. On some LASA vehicles there is not enough room to lever the UCA inboard far enough to clear the studs. This is especially true on the passenger side, if the AC compressor is mounted on that side.TerryComment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
Jerry, I was referring to the shims on the sides of the core support. Some have them, some do notDick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
The spring is between the lower control arm and the frame.
Dooop! Of course it is. At my age, getting additional sleep at night doesn't help anymore. Even catnaps during the day aren't helping!
I just wanted to make sure we weren't telling Jerry to do something that could get him hurt, or didn't give him enough detail leaving Jerry thinking..."What the...This thing won't come off!"Comment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
There is a chance of damage (human and vehicle) if one tries to raise the car with the upper control arm disconnected. DO NOT DO THAT.TerryComment
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Re: 73 Coupe: Radiator Shroud Removal
The extra thickness caused by the A/C condenser makes it so you can't push the support far enough foward to remove the radiator. Their is no bolt on a 73 that you can't get out. I have allways removed the vacumn canisters on A/C cars. After reading on this board I tried the A-Arm method and had to drive the bolts out to get the A-Arm loose. Both ways take about the same time for me to do. LyleLyle
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