C3-72 Radiator Shroud

[Scott Marshall]

I got a 72 350, A/C, automatic. I was in the process of removing my radiator shroud(its plastic) and noticed that because of the angle of the lower tube and the threaded stud for the shroud support, it makes it near impossible to remove it without damaging the radiator. Is there a trick to removing this without the mess?
Thanks in advance.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3-72 Radiator Shroud

Scott-----

You will likely have to loosen up the radiator upper mounts to create some "wiggle room" to get the shroud off. You can't loosen the radiator lower mounts since they are welded to the radiator support. If you still can't get the shroud off, then you may have to loosen the radiator support, itself.

Also, it's interesting that your question should involve the 72 small block with A/C and/or auto trans shroud. This shroud, GM #3956109, was used on the small block with copper brass radiator from 1969 through 1972. Just the other day I saw an "NOS" example of this shroud sell on eBay for about $145. In fact, a few people looked like they got into a bit of a "bidding war" over it. The problem is that this shroud is still available from GM for a current GM list price of $148.42. So, anyone could go down to their local GM dealer and buy one for this price (and significantly less with any kind of a discount). And, they wouldn't have to pay UPS-oversize shipping rates to get it to them.

Makes a guy like me think about ordering a bunch of currently available GM parts and selling them off on eBay. If I could get even near GM list price or above, I could make a tidy profit. But, I NEVER sell parts, so I can't do that. I'm a prisoner of my own obsessions and idealism!

[Scott Marshall]

Re: C3-72 Radiator Shroud

Thanks for the help Joe. I did notice that in some of your posts in the archives, you mention that you buy parts and never sell them. Why is that? Everybody has their thing, I just find it kind of trivial.
Thanks Again

[Jim T.]

Re: C3-72 Radiator Shroud

Having a original owner 70 with about the same radiator shroud, I have removed my radiator several times in the past 32 years. The easiest way for me to do this and until someone comes up with a better way is as follows.
I do not do anything with the radiator support. What I do is place a floor jack under the passenger side lower control arm. Jack it up enough to remove the tire. With that out of the way the jack can be lowered some if necessary to allow the next step. I remove the two nuts that attach the upper control arm to the frame. Remove the alignment shims and tape them together and mark which came from the front and rear position.
The bolts that these nuts came off of have serrated shoulders and can be knocked loose to allow the upper control arm to be pulled back towards the wheelwell. The front bolt does not have enough room to remove it, so I usuall leave it in so I have to move the control arm to get it clear of the bolt. With the control arm out of the way you should be able to remove the fan shroud. When the fan shroud is removed, the radiator just pulls right up. It is easier to remove the radiator with two people. The lower removable section that fits over the crossmember area should also of been removed before you started this step as well as the fan and fan clutch.

[Scott Marshall]

Re: C3-72 Radiator Shroud

Thanks Jim.
I can see where the control arm could get in the way, especially now that I have put poly bushings in them. They tend to stick out a little more. I wonder if it would be easier to just take it all out at once, radiator support, radiator, and shroud. Since you have to drain it to remove the shroud anyways. It seems to me that a bolt would have been a better idea than a stud that sticks out in the way. I have even considered cutting a small slot from the mount hole in the shroud to the bottom edge. Also, does anyone know where you can get the bottom U brackets with the studs on them? Everywhere I have checked, none of them come with it. Does that have to be welded on also?
Thanks Again.

[Jim T.]

Re: C3-72 Radiator Shroud

Scott my 70 has a shield covering in the passenger front wheelwell that obscures at least one of the radiator support bolts near the top of the front inside fenderwell. This covering attaches at the front of the fenderwell and runs at an angle across the upper radiator support bolt area to near the top of the fender. This covering made the decision for me to just remove the obstruction of the upper control arm. With the floor jack supporting the lower control arm there is no pressure on the upper control arm and is easily moved out of the way. A reproduction radiator support is being made my some company in Michigan I think. If your lower radiator support braces are rusted out, perhaps you could contact this company and see if they can help you. Joe Lucia can probably supply you the company name and location. I don't remember seeing it in NCRS Driveline as an advertiser. Mayby someday someone could submit an article listing all the reproduciton parts that are available from the respective companys.