I have a 1971 vette all stock 350 auto with air and power steering i removed the the fan and then the shroud. The shroud i had to muscle out since i was getting the radiator recored i was less concerned about damage.I installed the radiator and can not get shroud back in .Is there a different sequence on installation.Note i did take shroud apart.Any help would be much appreciated thanks

I have an 80. All I can say is that you gotta wiggle it in. It's kinda like a puzzle. A second person would help.

the easiest way is to support the car, and unbolt the upper control arm,or you can unbolt the radiator support from the skirts and push it forward

I have a 1971 vette all stock 350 auto with air and power steering i removed the the fan and then the shroud. The shroud i had to muscle out since i was getting the radiator recored i was less concerned about damage.I installed the radiator and can not get shroud back in .Is there a different sequence on installation.Note i did take shroud apart.Any help would be much appreciated thanks


I've just been through the same thing on my big block '71 and I learned it's better to pull the hood off and remove the top four radiator support bolts first (and loosen the bottom ones). Once the hood is off and the radiator support is tilted foreword it's REAL easy to work on everything. It only takes a few extra minutes to remove the hood and tilt the support foreword but it makes an otherwise hard job an easy job.

I agree the easiest way is to remove the hood then loosen and tilt the radiator support.

I agree the easiest way is to remove the hood then loosen and tilt the radiator support.


I have pulled my radiator out of my '82 without removing the hood but it was a bear of a job. When I had to pull the radiator out of my big block '71 I pulled the hood off and tilted the radiator support foreword and the radiator came out with the greatest of ease.

OK, hate to hijack the thread but got similar question.
Took rad out because petcock was broke, that is, little handles were turning on the opening thread were just turning, not opening petcock to drain. Yeah, what a hassle merely taking bottom hose off to drain.
Anyway, obviously, gotta take to rad shop to have new petcock brased in. Since it's so tight anyway between crossover and petcock, is it possible to maybe install like a 90 degree tube w/petcock coming out at more accessible angle? Know what I'm talking about. Is there enough room?
Thanks

OK, hate to hijack the thread but got similar question.
Took rad out because petcock was broke, that is, little handles were turning on the opening thread were just turning, not opening petcock to drain. Yeah, what a hassle merely taking bottom hose off to drain.
Anyway, obviously, gotta take to rad shop to have new petcock brased in. Since it's so tight anyway between crossover and petcock, is it possible to maybe install like a 90 degree tube w/petcock coming out at more accessible angle? Know what I'm talking about. Is there enough room?
Thanks

There is a brass bushing soldered into the bottom then the petcock screws into the bushing. You should be able to replace the petcock with just a 9/16" wrench. My big block '71 doesn't have a drain so I just suck the coolant out with a suction gun and a 2-foot hose. With a suction gun I can suck the coolant out just about as fast as it would drain out of a petcock.

I don t see why you can t put an extension on it to make it more accessible...but how often do you drain your radiator..anti-freeze is good for 5yrs

The bottom of my '71's radiator is only 1/2" above the frame so there's no way I could put any kind of petcock on it.

I don t see why you can t put an extension on it to make it more accessible...but how often do you drain your radiator..anti-freeze is good for 5yrs


I guess I don't have reason to drain radiator, after this, that is, but, of course, I didn't plan to drain it THIS time either but had to.


The bottom of my '71's radiator is only 1/2" above the frame so there's no way I could put any kind of petcock on it.

This one's a '70 BB and that's part of the prob. Petcock WAS about 1/2" above the frame and couldn't get fingers, pliers or anything in there. Had to gently take drift punch to knock on petcock wings to turn it. Looks like it'd been done before. Pretty knocked around. Maybe why it just spun. Maybe I did it too. Anyway, it's out today and gonna take it to shop to see what they can do.

Thanks for replies.

I guess I don't have reason to drain radiator, after this, that is, but, of course, I didn't plan to drain it THIS time either but had to.




This one's a '70 BB and that's part of the prob. Petcock WAS about 1/2" above the frame and couldn't get fingers, pliers or anything in there. Had to gently take drift punch to knock on petcock wings to turn it. Looks like it'd been done before. Pretty knocked around. Maybe why it just spun. Maybe I did it too. Anyway, it's out today and gonna take it to shop to see what they can do.

Thanks for replies.


I bought a new radiator for my big block '71 from Corvette Central a year ago and quickly found the lower outlet was positioned wrong. As I usually do my own radiator repairs I removed the lower outlet and found it was a USED outlet. It had an extra 2-1/2" of it extending into the tank and it looked like it had been cut to length with a cutting torch. I hack-sawed off the extra 2-1/2" of length and then re-installed it; turning it clockwise about 15 degrees. And when I discovered how close to the frame it was I put a brass plug in the bottom instead of a petcock.

And when I discovered how close to the frame it was I put a brass plug in the bottom instead of a petcock.

Evidently, that's what was in here in the first place. Took to rad guy yesterday (Wed). I walked in, he said, "Corvette, huh?". He knew without telling him. Explained my problem, or rather the rad's prob. He said they were originally set with plug cuz of being so close to frame and best way to drain was big hose. Anyway, he said he was gonna fix me up. We'll see. Seems to know his biz. Been here long time and is old roundy-rounder.

Evidently, that's what was in here in the first place. Took to rad guy yesterday (Wed). I walked in, he said, "Corvette, huh?". He knew without telling him. Explained my problem, or rather the rad's prob. He said they were originally set with plug cuz of being so close to frame and best way to drain was big hose. Anyway, he said he was gonna fix me up. We'll see. Seems to know his biz. Been here long time and is old roundy-rounder.


I use a one-quart suction gun that has a 3/8" diameter clear vinyl hose that just reaches the bottom of the tank. I have found it doesn't take me any longer to suck the coolant out than it does for me to jack it up and drain it out.