Radiator Install

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Major System Category: AC & Cooling System
Task: Secure Radiator assembly to chassis
Parts:

• Radiator
• Fan Assembly
• Air Conditioner Condenser
• Rubber Isolators (LH/RH)

Prerequisite Tasks: Radiator Aluminum
Additional Costs: N/A
Time Requirement: 30 Minutes (maybe a little longer if you have find some bolts)
Date Started: July 8, 2012
Date Completed: July 8, 2012
The radiator install was a breeze. Since my car will have air conditioning, this involved clipping together the air conditioner condenser, the radiator and the ran assembly. These parts are idiot proof. There is only one way to put these pieces together.

This assembly clips together. Once you have the orientation correct, it takes maybe a minute to connect things.

I test fitted the radiator assembly in place prior to finishing the radiator aluminum. I did this to make sure everything fit okay. I was a bit leery about going with a bigger radiator and purchased a brand new stock Corvette radiator. My experience in heavy summer time traffic or parades is that the stock radiator is more than adequate for a street car.

This is a side view of the clips. The air conditioner condenser  is facing .

Additional side view of the assembly.

Design Change: The build manual says to drill the frame of the radiator and rivet it to the three tabs om the front of chassis. (This is obvious when you are looking at the car.) I wasn't comfortable riveting a radiator into the car. I may decide to upgrade down the road, so I went down to my junk box and found two bolts with slip rings. I added Blue Loctite as a thread locker. This radiator is not going anywhere, but it can be maintained.

Rubber isokators (LH/RH) as packaged from Fparts.

LH isolator. The nipple needs to be removed.

After nipple is removed.

Entire radiator assembly installed on the chassis.

Bolted, not riveted, into place.

On the issue of maintenance, I think builders need to think about how certain tasks are going to be accomplished. When I work on the Boxster, I usually have to take apart a good part of the undercarriage to gain access to various systems. I want to make sure, I have ease of access to all systems on the GTM.