How to....radiator, water pump, tranny cooler, etc.

[Firemanray]

I started the radiator, water pump swap today. This includes an additional electric fan and external tranny cooler add on also. I will post pictures and comments as I go so this thread may take a couple of days to complete due to my schedule.

First here are the goodies:
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator.jpg

[Firemanray]

Let's start with radiator removal. Below are some pictures with explanations about what steps to take.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator001detail.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator002detail.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator003detail.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator004detail.jpg
I did all these steps BEFORE I started removing hoses and tranny lines. I'll cover that step later.

[cantab27]

cheers ray........

[jeepxj95]

i got a trans cooler like that. it works good

[prcjeep]

Let's start with radiator removal. Below are some pictures with explanations about what steps to take.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator001detail.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator002detail.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator003detail.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/firemanray21/Radiator004detail.jpg
I did all these steps BEFORE I started removing hoses and tranny lines. I'll cover that step later.

Well Ray,I'm glad I read this part of your article last night...Today i decided to dig in and find my coolant loss issue. I flush the system and then start notice leak from the top of my rad near the upper hose. SO I removed the crossmember to find my leak... However when taking out the crossmember, I didnt have and six pointed star wrenches that are required to take of "the first piece" and I could still take it off the whole thing. Just wanted to add that for anyone else that runs into that problem or limited tools

[Firemanray]

Well Ray,I'm glad I read this part of your article last night...Today i decided to dig in and find my coolant loss issue. I flush the system and then start notice leak from the top of my rad near the upper hose. SO I removed the crossmember to find my leak... However when taking out the crossmember, I didnt have and six pointed star wrenches that are required to take of "the first piece" and I could still take it off the whole thing. Just wanted to add that for anyone else that runs into that problem or limited tools

I did not have my torx drivers at the house, they where at the shop. I just used a flat blade screw driver that fit in the socket tight, no problems!

[Mudderoy]

Well Ray,I'm glad I read this part of your article last night...Today i decided to dig in and find my coolant loss issue. I flush the system and then start notice leak from the top of my rad near the upper hose. SO I removed the crossmember to find my leak... However when taking out the crossmember, I didnt have and six pointed star wrenches that are required to take of "the first piece" and I could still take it off the whole thing. Just wanted to add that for anyone else that runs into that problem or limited tools

Get some. You might be able to remove it with an allen wrench, can't remember. 1/4" drive is fine for those "star" sockets BTW.

[bradjoc]

has anyone pulled out the air conditioner condensor and scrapped it. I never use my air conditioner and having the extra rad just takes away from the main rad. If you pulled it out what did you do for the extra pulley and belt. Find one from a scrap yard? I don't want to steal the tread so maybe address options in your build. I'm half way into pulling the rad out and replacing it as well as the water pump so keep going!!!!!!!

[jeepxj95]

u could trun ur air compressure in to a on boaerd air unit. and will out perform most of the others and it only cost like $50. i would do mine but its still a DD.

[bradjoc]

I thought of the on board air but I already have a twin cyl. air compressor on board and my rear bumper is a 5x5 square tube (1/4"wall) that is my holding tank. I can fill 3-34" super swampers 10 lbs just with the air in the tank so refilling tires is quick already.
http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/bradjoc/th_IMG00087.jpg (http://s933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/bradjoc/?action=view&current=IMG00087.jpg)

http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/bradjoc/june%2010%202011/th_DSC01835-1.jpg (http://s933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/bradjoc/june%2010%202011/?action=view&current=DSC01835-1.jpg)

[cantab27]

hey ray you got anymore pics..trans lines hookup ?????.. cheers mate

[dagr8tim]

has anyone pulled out the air conditioner condensor and scrapped it. I never use my air conditioner and having the extra rad just takes away from the main rad. If you pulled it out what did you do for the extra pulley and belt. Find one from a scrap yard? I don't want to steal the tread so maybe address options in your build. I'm half way into pulling the rad out and replacing it as well as the water pump so keep going!!!!!!!

Not to thread jack, but I had thought of the same thing. 97+'s don't really have an idler pulley that I can find. My thought was to fab up a flat plate that fit the 4 bolt holes of the compressor bracket. Then weld another flat plate at 90 degrees that the pulley could be bolted too.

There would be some triangle gussets to support the bracket. I think it'd be pretty easy to make. Maybe a member of the site that was handy with fabrication would consider a prototype.

In any event, I'm considering removing the condensor to make room for a tranny cooler, an oil cooler, and a power steering cooler. I'm also probably going to run a mesh in front of them to provide some extra debris protection for the coolers and the radiator.

[Firemanray]

hey ray you got anymore pics..trans lines hookup ?????.. cheers mate

Wayne- I have the pics somewhere, I got off track and haven't finished this thread. I'll make an effort to get it done then maybe one of the mods can clean it up and make a "how to" out of it.

[cantab27]

Wayne- I have the pics somewhere, I got off track and haven't finished this thread. I'll make an effort to get it done then maybe one of the mods can clean it up and make a "how to" out of it.

ya a good man ray.................thanks