Radiator Replacement Question

Hi I have a 2002 alero with the 3.4 engine. I need to replace the radiator. According to the Haynes repair manual it says you need to evap the A/C system and pull the radiator from the bottom. I was wondering if anyone has done this job without evaporating the A/C? I would like to keep the a/c lines intact and remove the radiator. Also has anyone removed the radiator from the top or is removing from the bottom the way to go? Thanks in advance!

If the manual says evaporate the a/c, do it. There's probably a very good reason the instructions say to do that. My guess: leaving the system charged is dangerous, maybe there a risk of getting refrigerant all over you, resulting in a nasty reaction between the chemical and your skin, eyes, lungs,etc. You'll just have to recharge the a/c afterwards, which isn't exactly rocket science.

Haynes wants you to relive the A/C because it wants you to remove the line from the compressor to the condenser. I wanted to see if anyone got by without unhooking that line. It looks like the radiator could fit through without removing the line.

They want you to "evacuate/recover" the refrigerant in the system, possibly because the condenser may be attached to the radiator, and it's not possible to get to the screws that attach them together, or maybe they are interlocked so the radiator can't be removed form that position.....thus you disconnect the lines to the condenser, and remove the condenser and radiator as a unit....then you separate them....

Got done replacing the radiator. It can be done with out discharging the A/C. Two bolts coming from the front hold the condenser to the radiator and require an 11 mm socket. After those are removed nothing needs to be moved on the A/C end.