1998 radiator change out - how to?? help

[anovib]

Ok here I go diving into a 1998 grand prix radiator change. Plastic and all you know they won't hold up up like good ol Steel and brass.

Question is does anyone have any advice to make this a smooth change-out or am I going to be pulling the complete front end of this beast.

Any hints how to or advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

Bob

[GTP Dad]

It should be easy to remove, drain the system, remove the hoses, disconnect the transmission cooling lines, loosen the mounting bolts, remove the coolant overflow bottle if necessary and remove the radiator. Replace with a new one and put everything back on, add coolant, top off transmission and you're done.

[anovib]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

It should be easy to remove, drain the system, remove the hoses, disconnect the transmission cooling lines, loosen the mounting bolts, remove the coolant overflow bottle if necessary and remove the radiator. Replace with a new one and put everything back on, add coolant, top off transmission and you're done.

I guess my question should be. Motor mounts on top ----Looks like clean air below. Does the radiator go in for the top or bottom

[BIG-L]

The upper mounts/dogbones would need to be removed and the radiator would drop in from the top....~Larry~

[anovib]

Originally Posted by anovib

I guess my question should be. Motor mounts on top ----Looks like clean air below. Does the radiator go in for the top or bottom

Thanks Larry

[BIG-L]

Anytime Bob ....by the way,what kind of radiator did you get to replace with the stock one....Thanks, Larry

[anovib]

Originally Posted by anovib

Thanks Larry

Not a show car by any means. Just transportation for one of the kids in college. I bought one from the Radiator Barn. $157.00

It also came with a special tool of some sort and instructions for an EOC/ TOC quick conect????? Any ideas on that??

FYI I've had fun with this car in the past. I am sure many of our readers can relate to changin the oil pan gasket. Needless to say once I got done the max oil capacity is now 4.1 quarts verses 4.6

with two in college

[BIG-L]

It also came with a special tool of some sort and instructions for an EOC/ TOC quick conect????? Any ideas on that??

You got me on that one,not sure what they would be for...I thought you may have got an oversized radiator from Zommer @ www.zzperformance.com...im just a 48yr old with a mind of a 28yr old and love my cars....always have to make mine different then others..Have fun and let me know how things go for you after the install...~Larry~

[anovib]

Not a bad job.. Took around 3 hours to complete. Cleaned the low coolent level which had some build-up.

Still have the idiot light flashing low coolant level.

Thanks again for the help
Bob

[BIG-L]

Thanks Bob for leting me know how things went and what about the special tool and instructions for an EOC/ TOC quick conect???

Still have the idiot light flashing low coolant level.

Sounds like you can do 1 of 2 things,either unplug it and it wount set an SES or you can buy a new one since it sounds like the contacts have gone bad.Standard Motor Products makes one,so you should beable to pick one up local from NAPA or they are $32.79 + shipping from www.rockauto.com they have a great site and alot of OEM AC-Delco parts for our cars.

[kustomkid54]

BIG-L,
Are you that old! I thought you were 48 years old with the mind of a 21 year old! I just turned 55 in July. My wife says I have the mind of an 8 year old. You know it stinks that you have to get as old as we are to have the money to play with cars. I lucked out getting my GTO in 1966. Lucked out even more to have the smarts to keep it stock (and keep the miles off it.)

[BIG-L]

I thought you were 48 years old with the mind of a 21 year old!

Thanks....Ive always played with my cars and its about my only hobby other then collecting NASCAR.Here is a pic of one of my many toys/projects I use to have

and I started back in 71 with my first car being a 63 Impala SS with a 409/425HP and they had put a old straight axel in the front end (it was cool to lift the front end back in those days) and fender well headers a dual carb set-up on it.Then moved into the MOPAR scene with a 69 Dodge Dart with the 340 4 speed ,69 Roadrunner 383 4 speed,70 Cuda 383 4 speed and lots of other cars inbetween then and now...and im now working on a 83 Trans/Am that ive got and I just got my crate motor from GM that is a ZZ383/425 and im waiting on a rear-end from Currie enterprisise that is a 9in ford that will bolt in with disc brakes and 3.91 gears with a tranny out of a wrecked 98 Z28 6 speed....im the 2nd owner of this car and it only has 82,000 orig miles on the car...well enough rambling as I could go on and on.Have a great day !........~Larry~

[kustomkid54]

Larry,
I don't drink, or do drugs and my Wife said she would kill me is I chase wild women. Cars is all I have left.
Being from Michigan, cars were the way you spent your time. Went in the Army and ended up in Florida at 18. Had 13 cars in 11 months. Before I went back home I bought a 1961, 300 "C". All my friends thought I lost it, I had a tank. Then I raised the hood. A 392 with ram induction, was a nice way to start my next car. (Should have left it stock, and in the barn). Put the motor in a 1965 Dodge Dart. Wouldn't pull the wheels up in first, but in 2nd you could spin the wheel, and the car wouldn't turn. Then a 1970 Nova, with a 1966 327/ 350 HP. And the list went on.
New toy now...

Your right, lets look forward to the next one. Have fun.....Jim