Need Help with 93 3.8L Taurus Radiator Removal

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Tony Sivori - 22 Oct 2008 02:39 GMT

I've got the fan and shroud off, the hoses disconnected, and the top
transmission cooler line off. I'm letting the bottom transmission line
soak in penetrating lube overnight.

Now for the big problem. I can't see how to get the radiator out. Looking
at the new one, it has four plastic hollow posts / pins (one each at
the top and the bottom of the radiator inlet and outlet tanks) that are
obviously what holds the radiator in. But looking at the vehicle, I can't
any bolts nuts or anything that looks like much of a fastener. It looks
like the radiator is held in place by some kind of rubber isolation mounts.

The Chilton's says:
9. "For 1993-94 3.8L and SHO engines, remove the two hex nuts from the
right hand radiator support bracket, then remove the two retaining nuts
from the left hand hand radiator support bracket, then remove the brackets."

Trouble is, the illustrations and line drawings don't show any support
brackets, and for the life of me I can't see any bolts or assemblies at
all. Just frame and dog house.

I'm getting rather frustrated and all the cussing has failed to convince
the radiator to fall out on its own. :-)

Signature

Tony Sivori
Due to spam, I'm now filtering all Google Groups posters.

Reply to this Message

MasterBlaster - 22 Oct 2008 04:52 GMT

> Looking at the new one, it has four plastic hollow posts / pins (one
> each at the top and the bottom of the radiator inlet and outlet tanks)
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> brackets, and for the life of me I can't see any bolts or assemblies at
> all. Just frame and dog house.

I assume you've taken off the small plastic "guard" across the top of the rad
(a few little 10mm bolts) and looked under it? Even Rockauto isn't helping me,
as it shows a couple of different style rads; the 4-poster like you have waiting in
the box, and the bottom-post, top-hole style where two bolts with rubber cushions
come through from the *engine side* to hold the top edge of the rad to the support.

I can't find any decent pics of the engine bay on the InterWeb (didn't look that hard),
and Mom's 91 Taurus is 30 miles away. :-(

Reply to this Message

Tony Sivori - 22 Oct 2008 05:16 GMT

>> The Chilton's says:
>> 9. "For 1993-94 3.8L and SHO engines, remove the two hex nuts from the
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> I assume you've taken off the small plastic "guard" across the top of
> the rad (a few little 10mm bolts) and looked under it? Even Rockauto

Yes, that was the first thing off.

> isn't helping me, as it shows a couple of different style rads; the
> 4-poster like you have waiting in the box, and the bottom-post, top-hole
> style where two bolts with rubber cushions come through from the *engine
> side* to hold the top edge of the rad to the support.
>
> I can't find any decent pics of the engine bay on the InterWeb (didn't

I googled before I posted, and I had no luck either.

> look that hard), and Mom's 91 Taurus is 30 miles away. :-(

'91 is different than the 93. The 93 and 94 3.8L and SHO are the only
ones that have the exact same removal instructions in the Chilton's.

I guess if worst comes to worst, I could hammer and chisel the two top
posts of the old radiator. Fortunately, there is no core charge on the old
radiator, and I don't the plastic could be all that tough. If it surprises
me, there is always the saws all.

Signature

Tony Sivori
Due to spam, I'm now filtering all Google Groups posters.

Reply to this Message

Tony Sivori - 22 Oct 2008 15:33 GMT

> Now for the big problem. I can't see how to get the radiator out.
> Looking at the new one, it has four plastic hollow posts / pins (one
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> brackets, and for the life of me I can't see any bolts or assemblies at
> all. Just frame and dog house.

When all else fails, read the instructions... or maybe sleep on the
problem to get the obvious solution.

I had opened box at napa to inspect the radiator. It was hard to get back
into the box so the parts man threw the hardware packet into the shopping
bag with the antifreeze that I bought.

Turns out the install instructions that came with the radiator show the
brackets (brackets and upper isolation mounts (the instructions call them
bushings) are one and the same. The instructions include line drawings
that nicely shows the location of the hidden bolts.

Signature

Tony Sivori
Due to spam, I'm now filtering all Google Groups posters.

Reply to this Message