Radiator removal

[63LeSabre401]

What is involved in removing the radiator from my 63 LeSabre, 401 w/ AC?

I removed the two bolts that hold the upper clamp piece, the upper and lower hoses, and the two hard lines at the bottom. I can't find any other bolts or mounting screws. Should I just be able to pull it up and out after removing the top bracket? Or is there something I'm missing? I can rock it forward and back, but can't pull it up any.

Also, my rad sits about 3" from my fan. Is that correct, or should it be closer? Everything is stock as far as I know, and it does have the fan clutch. I'm wondering if I should add a fan spacer of some sort or maybe try and mount the radiator closer to the fan?

Thanks!

[jdk971]

why do you want to. i have not removed one yet. have you checked the rad to make sure it is bad. if so, some one will help here. does the rad flow, have
you changed the fluid, does it leak. some one will tell you how to do a pressure test on the rad. unless you know for sure it is bad i would not take it out.

[63LeSabre401]

why do you want to. i have not removed one yet. have you checked the rad to make sure it is bad. if so, some one will help here. does the rad flow, have
you changed the fluid, does it leak. some one will tell you how to do a pressure test on the rad. unless you know for sure it is bad i would not take it out.

I want to take it to a self-serve car wash and hit it with the high-power hose to hopefully clear it out a little. I have an overheating problem and it has been suggested that perhaps my radiator is clogged. I want to take a shot at cleaning it out the best I can before looking for a replacement. I would leave it in the car and drive it to the car wash, but can't because of the overheating problem, hence the reason I want to remove it.

[59 Invicta]

I had to take the one out of my 63 Electra last fall to get it recored. Should be about the same. It is probably just stuck to the rubber insulators along the sides and the rubber cushions in the brakets on the bottom of the core support. Shoot some WD40 down the sides and around the lower cushions and keep rocking it back and forth to loosen it up. It will come out. If I was you, I'd take the fan blade off as well so you don't accidently it it and damage the core.

[CameoInvicta]

It should just pull out, it just sits in the core support. It probably just stuck. If you screw around with it for a while it should just come out. Good luck!

[buickbonery]

You took the bottom hose out right?

[63LeSabre401]

Yeah, I got the radiator out. It was a pain because the bottom of it was rusted real bad and stuck in the mount. I had to rock it back and forth several times.

Thanks!