When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I already asked this over in the 94.5-97 PSD forum, but since I got no answer I'm going to post it again here.
Originally Posted by Spktyr
I'm doing a complete AC system rebuild on my truck and I'm at the stage where one is to unbolt and tilt back the radiator to get access to the condenser for removal. The Ford manual is pretty generic, saying to remove the upper heater hose and drain the cooling system. However, it *looks* like if I protect the radiator from the fan (with a sheet of cardboard), I can just unbolt the radiator and tilt it back without draining any coolant because the plumbing is radically different from the gas trucks. Is this the case, or do I have to dump the cooling system? Thanks.
Anyone got any input? Truck is the F-350 in my signature below.
You may need to remove the fan and hub, and disconnect the trans lines, but other than that it should work.
Ford's manual claims I won't have to remove the fan or hub or disconnect anything but the upper radiator hose after partially draining the cooling system, then just unbolt and tilt the radiator backwards to get to the condenser - whether that's true or not, though... :P
It turns out the answer to my question is yes - protect the radiator with sturdy corrugated cardboard and it will work just fine with no damage to the radiator. Use more cardboard to protect the condenser from the radiator and the support going in and it'll go in fine too.