Somebody tell me there's a secret handshake to get the radiator out without having to decompress the AC circuit. .. PLEASE?

Of course the antifreeze is already drained and the radiator all but out except for (ahem) capturing all the freon and taking the condenser with it.

Mike

 

Got it. Take a break, a little lunch, let the frustration subside and go back with two extra hands. Pictures to come.

Thanks Stevepaa for https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...or-leak-58253/

The key is getting the bracket off the side of the radiator to let the condenser lines free. I did it by having my wife help lift the assembly out far enough to get the baffle off that captures the condenser lines on the passenger side. After that the radiator was loose. The AC lines have enough flex built into them to allow this. You have to loosen the bracket for the knockout pot on the passenger side so it lifts up with the rest of it all. Keep the wire bundles and transmission lines tucked away so they don't interfere.

Now, judging by the brittleness of the plastic, I'm ordering a new one. I salute its fifteen years and 174,000 miles of service. Anyone seen any good deals lately on a radiator for a '97?

I know what I'll be doing over the holiday weekend.

Mike