P38A Rad and condenser replacement

[domino]

My replacement radiator has arrived and as the condenser is shot, waiting for that to arrive before replacing them both.

Any gotchas I should be aware of before starting? Does the fan need to come out/off to do the job?

...is this something I can do while parked in the street? Couple hours work?

Any pointers and warnings gratefully received

 

[Grrrrrr]

IIRC the fan has to come off. Cannot remember any issues other than my replacement condenser didn't match up to the pegs on the bottom quite right so I sawed one off in the end. And yes, couple of hours max.

Watch for the deflectors each side behind the grill. Mine were missing completely so guessing they snap easily.

 

[Doo]

Having recently done mine, I agree with the above. I pulled off the grille, undid one plastic deflector (to allow access to the nuts on the A/C pipes) and simply slotted in the new condenser.

The problem was, it had neither a condenser nor electric fans!

It didn't take long at all

 

[brianp38dse]

If your changing the condenser it may be worth replacing some off the ac o rings while the system is down.

 

[domino]

Hmm, 2 conflicting accounts!

Fan off or on?

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

Hmm, 2 conflicting accounts!

Fan off or on?

Off when injun off and on when injun on

 

[Doo]

Seeing as how the condenser is on the front, the main fan isn't near it so that rules that out.

The electric fans are in the way so need to come out, but they are simple, un plug and un bolt....

 

[Grrrrrr]

Seeing as how the condenser is on the front, the main fan isn't near it so that rules that out.

The electric fans are in the way so need to come out, but they are simple, un plug and un bolt....

He's doing the rad too. In order to get the cowl off on the diesel you have to take the fan off as it isn't in 2 parts. Power steering reservoir needs unbolting and leaving hanging to the right. Fan off and cowl off. Slam panel off. Deflectors off. That strange bit of plastic on the front of the engine cover. Bolts out and then the rad and the condenser should just pull out.

Cannot remember (8 or 9 pints in) if he has a diesel or not.

 

[domino]

Thanks @Grrrrrr

 

[P38Penguin]

Give the bottom bolt of the condenser a good squirt with penetrating oil or wd40, one was a total bugger to get off when I did mine, ended up using a nut splitter. Putting the air con pipes back in was a royal pain but got there eventually. When taking the electric fans off the condenser be careful. Give them a good soak in something, one of mine completely snapped and the other was spinning.

 

[domino]

..give them a good soak as in the bolts?

 

[EntropyUK]

Lower captive securing nuts for the rad are brass so can suffer bimetalic corrosion. When trying to undo the bolts on mine, the bolts ended up rotating in place so had to drill them to free them.

Also put the car in highest position and lock it. No need for ramps etc.

 

[domino]

Lower bolts are stuck in rotation...cannot for the life of me get them to sit still

Any suggestions?

Also, does the slam panel actually have to come off?!

As I'm replacing the rad, thinking I could just snap the rad plastic to free them and then with better access, could then get grips/sockets on to release?

 

[Grrrrrr]

Lower bolts are stuck in rotation...cannot for the life of me get them to sit still

Any suggestions?

Also, does the slam panel actually have to come off?!

As I'm replacing the rad, thinking I could just snap the rad plastic to free them and then with better access, could then get grips/sockets on to release?

Slam panel doesn't take long to take off and makes it so much easier. Never had any major issues with bolts but looks like I got lucky.

 

[domino]

Small panel bolt sheared.

Air con fans bolt sheared.

Still haven't got any of it off. Cannot get the bottom two bolts off, split, cut, anything. Gave up at 5.

 

[ovalandrover]

The cowl can be just uncliped at the top and pulled up out of its mounting holes and moved towards the engine with the fan in place and then the radiator can slide up without taking the fan off.

 

[domino]

Didn't manage it ...put it all back as was for now. Didn't want it sitting there drained and pipes hanging off.

****eing myself with taking it out now. First refilled didn't go well, all boiled over and out the expansion. This time...I've refilled and cleared the breather and so far it's fine on idle and little more than idle.

Gonna take it round the block...then a few miles...see how it goes *bites nails*

 

[domino]

....no issues

Chuffed.

 

[Grrrrrr]

Sounds like it is corroded up pretty bad. I feel lucky now!

 

[domino]

Yeah. Will take it to a garage to have it removed. Too difficult lying on the road with zero power access.