Radiator removal

Hello guys, removal of 550 radiator is straight forward thing or require removal of oil radiator and power stering cooler, reviewing of 575 WSM is scary, you should remove all of above. Any body removed the radiator without removal of oil radiator or power stering cooling line.
Thanks.
Sark

 

PK, I think radiator can come out without bothering removal of oil radiator, AC or stering coil. Again I do not know why 575 WSM included draining of AC disconnecting the oil hoses as part of prosses.

Thanks again,
Sark.

 

Thank you all

 

550 Radiator removal,

Today I decided to pull the radiator out, After spending a week and looking around the radiator what should comes out first and what should stays in. Finally decided to remove the water radiator only and leave everything else including oil, AC and power steering cooler behind, boy what a mistake spend the whole weekend to remove bolts which were not accessible and modify tools to fit in hard to reach places. The proper and easy way which should not take more than 30 minuets is removing the coolant and oil radiator together in one piece without bothering anything else. Step #1 is removing the top cover that protects the whole system. Then you will see everything including water radiator, oil radiator next to it which is attached with three screws. The AC cooler in front of it and at last the power steering coil. Step #2 In order to remove the coolers you need to detach the 2 hoses from the oil cooler (the reason I did not choose that because I just changed the engine oil and did not want to waist 10 litter of fresh oil). There are to hoses picture #1.
The hose on the left is easier to detach from bottom of the oil tank, I do that routinely to drain the radiator. The hose on the right needs to be detached from oil cooler. (you need a 36 mm wrench available so should prepare). Step #3 removal of radiators, loosen the bolts #1 supporting the upper side of both water and oil radiators (showed by red arrow), do not need to remove. Then remove the tow small screws holding the AC cooler to water radiator ( red arrow #2). Now the whole system is free. Call a friend give him a can of good European beer and ask him to help you. It is heavy, all needs to be done pull straight up, be careful do not damage anything.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Radiator removal continues, The way I approached was a nightmare and here are the pictures, there are things needs to come out. Left side fan, the three screws holding water and oil cooler together, the fan hood. FORGOT TO MENTION DETACH THE FAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS BEFORE PULLING UP THE RADIATOR.
Following pictures showing my work while removing and assembling the radiator. This is good time to hose the radiator from debris.
Regarding Air injection pump, it is a good practice to remove the cover of the pump to check the propeller condition even though the pump works. The propeller itself is a very fragile, breaks to pieces and enters in the air injection ducts and cause malfunction.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

No there was no leak issue. The removal itself is a different saga. When I rebuild the water pump last year for the first time it leaked, so I ended up removing and rebuilding again. The reason it leaked because the seal had a hair crack which I did not noticed. The piece came off the main seal and got into cooling circulation system. ( Recommended by Ferrari tech, check the seal by magnifying glass for crakes after installation). I tracked the separated seal finally I found it in the radiator. The one episode of heating I experienced probably this was the cause and I assume that piece got jammed in the thermostat temporarily and then flashed away into radiator. I used all techniques out there you can imagine including flushing, vacuuming , going after it with scope but it was unsuccessful. Somebody sometime in the past recommended to flip the car but it was unsuccessful too, therefore went forward and remove the radiator to get it out by turning upside down and flushing. As TAZ said the hard way is the easy way ( I liked that TAZ ). Bellow is the picture inside the radiator, It is 15 year old radiator and still looks new ( I am using Shellzone ) which is not the glycoshell but I change the coolant almost every year. Bellow is the picture inside the radiator,
PK, I am not aware of any replica radiator builder and is nice to know, thanks
Sark.
Image Unavailable, Please Login