1936 Ford pickup radiator removal....

[1936 ford pickup]

Hello,

Is it possible to remove the radiator on my 1936 Ford pickup without removing the grille. I have the 59AB flathead (1946-1948) and have the helmet style distributor. I plan on removing the upper and lower radiator hoses, all bolts that attach radiator, grille and (lower inner grille) and support rods. I do not want to loosen the inner fender panels and outer fenders and loose the existing alignment. Please let me know back your thoughts on this.

THANK YOU,
Bruce

[nelsb01]

It could be a challenge, since the radiator filler neck sticks up through the top of the grille.
How do you plan to drop it down to get past that? The distributor, generator and fan will certainly be in the way.

[1936 ford pickup]

Hi nelsb01

I did notice that about the filler neck sticks up through the top of the grille. It looks like once I remove the bottom two bolts that attach the radiator to the radiator mtg. brackets the bottom of the radiator might be able to be angled out and down slightly dropping the radiator down enough to clear the filler neck from the grille.

[37 truck]

You should be able to remove the grill shell and leave the fenders and inner fenders in place with just a couple bolts removed at the front

[OldGold360]

I agree that removing the grille shell would be the easiest. Removing the radiator with the grille shell in place would be a challenge and reinstalling would probably be even more difficult and more prone to scratching something or damaging your radiator. The grille shell is easy enough to remove. Good luck!

[1936 ford pickup]

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Hello to all whom have replied back to me.
I have now carefully removed the grille shell.
Trying to remove the radiator now and this is what I have found.
The 2 bolts that attach the radiator to the frame mtg. brackets have the bolts in this orientation (bolts down from top, flat washer, radiator feet, rubber pad, radiator mtg. brackets, flat washer, spring, flat washer then nut. In this orientation I can not remove the bolts from the top side because they hit the fender. I can only move the bolts upwards about 1/2". No room for a hand held hacksaw blade or dremel tool. Radiator and grille shell must have been installed first then front fenders. I think I am going to drill thru the shank of the bolts then snap the heads off so rest of bolts will drop down from top. I can then reinstall bolts from bottom side up.

Good luck to me....

Bruce in Ca.

[nelsb01]

Have you gotten under the vehicle and looked up?
You should be able to get a socket with extension on the bolt head and then remove the cotter pin and nut from the bottom. You may need a second set of hands to hold the socket while you work from underneath.