How To.. Change standard rad for uprated radiator R33GTR

[Bandit]

Right guys and girls, sorry there's no pictures for this guide but it is quite easy.

If you have access to ramps, great. If not this can be done with the car parked on a flat surface.

Tools needed:

8 / 10mm sockets and rachet
long nose pliers
flat head screwdriver
large washing up bowl
Adjustable spanner
Watering can / hose or large bottle
2 - 4L of Anti-freeze.

1. Remove radiator cap
2. Place washing up bowl under the rad directly under the bottom rad hose (Bottom left of rad) and undo the hose, standard clips will need pliers to pinch together or jubilee clips will be screwdriver or scocket. Pull off the hose and empty rad into bowl.
3. Once rad is fully drained remove top rad hose and breather pipe on top of the rad.
4. Undo top two metal brackets holding the rad in place and remove them (10mm socket).
5. Using the 10mm socket undo the two top bolts that hold the fan shroud to the rad (either side of rad)
6. Unclip the plug on top left of shroud and unclip the wire a bit further down the back of shroud.
7. This is the tricky bit, lift shroud slightly and with your spare hand gently pull up each bottom corner to pull out the plastic dowls that sit in the bottom brackets of the rad and hold the shroud in place and push the shoud back towards the engine so it sits on the fan. Now everything should be loose and the rad can be gently worked out of the engine bay, if its not then the bottom dowls are not out or the plug and wire are getting cought, its the trickiest bit .
8. With the adjustable spanner remove the plug and wire that are attached to the bottom left of the rad (next to hose hole) and attach wire and plug to new rad, i did use a bit of plumbers tape to be sure of no leaks.
9. Insert new shiney rad, carefully working it down past the fan and shroud and sit it in the two mounting holes in the chassie.
9. Pull shroud to the rad and work each bottom corner into the brackets.
10. Replace both retaining bolts to back of shroud and attach to new rad.
11. Pull up wire and plug and reclip to shroud and plug in.
12. Re-attach both metal brackets so the rad is held firmly in place.
13. Re-attach both the breather pipe and the top rad pipe and do up the clips firmly.
14. Attach bottom rad pipe but don't clip it up
15. With the 10mm socket remove the bolt found directly inbetween injectors 1 and 2 (its the only bolt inbetween and injector)
16. Fill the rad up from the top with JUST WATER and keep on filling until there is a steady flow of CLEAN water coming out of the hole inbetween injectors 1 and 2.
17. Now the system has been flushed, pull off bottom rad pipe and drain the water out of the rad again.
18. Repace the bottom rad pipe and clip up tighly.
19. Fill the watering can or bottle up with a mixture of water and antifreeze 50/50 or 60/40 antifreeze to water.
20. Fill the rad up until a steady flow of MIXTURE comes out of the hole between injectors 1 and 2.
21. Replace 10mm bolt inbetween injectors and put rad cap back on.
22. Start engine and leave on tickover until engine is up to tempreature then turn off engine and leave to cool down.
23. Once engine is cooled down, undo rad cap and top up with more mixture untill it gets to the top of rad then replace rad cap.

All done.

Hope this helps someone and if i've left anything out then please feel free to correct me.

EDIT: This should be the same if not very similar for all skyline models.

Steve

[Honey]

Yes, you forgot to mention phone Bubble up to find out how to get the rad out.

[Bandit]

LOL He didn't know either

Its those bottom dowls in the shroud, they are a right pain in the aris

[Gordon]

also put heater on full ...I think , well that's what i was told

[Squeak]

Well done on taking the time of letting people know for future use Steve

[Andy W]

if you undo the four nuts on the fan and pull it forward into the shroud, you can take the lot out in one go

[Bandit]

I did think about undoing them but i wimped out and did it the hard way

[Bubble]

I do hope that you polished it before fitting it Steve

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Bubble

I do hope that you polished it before fitting it Steve

Well thats a no brainer really Geoff and i polished it after it was fitted aswell

[Bubble]

So where are the pictures Steve ?

[Bandit]

Just for you Geoff.