Staffs Man Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 A very good friend of mine needs to replace his leaky radiator on his long door TR2, the question is can a radiator be removed and replaced without the need to remove the front panel,he is quite happy to remove any component that's in the way at the front. Hope somebody out there has found a way. Thanks Mike Walters (Staffs Man). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 Others may know better, but I believe it is pretty much impossible. Removing the front is not that bad a job, I recommend two people to lift it off, & replace though. If the bolts are rusted up, then it was probably about time to free them up (or replace) them anyway. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John McCormack Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 (edited) He could try cutting the front apron down the middle with a saw. Seriously, having owned a TR2 for 40+ years the apron has to come off. If it has the later chrome wing beading it is best to take them off completely as it will kink at the apron join if left in place, even loosely. If it has flexible TR2 wing beading it isn't a problem. Disconnect the battery. Disconnect the light wires both sides. Put the bonnet opening stay somewhere out of the way, I put it on the horn mount where from memory it can be relatively secure. . Undo and remove all the bolts, 6 down each side from memory as I am not with the car. Undo and remove the four bolts at the top of the apron. With two people lift the apron from the bottom until the top of the apron can be released from the two brackets. Lift off. While it is off check all your steering joints as it is easier to replace with the front off. If not already done, and not R&P, put a Revington spring loaded top in the steering box. Adjust the steering. If leaking from the front engine seal do that. Clean it up while you have access. When replacing use masking tape to protect the front wings. It doesn't take that long. Edited September 16, 2018 by John McCormack Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 (edited) . Edited April 16, 2020 by Fireman049 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 (edited) Tell them about your tip to cut a screw driver slot in the rad mounting bolts (threaded end) Tom. Great tip. Thank you. The apron removal is quite straight forward. Must be I managed it by myself. I taped the wing trims to the wings before removal. This helped. H Edited September 16, 2018 by Hamish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hpremote Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 It is posssible, Mike; l've done it three times, in the early years, when my 2 and 3 were suffering from fibreglassed-over wings/front aprons in 1970 - and then '81. As l remember, the horns and rad struts had to come off, followed by the water pump (l think) and, of course, the fan and the crank dog. Possibly the support strut/tube between the front suspension towers, too. My memory of it all is a bit hazy... - but it wasn't too bad to do, overall. There is then a challenge in pulling the rad up and out, without graunching any rad-tubes, in what is at that point quite a delicate and tight situation. Good luck, if he decides to proceed with it this way! Tim. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dic Doretti Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 You can take the radiator out without removing the front apron but you do have to remove the cylinder head, water pump and fan. Cheers Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 Just take the apron off. The other way is possible, but prone to damaging the radiator core when replacing the radiator. Use the absence of the apron for the jobs mentioned above (and the slotted screw tip!!!) Menno Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hpremote Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 Quote Richard: "you do have to remove the cylinder head". When l did mine sans apron removed, Richard, l got away without removing the head. Tim. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted September 17, 2018 Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 (edited) . Edited April 16, 2020 by Fireman049 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted September 17, 2018 Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 Hi Mike ~ Here's the 'slotted screw' modification. These screws are a real pain to refit and the use of a socket is very difficult. Start the screws by hand and then insert a screwdriver down to engage with the screw. Turn the screwdriver anti-clockwise and bring the screw up. Finish off by inserting a socket from below to finally tighten. Tom. IMG_2665 - Copy.JPG Worked for me. A great tip that saved a lot of bad words. Especially on the steering box side. There just is not the space to swing even the smallest socket kit more than a click or 2. Let alone a spanner Thanks Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rcreweread Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 A very good friend of mine needs to replace his leaky radiator on his long door TR2, the question is can a radiator be removed and replaced without the need to remove the front panel,he is quite happy to remove any component that's in the way at the front. Hope somebody out there has found a way. Thanks Mike Walters (Staffs Man). Mike - have sent you a PM ( personal message) - if you are not sure what this is, go to the top right hand of this page where you will see the outline of a small envelope - that is your message box and if there are any unread messages in it, there will be a small red tag attached to it - click on it and it will open your messages, You can also set the system up to email you if you have a new message. Hope this helps Cheers Rich Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Staffs Man Posted October 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 I posted a question in September regarding "Was it possible to remove the radiator from a long door TR2 without removing the the front panel" A mixed response came back some say yes most said no. The answer is yes it can be done and it was not that difficult you need to remove the following items 1 Thermostat housing and both securing long studs or bolts. 2 Water pump. ( This gives you the opportunity to pressure some water through the block.) 3 Remove the round bracing bar between the suspension turrets. 4.Remove the fan assembly from the front crankshaft pulley. removing the six nuts and leaving the bolts and crankshaft pulley in place. 5. Remove the dynamo and brackets. 6. Place some soft insulation over the front of the cylinder head to avoid damage to the radiator fins when lifting the radiator out at the acute angle ideally this is a two man job. Total time to remove 1.5hrs. I think a similar procedure could be used to remove the radiator from later model cars with the addition of a few extra bits like horns and the centre spring loaded bonnet pick up devise but much easier than removing the nasty front panel and all the problems that go with it. I hope these comments will give owners with radiator problems a little more confidence if they find they have to remove the radiator , it's not a difficult operation. Mike (Staffs Man). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TonyBS Posted August 7, 2020 Report Share Posted August 7, 2020 Thank you, everyone, for your helpful comments. Back in the early 1980s I did remove the front apron on my 1956 TR3, and so completely understand all the advantages people have listed, This works assuming 1) time is not a problem, and 2) bolt removal from the captive nuts etc is straight forward. The reality is rusted bolts and ripped out captive nuts, then having to replace (spot weld?) top hat casings etc, not overlooking revealed issues like inner and outer wings needing similar metal work attention. I'm not really in a position to do all that atm. But, with the stepwise guide Mike (Staffs Man) has provided, I can see that this might work, and certainly a preferred option. I already have some of these items removed, so opening things up further and removing the radiator upwards and rear wards.... I'm seriously considering giving this prodcedure another run (Monday / Tuesday next week if it's not too hot) Thanks Mike, and all others. I'll keep your posted. (Tony from Bedford). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony_C Posted April 15, 2022 Report Share Posted April 15, 2022 How did it go Tony?………. All up and running now?……… Any tips? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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