Will I have to remove the Rad to change the water Pump

After my fun filled day at work on THIS bridge I'm going home to change my water pump. Looks pretty tight to get a wrench on the bolts at the fan??

Thanks

Take the radiator out - it will be MUCH easier. You have to drain it anyway.

No, you don't HAVE to but you may save yourself buying a new rad if you do. On early cars it is a bit tight to change the waterpump without pulling the rad and it is so easy to have a wrench slip or a fan blade hit the rad while working.

Thanks..I can just see myself putting a wrench into the rad.

good luck paul... Atleast you have the garage! Maybe i should put an extra water pump IN the car to pump all the rain water out..its nasty out here!

If you have enough clearance to work with between the two on your car, you can protect the radiator with a sheet of corrugated cardboard.

It is much easier in the end to pull the rad. Remember to use pet safe coolant and some water wetter. If you do not have one it would be a good time to install a fail safe thermostat. I always use distilled water. This makes sure that there are no minerals or other unknowns such as chlorine in the system.

I just did this job, not really that bad. Drain coolant, loosen two hoses from rad, loosen radiator from diaphragm, remove fan, and finally pull water pump. Re fill with 50/50 mix. Whole thing can be done in an hour or so.

Remember pets like sweet, sticky coolant if left lying on the ground - and it is poisonous.