Cooling System Refresh

[txfromwi]

I’ve watched your video for inspiration! Also in the Houston area (Montgomery)

Plenty of naps along the way I am sure !
It's not exactly exciting...

(Clear Lake)

 

[M32H32IS]

A couple of helpful hands for those of you that tackle this journey at some point in the near future:

Be cognizant of how you remove the thermostat and all of the associated Radiator hoses & when you reinstall them as well.

It’s easier to route the serpentine belt without the thermostat completely installed. Hindsight is 2020. I suppose if you had to do a roadside repair you could but it’s much easier if everything is out-of-the-way.

 

[M32H32IS]

Label the rear coolant crossover temperature sensor plug that goes to the harness.

There’s another connector in the same area that plugs into a sensor in the rear of the intake manifold.

Hopefully I got them correct but man if I would’ve labeled one somehow even if it was just a piece of tape, I wouldn’t have to guess.

Laying on a makeshift bed of two by fours strung across the engine bay isn’t really my idea of a great time so I kinda wanna get this done correctly the first go round!

By the way, I’ve seen a lot of different creative ways to do that rear crossover but honestly what I spoke about above you can put two by fours across the fenders and then fence boards cut down from the front Radiator Support to the two by fours… this makes a makeshift bed. Laying there for hours isn’t really my idea of a great time but it sure beats any other way. I’ve attempted to do this job.

Feel free to share any other life hacks you may have lol I’m all ears.

 

[M32H32IS]

I also removed the old AC compressor and installed a new one. That’s a really fun job. You can’t really see anything so you have to rely on your sense of feel.

A quarter inch stubby ratchet with some swivel head sockets and a lot of patience this critical here…

I went against the grain and removed all of the bolts that hold the compressor into the engine block before I removed the high and low pressure lines. Rookie mistake, but as it turned out for me, this was actually an easier way to go about it because I didn’t have a lift. I was able to access the bolts holding the lines to the compressor through the wheel well much easier than laying on my back.

 

[M32H32IS]

Backside connections on the intake manifold AJ133 LR4

 

[M32H32IS]

Access the AC compressor lines through the wheel well.

Removing the trim is easy just take your time.

 

[M32H32IS]

Between the entire cooling system and the AC compressor, knocking everything out at once is in my opinion, the best way to do it, but it will test your patience and your tool chest

I’ve made several trips to Harbor freight and AutoZone and Home Depot for different tools…

FYI

 

[M32H32IS]

My bed for the last week. Comfy

 

[M32H32IS]

Installing the accessory belt:

I fought with it a little bit, but I found the easiest way was inserting it around the tensioner pulley while the bolt was still somewhat loose.

Then I routed it to the right hand side through the AC compressor, power, steering pulley, water pump into the left-hand side over the top pulley, leaving only the alternator…

With my right hand, I got enough leverage on the tensioner with a ratchet & I was able to slip the belt over the alternator with my left hand.

 

[M32H32IS]

All right boys y’all helped me out of time too, I am doing the stretch belt. What a PITA

I rounded the edges on the crank pulley bolt and this belt still isn’t going on… any insight?