Hello all, newbie here to the forums

I just recently fulfilled my dream and purchased an '02 Z28 convertible, and oh boy am I in love. That being said, one of the first things I'm doing is all of the preventative maintenance that I can tell the previous owner never did...

Anyway, I was reading through a Chilton manual and it said that to remove the radiator, I would need to discharge and remove the A/C intercooler as well? This has to be wrong. I know this has been brought up before (I did see a topic saying that you didn't have to, but since I'm a new member I couldn't view the images). So I was wondering if someone could give some rough instructions on removal. Should I just follow the manual and ignore each step regarding the A/C?Or should I attempt to remove the radiator from the top?

Thanks all

 

i think your right, i know on the earlier lt camaro you can. try downloading a fb99 service manual here (mostly should be same as your 02)and see what it says. http://www.mediafire.com/?40mfgeoe4ctti

 

Huh, hilariously enough, the service manual as well says that you have to evacuate the A/C system before removing the radiator...

Can anyone explain a way to do this without forcing me to take it to a mechanic and pay 200+ to recharge the A/C system?

Thanks!

 

its cheaper if you take it in and have them remove the refrigerant and after your done have them recharge. now if you can't drive it that changes everything. did you look at the diagrams to see if you could find a reason for having to do it. i know you have to take the mounts lose on both but the lines on mine go around the radiator.

 

From looking at the car, i believe the only reason they say to discharge the system and remove the lines is because the lines are rather close to the radiator, but I'd also say you have enough wiggle room to remove it without hitting the lines.

The car can be driveable. I already removed the coolant from the radiator cause the SOB who owned it before I did put the wrong coolant in, and I've drained the oil and removed the spark plugs (oh what an adventure that was), but chuck the oil, plugs, and top off the coolant again and I'll be okay if I really need to remove the A/C.

 

don't use the orange antifreeze, use green. and whatever you do don't mix them. turns to jello looking gunk

 

Really? Cause pretty much every book I've ever looked at regarding the LT1 or LS1 or L98 says to use Dex-cool...

 

lol, i have used green in mine for years. orange stuff can be hard on gaskets. head, intake.

 

O.o interesting... I'll have to take a look into that.

 

Why are you removing the radiator? Is it just to flush it?