Avanti Radiator Question

can only help on the price question"

replaced the rad on my '79 about 5 years ago.....got a new "heavy duty" thicker cored job from NewmanAltman/SASCO (whichever they were then) and it was over $300. so your price sounds about right

the Thunderbird interchangeability is new to me.....in olden times it was said that they were Corvette cores in a special bracket to fit Avanti....no proof for that.

and I'll be interested to hear how their supposed to be installed........I've got 4 wrenchs and 10 thumbs so to get my changed, took the car, new radiator and shop manual to a good mechanic. when he got it done. he presented me with the old radiator and "ears" separate.......said they took the hood off but couldn't remove old or install new with ears attached. no doubt there is a way to do it tho'

I love it John - "simply remove the body". I'll see what happens when i loosen the bolts several mounts back and attempt to raise the body what seems to be about 2" to slip it out.

I had a Volvo years ago (GREAT car) ......but when a headlamp burned out and the owners manual said "Step 1: remove front fender".......I traded it in.

The T-bird CORE is the correct size for the Avanti, need to use the Avanti tanks, and mounting brace. BTDT

Jim Turner

I did it once on an Avanti II, maybe 25 years ago. Can't remember how, but it wasn't all that difficult, although I remember it was a dilemma at first. I certainly didn't raise the whole body to do it. I did not cut or weld anything, either.

Look close, seems to me there are simply short bolts (w/shims) holding the fiberglass to the support on each side, and maybe across the top. Simply a matter of removing bolts, as I recall, although I think I also had to remove the water pump fan (and possibly the water pump), and the support had to be manipulated in some weird tricky positions in steps to get the ears to clear. Easier than a "Rubic's cube" puzzle, but not simple.

Might be tougher on a Stude Avanti, though.