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Miata Radiator Reinstall Advice

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AngliaGT

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin
Silver
Offline
We have a '97 NA Miata that I pulled the radiator out of.I had to take the
two circlips off of the lower radiator mounts to remove it.
My question is - can I install them on the radiator before I reinstall it?
 
I believe you can...
 
Walter,

Well,you were right.I tried putting the C clips on with the radiator
back in the car.Started to get one on & it went flying somewhere in the garage.
I spent about an hour looking for it,but couldn't find it anywhere.Then I decided
that I'd better go to the local hardware store,& buy 2 of them just in case I lost
another one.Bought a package of two,& joked with the clerk that after I did this,
I'd find the old one.
Got home,& test fitted the radiator,& noted that the stud in the middle of the
bottom mount was way too long."That's weird" I thought to myself,so I went & looked
at a YouTube video,& discovered that I was trying to put the rubber mount on the
radiator,rather than behind it.I laid the radiator down,& the lost C clip fell on the ground.
I then installed the bottom mounts on the radiator,test-fit it,& it fell right into place!
I put the radiator hoses back on,& then realized that I forgot to buy Distilled water,
so decided to wait until I got some before I put the coolant back in.There's also a bottom
cover for the engine compartment,but I'll wait & check for any leaks before I put it back on.
This all took me about four hours - good thing I work for free.
 
Last edited:
AngliaGT said:
Walter,

Well,you were right.I tried putting the C clips on with the radiator
back in the car.Started to get one on & it went flying somewhere in the garage.
I spent about an hour looking for it,but couldn't find it anywhere.Then I decided
that I'd better go to the local hardware store,& buy 2 of them just in case I lost
another one.Bought a package of two,& joked with the clerk that after I did this,
I'd find the old one.
Got home,& test fitted the radiator,& noted that the stud in the middle of the
bottom mount was way too long."That's weird" I thought to myself,so I went & looked
at a YouTube video,& discovered that I was trying to put the rubber mount on the
radiator,rather than behind it.I laid the radiator down,& the lost C clip fell on the ground.
I then installed the bottom mounts on the radiator,test-fit it,& it fell right into place!
I put the radiator hoses back on,& then realized that I forgot to buy Distilled water,
so decided to wait until I got some before I put the coolant back in.There's also a bottom
cover for the engine compartment,but I'll wait & check for any leaks before I put it back on.
This all took me about four hours - good thing I work for free.
Click to expand...
Hey, I'm happy to hear it went successfully back in. Four hours for a one hour job sounds like you made good time. All my one hour jobs tend to take at least five.
 
Well.....filled it with coolant,& had a leak dripping out of one of the bottom fittings.
The radiator that I got is the same for a manual as well as an automatic.There's two metal
tubes on the bottom rear of the radiator,& that's where it was leaking.
I called the shop I bought it from,& they said to check with them.They're willing to
replace it for me.
 
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