Basically this is how Matt Read removes his and since I first tried it this way I haven't looked back and seeing as this method isn't in the "How To" section I decided to do it step by step to show you all how easy it is.
If the mods feel it necessary to add this to the How To's by all means go for it.
Step 1:
Set your car up in a good level spot and remove your grill.
Step 2:
Jack up your car and set it on some good axle stands.
Step 3:
Remove the two engine mount bolts on the passenger side.
Step 4:
Once the bolts are removed place a piece of wood under the gearbox on the passenger side and
slowly and
carefully jack the engine up.
The engine should move freely for an inch or two until the gear linkage hits on the exhaust tunnel under the car. When it hits that's when you stop jacking as you don't want to lift the car off the axle stands, (if the car has moved off the axle stands lower the engine down and repeat step 4 until you are happy). You should end up with a gap like this.
Note: Do not remove the jack until you are finished, it shouldn't be in the way and it is only supporting the engine not holding up the car so it is fairly safe.
Step 5:
Remove the two bolts that hold the bottom radiator mount onto the engine mount.
Step 6:
(This is where the radiator will drop all its liquids so be ready for water).
Now you can undo the bottom radiator hose,
the top radiator hose and the top radiator mount,
Step 7:
Now with everything undone the radiator should slip straight out the top. You may need to rotate the cooling fan at the same time to make it easier but it shouldn't be too hard.
Note: My car doesn't have the standard radiator shroud that should be welded to the inner wing, this dose make the job easier but I'm assured it's still easy to remove your radiator this way if your car dose still have the shroud attached
.
So with a few tools and a bit of patience you will have your radiator out in under 20 minutes (the first time I did this it took me 16 minutes).
You do not have to spend hours trying to remove the radiator surround in the car, it all comes out in one unit. As you can see by my surround Rover decided to make them in one piece not two like were all use to seeing.
Job done and happy mini-ing
