How To Install Radiator W/Mishimoto Brackets ****PICS****

94GTCoupe

10 Year Member
May 7, 2006
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CA
i replaced my radiator yesterday.
its the 3rd Mishimoto Radiator i've replaced in my car.
i'm also using the new Mishimoto radiator brackets they supplied me with.
more on that later.
it's pretty straight forward,but i took pics along the way.

---Tools/supplies Needed---
***UPDATE (6/8/10)***
-Mishimoto Radiator Brackets now available to purchase here;
http://www.americanmuscle.com/mishimoto-upper-bracket-9496.html
1-Mishimoto Radiator $230.
(i got mine here,Mishimoto Performance Aluminum Mustang Radiator - Manual - (94-95 GT/Cobra/V6) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!
if your Mishimoto is leaking,contact them and the should replace it for free,and give you a set of brackets)

3-Gallons of coolant.(i used peak 50/50,$10 a gallon at autozone.)

?-clean rags

1-large tub to drain coolant into.

1-large plier

1-pry bar or large screwdriver

1-1/4 inch drive ratchet

1-1/4 drive,5/16 deep socket

1-1/4 inch drive,5/16 standard socket

1-1/4 inch drive,3/8 socket

1-1/4 inch drive,10mm deep socket

1-1/2 inch wrench

1-slotted screwdriver

1-set of car ramps,or a jack and 2 jack stands.

follow along with the pics.

1.raise front of car.
(you may or may not need to,my car is so low i cant get a pan under there.but with the front raised,it helps to get all the air out of the system when refilling.)
DSCN2227.jpg


heres what i'm replacing
DSCN2232.jpg


***ALLOW CAR TO COOL COMPLETELY,WHILE WAITING,YOU CAN PERFORM THESE STEPS.***

2.with 1/2 wrench,disconnect negetive battery cable.
1.jpg


3.loosen the 5/16 screw at the CCRM connector.
disconnect from CCRM
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4.at CCRM bracket,remove 1-5/16 screw,and 1-3/8 screw(these may be different on your car.)
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5.disconnect low coolant wire.
disconnect hose at radiator neck.
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6.lift CCRM/Overflow bottle out as one,set aside.
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7.disconnect cooling fan wire.
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8.and ABS wires.
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9.move them out of the way.
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10.remove 2-5/16 screws attaching fan to radiator.(red arrows)
12-1.jpg


11.remove fan,set aside.
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***AFTER CAR HAS COOLED COMPLETELY,YOU CAN FINISH REMOVAL.***

12.with your large plier,compress the hose clamp and move away.
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13.slowly disconnect hose,let drain into pan.
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14.while thats draining,with your slotted screwdriver,remove the upper hose.
(dont drop it in the coolant like i did :doh:)
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15.at radiator bracket,remove 1-5/16 screw,remove bracket set aside.
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16.remove 2-5/16 screws,remove bracket and set aside.
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17.by now all the coolant should have drained out,lift radiator out.
clean up any spilt coolant.
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NEXT STEP IS OPTIONAL,BUT I RECOMMEND IT.

heres a before pic of the clearence between the radiator and ABS unit.
its very close and can be difficult dropping the new radiator in.
14.jpg


here,im going to move the ABS unit back alittle.

18.loosen 2-10mm bolts here(red arrows)
and here,under car on the frame rail.(blue arrows)
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19.with large pry bar,move ABS unit back towards engine,tighten bolts back up.(sorry,no pic)

heres a before and after pic of the clearence.

before
14.jpg


after
33-1.jpg


***MISHIMOTO RADIATOR BRACKETS***

here they are.
they are basicly a copy of the stockers,but made of a thinner material.
they have more "give" than the stockers,allowing more movement of the radiator.
the rubber mount is also thinner,and a bit looser.
DSCN2228.jpg

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they install with the original screws.

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20.install is reverse of removal,make sure you reconnect all the wiring.
make sure the radiator drain plug is closed.
double check the hoses.

21.refill cooling system.

22.with front end still up,leave radiator cap off and start car.
allow to run,adding more coolant as needed.also squeeze upper hose to force out any air trapped in there.
once its warm,the coolant will start to overflow out of the radiator.
this should have gotten the air out of the system
put radiator cap on.

23.that should be it.
allow to run for a little bit.
check for leaks(BE CAREFUL AROUND RUNNING ENGINE)
watch tempreture,and make sure fan kicks on.

24.if everything looks good,close hood and put car back on the ground.
34.jpg
 
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great write up, but .... i have to ask, why have you had to install 3 of these radiators? leaking? seems like lots of folks have problems with their mishimotos ... :shrug:

my stock radiator developed a leak 4 years ago, and we replaced it with a run-of-the-mill replacement radiator from carquest. it has been 100% fine. even with the 410, it barely gets to the O.
 
but Chris at mishimoto is a great guy to deal with.
they have,without question provided a free replacement radiator whenever a leak developed.
it cools well and looks great.
 
Is there are part number for the brackets? It sounds like they might have done this to solve the issue with the stock brackets moutning the Mishimoto raditor wtih too much rigidity, assuming that it really is the failure mode. What else is different abou the bracket? Does it fit on the mounting pegs mosre loosely than the stock bracket/bushing?

Thanks =)
 
who's stock radiator?
i replaced a leaky Mishimoto.
in front of that is part of the A/C.
i'm considering removing the A/C system all together.
i never use it.
need to finish up my rear gears first.