So yesterday after a brief trip into Keswick so the mrs could buy a jacket, note , the lakes is not a place for a brief visit on a hot bank holiday weekend, it was swiftly back to continue removing parts.
With the a/c now vac'd down I first removed the condensors, of the four retaining bolts two were seized solid, yet again non compatable materials, steel into aluminium, as they were being replaced I simply cut the head off the bolt leaving the thread in the condensor and not damaging the a/c pipework.
Then I popped the two most visible and easily accessable hose clips on the crossover pipe and caught any coolant, I plan to change a couple of the lower hoses on the engine as well so it will probably end up with a full drain down at some point.
On the photo note the corrosion occurring on the hose sleeve, this end was into the plastic coupling behind the radiator.
It was then simply a case of disconnecting the electrical connections, always a pain imo, then pulling the rad packs from the car after removing the easily accesible nuts and bolts.
Working out in the sunshine, a rare occurance in the North, I further stripped the rads into their component parts, the plastic shrouds are nice and undamaged so they'll get a good detailing, the actual metal brackets that carry the rads will be going for powder coating.
After that I seperated the ARB, coffin arm and control arm from the front subframe and began loosening the bolts in order to drop the frame out for vapour blasting, next job will be to break the hose connections at the rear of the subframe and unbolt the rack, I hope this allows the subframe to drop in one piece complete with attatched pipework.
That would have taken place today but my aching body is telling me to have a day off !!
All the best