Prevost 8v92 Radiator

[Skykingrob]

Getting ready to pull the radiator from my 91 Prevost. It is one of the last things I need to do before taking the coach out for her maiden voyage. I am looking for anyone who has done it and who has tips to share to share them. I found a local radiator shop who will recore it when out. They also offered to remove/replace in addition to recore but they want $65 per hour to R/R it and said it would be a least 10 hours each way to do it. I checked the Prevost service manual and it says the same thing, 10 hours each R/R. Since this would be my first R/R, I am sure it will take me longer but my time would be free. I know it is heavy and have read the archives about using a jack to help lift, etc. I would be working alone. For those who have done it, is it worth paying at least $1300 labor for the R/R then around $2000 for the core?

Rob
91 Prevost XL 8v92 TA
Missouri

[luvrbus]

You can do it's not worth 1300 bucks I use a small HF 2 wheel dolly for the other set of hands

[TomC]

If it is a copper/brass radiator, it will weigh several hundred pounds. Since Prevost is a side radiator, it shouldn't be much different than my transit bus. I used a small rolling floor jack, then once down, (like Luke said) use a 2 wheel dolly to move it. I did myself, and yes can take up to 10 hours to do. I've done it now a couple of times and know how to get it in and out-I can get the radiator out in about 4 hours. The biggest pain is draining the coolant. If you have silicone hoses, don't replace them since they are already seated. If not, replace with Gates green stripe hoses. Good Luck, TomC

[robertglines1]

Only big factor would be if it had aux/drivers air condenser mounted on out side rad. Have done it to many times. You should be able to pull fan blade/box back far enough to clear shroud. 2 grand can go far in buying more glitz or other parts.  Bob

[Jon]

Rob,

At 72 I was able to change out my charge air cooler on my Prevost, a job that required me to pull the radiator as the two are installed as an assembly. I could not get a fork truck to the location so I simply built a ramp of 2 X 6 lumber, and pivoted and slid the assembly out so I could disassemble it.

It is no worse than trying to get 4 8D batteries at 173 pounds each up on a rack in the center of the coach. My point is don't try to be a hero and lift things, but slide, or lift with things like a floor jack or motorcycle jack. You could buy something to do the lifting with casters from Harbor Freight for a tenth of what they want for the R and R.

I did the radiator removal on my 87 Prevost which had an 8V92, but I don't remember it as a big deal. I worked alone but cannot remember the details so it couldn't have been too hard.

[chessie4905]

You may want to secure pieces of plywood to both faces when installing. You wouldn't want to have it slip when installing and tear up some fins.

[Skykingrob]

I don't have the aux/drivers air condenser but I do have the shutterstats. Any tricks to removing the shutterstats? They are stuck in the open position and those have to come off first before I can even see the radiator. I have noticed when the engine is running, the fan box pukes oil from the top mounted breather so I guess that means it needs attention as well. I did check the fluid level and it wasn't overfull. What oil do I use in it? As far as I know, after climbing under the coach and looking at the hoses, they look original from Prevost and aren't silicone but aren't green stripe either. One person mentioned taking lots of pictures first so things could be put back correctly, I think that is a good plan. We are supposed to get cold weather with possible snow the next couple of days after severe thunderstorms tonight. Once this is past and I know I will have some nice weather, I will tear into it.

Rob
91 Prevost XL 40
Missouri

[sixtyseven]

When I did mine I stacked blocks up to equal the height of the bottom mount and just slid it out onto the blocks. That worked good.  It was a tight fit through the opening.  I had to do one side first, then the other to get it out.  I used my backhoe to move it so I'm not sure how heavy it is.