How to Install a Mishimoto Radiator for a 1979-1993 Mustang 5.0L

1. Remove the mechanical fan and fan shroud.

• a. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
• b. Using the 7/16” wrench, loosen the four bolts holding the stock fan in place.

• Using the 18mm wrench (or crescent wrench), loosen the tension (see white arrow in photo above) and remove the serpentine belt.
• Remove only three of the fan bolts.
• Using the 3/8” wrench, remove the two fan shroud bolts.

• Disconnect the low coolant connecter from the overflow tank cap.

• Remove the overflow tank rubber hose from the radiator.

• Remove the bolt holding the fan in place and wiggle the fan loose.
• REMEMBER THIS STEP; YOU WILL HAVE TO REVERSE IT LATER. Lift the shroud and fan up and out of the car at the same time.

2) Drain the radiator.

CAUTION:do NOT drain the radiator when the engine is hot.

• Place a 15 quart drain pan under the car below the radiator drain petcock (on the passenger side of the radiator).
• Remove the radiator cap and slowly loosen the radiator drain petcock.

NOTE:if you open the petcock too much, coolant will flow quickly and splash out of the drain pan and onto the floor.

• Once coolant has stopped flowing, close the petcock and move the drain pan under the lower radiator hose.

• Using the 5/16” nut driver or adjustable pliers, disconnect the lower radiator hose at the radiator and allow the coolant to drain.

• Using the 5/16” nut driver or adjustable pliers, disconnect the upper radiator hose from the top of the radiator.

3) Remove the radiator.

• Using the 3/8” wrench, loosen the radiator bracket bolts and remove the brackets.

• Lift the radiator out of the car making sure not to dump any coolant out of the lower radiator opening.
• Pour any remaining coolant out of the lower radiator opening into the drain pan.
• OPTIONAL:at this point it is recommended that you replace the water pump with a heavy-duty version. That procedure is not covered in this guide.
• Using the 5/16” nut driver, loosely connect the new lower radiator hose to the water pump using a new hose clamp.

4) Install the new Mishimoto aluminum radiator.

NOTE:Take care not to bump the radiator against any objects (such as the water pump pulley – see photo). This will damage the cooling fins.

• Place the radiator on the rubber pads at the bottom of the radiator support.

• Secure the radiator using the brackets and bolts removed in step 3a.

NOTE: Once the brackets are bolted down, you may need to bend the brackets down to secure the radiator.

• Using the 5/16” nut driver, connect the lower radiator hose to the radiator using a new hose clamp.
• Using the 5/16” nut driver, tighten the lower radiator hose at the water pump.
• Using the 5/16” nut driver, connect the new upper radiator hose to the water pump and radiator using a new hose clamps.

5) Install the fan and fan shroud.

• Lower the shroud and fan together into place (reverse step 1i).

• Use two fan bolts to hold the fan in place.

• Position the shroud against the new radiator.

• Use two new M6 bolts, flat washers, split washers, and nuts (or SAE equivalent) to attach the stock shroud to the radiator.

• Use two new M6 bolts, washers, and nuts (or SAE equivalent) to attach the bottom of the shroud to the radiator.
• Install the serpentine belt.
• Install the remaining fan bolts and tighten all four.
• Connect the rubber hose from the overflow tank to the radiator.
• Connect the low coolant connector to the overflow tank cap.

6) Fill the radiator.

• Using a 50/50 coolant solution, slowly fill the radiator until the solution almost reaches the top.
• Connect the battery cable.
• Leave the radiator cap off and start the car.
• Slowly pour more coolant into the radiator until it almost reaches the top.
• Secure the radiator cap to the radiator and allow the car to reach operating temperature.
• Allow the engine to cool.
• Once the engine is cool, remove the radiator cap and fill the radiator with Coolant.

(WITH A MISHIMOTO LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM SHROUD KIT W/ DUAL HIGH FLOW 12IN FANS)