265k and it's radiator time. It appears my skid plate is welded to the frame, maybe not a problem. What are the problems are: one piece radiator shroud, AC hoses, shroud, frame, inner fender, etc. seem to make it impossible to remove fourth shroud bolt- lower right side (passenger). It sounds easy from there on, except for the shroud. After all the praise for how easy it is, it's BS on the 4x4 w/ AC and this shroud!

The bolt in question, 10mm, can't be removed w/ ratchet by any deep socket or extensions I am aware of. Although I can get a deep socket on, there is no way to turn the ratchet. Do I need a trip to HF tobuy an eletric or pnumatic 1/4" drive just to do it?

The shroud is definitely one piece, do I need to remove grill? Then what? That sure looks like it's going to wreck the grill by breaking off all the press in connectors just to get it off, Since then there's then the radiator, is there a way to get that huge whole thing out with the front body cross parts in the way? I considered a sawzall on the shroud, diagonal cut, leaving 2 bolts on each piece for support, then Gorilla tape to rejoin. There has to be a better way! (I tried to get some decent photos illustrating the problems, but they don't show it well)

All advise for this particilar combination of Toyota wonderfulness is appreciated!

 

Is it possible to remove the fan and its clutch and take the radiator out straight up with the shroud still on it????

 

Yes, BUT: I have found it easier to unbolt the shroud, pull the small section on the bottom off, and move it back, and hang it on the idler for the PS pump.
THEN unbolt the fan, and slip it straight up-n-out. To do this, you'll need to loosen and let the belts hang on a rearward pulley, or something.
Step two, unbolting the fan from the clutch, may be skipped at your discretion, to give you handles to hang on to (the fan blades). I've found, however, it's easier to take the fan off the clutch. It gives you a lot more room to unbolt the clutch from the water pump. Luckily, my hands are big enough to "palm" the fan clutch, being able to control both halves of it. I do have very fat fingers, however, so need a lot of room to work in, and there's very little with the fan still on the clutch. Lucky for me, my lovely wife has very small, strong fingers, and was once an A&P mechanic, so she is a huge help in small work areas.
Then unbolt the fan clutch from the water pump.

To re-assemble, just reverse.

Does this help at all?
Pat☺

 

Sorry, but I don't have access to last, RH bottom fan shroud bolt, nor does skid plate come off, welded to frame as a front crossmember apparently (no bolts), so no access to fan without removing radiator. I might just breal off that part of the shroud if it come to it- shroud is one piece, not two pieces as commonly stated. As it's a 3.4 V6 the AC hoses are fairly bulky near fender, radiator and frame rail near that bolt so I can't rotate a wrench at all. box end, sockets with or without extensions. can't get to through fender rubber or bottom due to skid plate. Can get a socket on from top, but can't rotate wrench.
Once I get the shroud loose, there's no way to get it past the fan. Maybe cut shroud in half? And, as I said, tape it back together at top do reduce noise. no way to tape the bottom. (I thought putting a 140 amp GM alternator on my 85 2WD PU was a PITA; that took three weeks of free time)

SO, I need more advice.

 

Can't access the front of the fan, it's inside the shroud.