Hi all,
I am going to try to do a 3rd radiator install on Sunday as I have a track day next weekend. I literally have Sunday so I want to be sure I have everything ready to go and know what I am getting into. I recall seeing a good DIY but cannot seem to find it now can someone link it?

My biggest questions/concerns are do you need a pressure bleeder to bleed the system?

Does anyone have a DIY for making their own grill covers including the material to buy (I was thinking gutter guard but black is hard to find)?

 

I used straight up plastic gutter guard from home depot with small trim stainless retaining captured washer screws in the back of the bumper and it worked great. You dont need a pressure tester for the system its a vacuum filler, but the proper procedure to fill is with the heat on vacuum filling the system. You can do it without, parking the car on a steep incline with the vent open on the tank and then drive around for a little with the vent cracked. But there could trapped air in the system with this method that you cant get.

Vacuum filling guarantees perfect results.

All in its a super easy job. Put the car up - Open the coolant drain plug on the rear of the motor- keep the headlights in, remove the front bumper, remove the rad shrouds and horn, pull the radiator plugs, install the new kit, cut vents in your bumper so the air has some place to go from the new kit, vacuum fill, check for leaks, reinstall removed parts and enjoy. I did it the other night on my buddies car in about 2.5 hours in the dark.......

 

Use this DIY as your guide. I used it and found it fairly easy, time consuming, but nothing was technically difficult.
I also did not need a vacuum pump. I've also replaced the water pump and thermostat as preventative maintenance and did not use a pump during those procedures. Our cars have an excellent system to purge the air already.
I did make my own side grill covers using black metal screen from Home Depot. I did however use a Rennline center radiator cover. They had an extra one and it cost next to nothing. I did use their clip system on all 3 pieces. You can buy those separately and I highly recommend it. I tried making my own, but it was a no-brainer to use theirs.

Very doable in your timeline

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...carrera-s.html

Here is another:
https://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...paign=20140709

And on making the grill covers
https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...protector.html

 

Oh, and if you still have the bug to tinker after this to maximize the benefit of this radiator you might consider adding the GT3 pieces to direct airflow by modifying the area under the front bumper and adding the smile vent.
It might be more than you need, just wanted to throw that out there. I did not do it.https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...-radiator.html

 

I did the center radiator install on my 996 about a year ago - virtually the same procedure as on the 997. It is doable in one day, but it will be a long day. I would get it started on Saturday if you can, at least jack up the car and start pulling off the bumper cover. To me the hardest part on the 996 was connecting the Y-hoses on both sides, but the 997 design is simpler and does not use that Y hose connection.

I'm sure you will, but definitely take the time to clean out the area between the AC condensers and the side radiators. You won't believe how much crud gets sandwiched in there. Good luck.

 

Some material to read: http://murenae.com/cars-porsche-2/ and browse down...

Yves