I'm now on third attempt to find a radiator to actually install in my 96 Grand Caravan, 3.3. (no tow package so outlet on passenger side). The first one, from Advance Auto, was damaged by none other than UPS, they have experience at that. The second radiator, from my dependable local retailer, had a manufacturing anomaly that made it not fit because of a 3/8 inch mistake. The third one looks like a charm....almost.
The bottom of the OEM radiator has two flat metal tabs which the fan assembly rests on. On the OEM rad, those little tabs extend about an inch from the rad surface. They are fastened to the bottom of the rad with a weld. On the replacement, there's a funky system to squeeze a folded piece of metal into a slot on the bottom of the rad, but to do so requires crushing the cooling fin a bit and it really doesn't want to go in there regardless. Worse, these don't extend out half as far as the OEM, so I doubt they'd serve any purpose. I'm inclined to ignore them, ie, leave them out in reassembly.
Does anyone know just how desperately vital these little tabs are? There are several bolts attaching the fan assembly to the radiator and that's supported and bolted well of course. Isn't that enough? What purpose do these tabs serve? Should I worry about consequences if I don't use these funky folded clips?
BTW, the advice by a previous poster doing this job says the lower bolt on passenger side on front of the a/c condenser needs a 10mm ratcheting box wrench. That's pretty much true, but I managed with small hands and a wrench with a slight offset to do without. Removing the fans to make more space for the rad/condenser to move rearward does help significantly.
Thanks for any input.