So my radiator started leaking... AGAIN

on my 1998 Manual 5DR AWD.
This is number three to go in the car. One got a leak from some interference.
Another was second hand from a wrecker... lasted 2 years.
So the last two times I've done this job I followed advice from here and elsewhere to remove the condenser and hence make space to remove the rad.
Where I live right now a air-con regas is $280 bucks... not gonna happen.
Removing the condenser makes this job WAY easier. It is a 1.5 hour job if you do. I'm cheap and my time isn't worth much so I tried another way. It took around 5 hours to get it done with some stuffing around included.
This way probably won't work on the auto version as there is more interference from the transmission cooling lines.
Essentially you need to make enough room for the left fan to come out from between the engine and the rad.
See below for what I removed to make the space. I also removed the exhaust manifold heat shield. Important to remove the support that attaches to the hood latch.
You can then shuffle the right hand fan over to clear the lower rad pipe. With the condenser unbolted there is juuuust enough room to lift the radiator out from between the frame and condenser with some jiggling.
New rad didn't go in without some bent fins but that is a trade off I'm willing to make.
Hope this helps someone.