Radiator recommendations?

[SVO LOU]

I was in the middle of changing the radiator in my 02 XC and got stuck, couldn't get it out of the top OR bottom. I have a donor car that I was going to use the radiator from so I tried to get it out of that one and got stuck at the same place, on the drivers side, either the hitting the condensor line at the bottom or the protruding part of the radiator (at the side of the tank), stumped.
Weather turned bad and I got side-tracked on other projects so I'm going to order one of those Nissens one before I get back on it, would've been worth it for me to at least try the used one but not after this fiasco.

[firstv70volvo]

I was in the middle of changing the radiator in my 02 XC and got stuck, couldn't get it out of the top OR bottom. I have a donor car that I was going to use the radiator from so I tried to get it out of that one and got stuck at the same place, on the drivers side, either the hitting the condensor line at the bottom or the protruding part of the radiator (at the side of the tank), stumped.
Weather turned bad and I got side-tracked on other projects so I'm going to order one of those Nissens one before I get back on it, would've been worth it for me to at least try the used one but not after this fiasco.

Good decision to order a new radiator because it's a decent amount of work to replace and a used radiator will have the aged plastic tanks and likely won't last as long as you'd like.

I think I know where you're getting stuck, I separated the radiator from the intercooler/condenser (4 bolts holding the sandwich together) hoping I could just support the intercooler and condenser and drop the radiator down and out. No go, had to drop down the intercooler/condenser most of the way too. I didn't want to drop down the condenser as far I did because it's still connected but it does have to drop down 1/2 or 3/4 of the way so the radiator can clear everything.
I think it does help to first support all three from the bottom and drop down some to better access a couple of the bolts to separate the radiator and then support the intercooler/condenser separately from the radiator, then lower the intercooler/condenser only as much as needed while working the radiator down through the obstacles.

[SVO LOU]

Initially I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, if the used one leaks it's just a radiator but you're right, definitely don't want to go through that again if you can help it.
You're right again on where I was getting stuck, I was definitely trying to leave the condenser in place because I didn't want to strain the hoses. I don't have a vacuum pump anymore so I shy away from any AC work these days.
Thanks