Just wanted to make sure I'm correct about something before I reassemble whatever I've already pulled off...

I searched high and low but couldn't find any DIY write-ups or videos about replacing the radiator of a 3.6 TDV8. Saw videos and write ups about other engine set-ups, but not the 3.6. Decided I'd go ahead in the hope that it wouldn't be all that different from the other models.

So I dove in and started pulling things off (viscous fan, coolant hoses, etc, and finally got to the point where I'm thinking, Hmmm... it certainly looks like the radiator and the condenser (and several other cooling parts) are encased in a plastic frame, and it looks like that entire frame has to be removed as one unit, requiring the draining of the cooling system. A look (finally) at the shop manual seems to confirm this. They refer to the unit as the "Cooling Module".

Is that about right? Any other ways to simply replace the radiator without emptying the a/c and removing the entire front of the vehicle?

Many thanks.

I've never done it any other way - also gives you an opportunity to clean out all the debris accumulated over the years.
There probably is a way of doing it, I'd imagine it'd be an 'awkward' to a 'PITA' in the FFRR repair scale though.