I am putting my fans back in the car tomorrow and want to know if you can put the plastic holder in with the fans already mounted, or do you have to put the holder in, and then install the fans.

 

I have always removed/installed the fans as a unit. The whole thing just sits in some hooks on the side. You must have the radiator cover off, though. Do it from the bottom. You have to wrangle it by one of the radiator hoses, but it'll go.