- Jul 20, 2014
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Need Advice
- Thread starter theshadow007
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More pictures please..lol...
Honestly that support doesn't look terrible,I would try to straighten it before replacing it. Guy on here name Dave would have the best info/advice/recomendations on that core support,I'll tag him-if he's available,he may stop by... A drill and tap set are handy tools to own,and would be cheaper than paying a shop to do it, @jrichker has a few good write ups on broken bolt extractions,might give him a search..
When you add more pics my opinion may change lol
@Davedacarpainter
Honestly that support doesn't look terrible,I would try to straighten it before replacing it. Guy on here name Dave would have the best info/advice/recomendations on that core support,I'll tag him-if he's available,he may stop by... A drill and tap set are handy tools to own,and would be cheaper than paying a shop to do it, @jrichker has a few good write ups on broken bolt extractions,might give him a search..
When you add more pics my opinion may change lol
@Davedacarpainter
There's a guy here that put a tubular lower support in if you're interested in something like that. @90sickfox
Talk to him, if you want to go that route, you won't have to worry about it some things.
If you want to go stock, I'll give you what advice I can.
Talk to him, if you want to go that route, you won't have to worry about it some things.
If you want to go stock, I'll give you what advice I can.
- Jul 20, 2014
- 19
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Here a couple of more photos, as you can see the radiator pads are bent
Attachments
- Jul 20, 2014
- 19
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You could go hillbilly bubba repair on it. You might be surprised how well it can come out. Here goes;
To me it looks mainly like the bottom part of the support got pushed in a bit. Put the old rad back in so you can get some water in the engine. Wrap a chain or strap around the bent parts and tie the other end to a stout tree. Give it some slack, then back up and yank it back into position. Gently at first until you gradually get it where it should be. Other small kinks in parts can be knocked back into place with a hammer or combination hammer / punch. Metal will move. You'll be surprised how in many cases it likes to go back where it came from. Depending on what needs to be moved, wood blocks, bottle jacks and come-a-longs can move things around too. Got nothing to loose in my opinion
To me it looks mainly like the bottom part of the support got pushed in a bit. Put the old rad back in so you can get some water in the engine. Wrap a chain or strap around the bent parts and tie the other end to a stout tree. Give it some slack, then back up and yank it back into position. Gently at first until you gradually get it where it should be. Other small kinks in parts can be knocked back into place with a hammer or combination hammer / punch. Metal will move. You'll be surprised how in many cases it likes to go back where it came from. Depending on what needs to be moved, wood blocks, bottle jacks and come-a-longs can move things around too. Got nothing to loose in my opinion
Let's start with the reinforcements. Those are where the radiator pads are attached to. It goes all the way up and behind the headlights and are the actual pieces attached to the frame rails. If you buy a new radiator support, you'll get the "face" of the support with the center lower boxed in section. Notice that the pads are attached to a panel on each side that has been spot welded on to the core support.
I don't know of any replacements out there for the reinforcements besides a salvage yard.
When you say the radiator pad brackets are bent, they're really not. It's the support and reinforcements that are bent back. Look in the lower corners, everything behind the face of the support and attached to the frame rails are the supports. Yours are bent quite a bit. Frankly, the face is in better condition than the supports.
One of two ways to fix this. One is like what John mentioned, you could hook up to a solid object and back up. This will help bring it back to the right place. The supports will still be a little bit wrinkled looking.
The other way will take some work. Everything attached to the core support and it's support brackets will need to be taken off. Then you'll have to cut all of the spot welds holding these three panels to the inner fenders and frame rails.
Once the support is off, you'll need to separate the reinforcements away from the main panel. Then you'll need to basically beat them flat and straight again. Once they're nice and straight, you'll weld the supports onto the inner fenders and frame rails, then weld the radiator support onto the reinforcements and inner fenders. With the buckle you have in the reinforcements, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to weld an extra flat piece of metal to them after they have been straightened. This will help regain the strength of the original steel.
Again, i don't know of anyone selling the reinforcements.
This brings up a third option. Find a salvage that has some fox bodies and get the front pieces off of them. Then you'll need to clean up the parts and remove the parts still attached that you won't be using and weld it in.
If you want more help with this, just holler at me.
I don't know of any replacements out there for the reinforcements besides a salvage yard.
When you say the radiator pad brackets are bent, they're really not. It's the support and reinforcements that are bent back. Look in the lower corners, everything behind the face of the support and attached to the frame rails are the supports. Yours are bent quite a bit. Frankly, the face is in better condition than the supports.
One of two ways to fix this. One is like what John mentioned, you could hook up to a solid object and back up. This will help bring it back to the right place. The supports will still be a little bit wrinkled looking.
The other way will take some work. Everything attached to the core support and it's support brackets will need to be taken off. Then you'll have to cut all of the spot welds holding these three panels to the inner fenders and frame rails.
Once the support is off, you'll need to separate the reinforcements away from the main panel. Then you'll need to basically beat them flat and straight again. Once they're nice and straight, you'll weld the supports onto the inner fenders and frame rails, then weld the radiator support onto the reinforcements and inner fenders. With the buckle you have in the reinforcements, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to weld an extra flat piece of metal to them after they have been straightened. This will help regain the strength of the original steel.
Again, i don't know of anyone selling the reinforcements.
This brings up a third option. Find a salvage that has some fox bodies and get the front pieces off of them. Then you'll need to clean up the parts and remove the parts still attached that you won't be using and weld it in.
If you want more help with this, just holler at me.
- Jul 20, 2014
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Thanks Davedacarpainter, that is the explanation I was looking for. Not sure which direction I want to go yet. Good thing it's only February!!! Anybody know of good salvage yard? I live in the Columbus, Ohio area. I would be willing to drive some distance.
Thanks again for the help.
Thanks again for the help.
I partly agree with this idea however DO NOT BACK YOUR CAR UP!! The right way to do it is to park the front of your car about 8ft from a sturdy tree. Wrap a comealong around the tree and around your core support. Make sure the wheels are chocked so the car wont move forward. Make sure cable on comealong is parallel to the ground before winching. Begin winching slowly and keep a close eye on the core support so you don't over pull the core support. Keep an eye on your fenders for movement and keep an eye out for metal tearing at your core support (not good but repairable).
I've done this before with great success. I go the extra step and tack weld a puller bracket on the damaged area that I attach the comealong to. I can grind the welds off the bracket and relocate it to other areas if necessary to get the job done.
- Jul 20, 2014
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Quick update. Found a body shop who was willing to do some work on the side. After about an hour and half, he had the reinforcement straightened out to where it is usable. Was cheap, cost more to have it towed. Test fit my old radiator with the fan shroud and it fits well. Next question, so I am putting in an all aluminum SR radiator, and I understand it is recommended to use a ground wire. I worry about corrosion/rust on the frame attachment portion, any advice on the attachment point (coatings, etc.)?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Well good for you man
Depends if you want it body color or not.
If not, sand it down and put some POR15 on it. That's some good stuff. It'll last as long as it isn't exposed to the sun. If it is, wait till it dries and put a top coat on it. It really seals up the surface it covers.
Depends if you want it body color or not.
If not, sand it down and put some POR15 on it. That's some good stuff. It'll last as long as it isn't exposed to the sun. If it is, wait till it dries and put a top coat on it. It really seals up the surface it covers.
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