Need some ideas of how to fix this-

[DLo Eric]

Here's my situation. Basically I have a bent radiator support thats smashed up all on the passenger side where the pop ups are located. Also, I'll be replacing the hood latch bracket and the bumper support arms.

Judging from the pics, whats the best route to take on this?

http://members.cox.net/dloeric/Smashed/P3280011.JPG
http://members.cox.net/dloeric/Smashed/P3280014.JPG
http://members.cox.net/dloeric/Smashed/P3280016.JPG

I was thinking of bringing it to a body shop to get fixed but its not that big of a deal.

I'm open to any ideas to get it straight since I'm waiting to get these bad boys in
http://members.cox.net/dloeric/Smashed/P3280022.JPG

[mrmephistopheles]

Take it to a bodyshop?

Seriously if you want any of your panels to line up right (which seems apparent as you're planning a front swap to Kouki 14), you'll want this done professionally.

[koukimonster139]

rad. support is flimsy as shit when everything that is bolted to it is removed. you could bend it back by hand.

if you want your shit to line up good like perfect you're either A: going to spend a shit load of time working that one out or B: buy one and replace it. not hard either

[mrmephistopheles]

rad. support is flimsy as shit when everything that is bolted to it is removed. you could bend it back by hand.

if you want your shit to line up good like perfect you're either A: going to spend a shit load of time working that one out or B: buy one and replace it. not hard either


That might be a good course of action if his core support was the only thing messed up.
His bodyframe is tweaked.

[s13silvia123]

i have the same problem on mine too but i have the tools to do it. the frist time when that happen to me i pulled it out it cost me nothing. it worked and lining up the fenders, headlights bumper was close to how it was when it wasnt like that.

[koukimonster139]

That might be a good course of action if his core support was the only thing messed up.
His bodyframe is tweaked.


nah in the second picture, you can clearly see the right side rail is virtually untouched as well as the lower part of the rad. support

[Chernobyl]

That'll buff right out.

Seriously though, you can probably pull most of that out yourself and have it line up pretty well (I've done this a few times with no previous experience), or just take it to a body shop, where some guy will most likely do the same thing you can do, except he'll do it faster.

[SC_S13]

yea how do you tell when your frame is tweaked? i have the same problem lol just a little more severe.

[mrmephistopheles]

nah in the second picture, you can clearly see the right side rail is virtually untouched as well as the lower part of the rad. support


I guess unibody is the word I'm searching for. Look at the fender and how the course it's taking is radically different from stock. The framerails are fine, I see that. The unibody is not though.

[Chernobyl]

yea how do you tell when your frame is tweaked? i have the same problem lol just a little more severe.

Find a frame diagram online and measure away...

I think I uploaded an S14 frame diagram on zilvia a long time ago. I don't know if Mark still hosts it or not though.

[smelly240]

BFH + Zipties... it'll get ya drunk!

[DLo Eric]

I guess unibody is the word I'm searching for. Look at the fender and how the course it's taking is radically different from stock. The framerails are fine, I see that. The unibody is not though.

Well the fender is curled up because the only thing stopping it was fiberglass. Cheap fiberglass. I was running a sleepy eye light sytem that had a plastic housing with the stock lid on top of it, so metal didnt force it in like that. Its basically bent in the spot when it caves in at.

As far as the top of the radiator support goes, its always been bent up since I bought it. Here's an old pic

http://members.cox.net/dloeric/Smashed/front.jpg

[projectRDM]

Replace the core support, takes under an hour.

While you're in there, bypass the starter relay, can't believe that shit's still in there.