Unibody Splitting Apart Right Front?

[vernvision]

I was doing some work and noticed what appeared to be the unibody splitting apart by the intercooler. I have owned this car since it was brand new in 1993 and its never been in any front end collision. I am wondering if this is supposed to be like this and if not then why this is occuring other than maybe hack mechanics that worked on it in the past from jacking perhaps. Please any of you with 1g's that have time take a look and tell me if there is any kind of a gap there. If this is a problem then I want to fix this before it gets worse! Thanks in advance!

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[Supa Dexta]

Yeah something's not right there. Mine is a closed seam, as it should be. There are spot welds along it too, that you should be able to see. Something messed that one up, But I'm not sure what.

 

[Defiant]

Bent where an idiot used a floor jack is my guess, too. No cause for panic. If you like, take the plastic off, run it to a muffler shop, and have them take a shot at it with their MIG. Ten bucks.

I just made a burn out past your place last week (well, Genoa. Stayed on Foothill off Kingsbury Grade). Windy as hell up 88.

 

[vernvision]

I am a welder too, and have my own MIG so I will pullit together and take care of it. I think I will weld a strap over it for overkill just to be sure it doesn't pull apart again. Thanks for the input and I will take a pic over the repair.

 

[bastarddsm]

that should have plug welds in it. drill a couple of 5/16" holes in the outer piece, but not through the inner parts. then vice grip it on either side of the hole and weld it. Thats how most bodyshops would do it.

 

[vernvision]

Ok I welded it back. I tried to use a big C clamp and laqrge vice grip clamps but I could barely get it to budge so I used a ford repair tool (hammer) and str5aightened it out. I burned it deep on my first pass so no need for holes unless I see it splitting again. I am sure that this was from an idiot mechanic jacking it on the fron cross member since it is tweaked a bit too. Here is a picture of my repair.

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[Defiant]

That should hold. Go ahead and put a layer of cold galvanize spray over it.

 

[vernvision]

I used a ceramic high heat black so I should be ok and thanks again for letting me know what was up so quickly saved me a lot of time!