Replacing Radiator Core Support on 1G?

[chnco]

Guys-

So my e-brake failed and it bent up my radiator core support among other things. Has anyone ever replaced one of these? What is involved? I've taken half of it off and there are like 50 welds that we had to drill out, but suggestions would be great! Thanks.

 

[2-0turbo]

Guys-

So my e-brake failed and it bent up my radiator core support among other things. Has anyone ever replaced one of these? What is involved? I've taken half of it off and there are like 50 welds that we had to drill out, but suggestions would be great! Thanks.

You're on the right track. Keep drilling. Use an air chisel with a spade bit to separate the sections once you think you've got them all apart. Pop the new piece in there and line up the features (holes, welds, etc.) Reweld and use seam sealer where the factory did.

 

[chnco]

is it a pain in the ass once the old one is off to line up the new one correctly?

 

[2-0turbo]

is it a pain in the ass once the old one is off to line up the new one correctly?

That depends on a lot of things. Did you rough pull out the old body work before cutting the support out? If you did, a little hammer/dolly work on the flanges and remaining sheet metal and some minor trimming is all that should be required.

If you didn't rough pull the item out into what it should look like, you'll have some work ahead of you. The best advice I can give you is don't get too concerned about the astetics. Make the pieces fit, make sure all the pieces you have removed bolt-in place, double check and then weld it in. It will be buried and you'll never see it again. Function is what you are looking for.