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Who has replaced rad support

Sahara

Sahara

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1970 Coronet.
It’s a 318 car we’re converting to 440. Original a 22 inch rad, converting to 26.
While my stripped body shell was in storage, someone backed into it, kinking the front rad support. Not just the bottom, the entire thing. Since I have to convert to 26 inch rad anyway, my plan is to replace the entire front rad support. What a freakin’ job that is!
And yet, body shops must have done this all the time back in the day. Has anyone here actually done it? It’s all attached to the front frame rails with spot welds, but there are three layers of metal where it attaches to the frame rails. I am patiently drilling and grinding spot welds, but it is a long, tedious process. Is this how it was done? If I was paying a body shop hourly rate to do this I would be broke, yet they must have done it.
No, I’m not just cutting a 26 inch hole in what I have. It is kinked and cracked.
 
That is not a hard job. You will just have to replace the passenger side for your 26" conversion, AMD sells that piece. And then take good measurements before drilling the spot welds on your damaged parts. Maybe leave the hood on for reference gaps. Remember that the upper piece will have the important #'s stamped into it if you want to graft it to your new piece....
 
I made my own for my 65.

179052AC-5E1E-4EA3-A238-723FBC3FAB2B.jpeg
 
hunt2elk said:
You will just have to replace the passenger side for your 26" conversion
Click to expand...

??? BOTH sides are different on my '69 !!!

Since the whole thing is damaged, carefully remove it as you're doing. The replacement unit comes with everything you're cutting off and it comes pre-welded except for the bottom crosspiece. Re-installing it is not a problem. Hopefully you took some measurements first !!
 
Find a Hemi radiator support and you are 1/4 way to having a hemi car.
 
I actually made a conscious decision NOT to build a hemi car. Much like Camaro and belly buttons they are becoming common. If I have to do common I’ll do a 440. Although I would have considered a modern hemi but I started building this poor car before they even existed.
 
Sahara said:
1970 Coronet.
It’s a 318 car we’re converting to 440. Original a 22 inch rad, converting to 26.
While my stripped body shell was in storage, someone backed into it, kinking the front rad support. Not just the bottom, the entire thing. Since I have to convert to 26 inch rad anyway, my plan is to replace the entire front rad support. What a freakin’ job that is!
And yet, body shops must have done this all the time back in the day. Has anyone here actually done it? It’s all attached to the front frame rails with spot welds, but there are three layers of metal where it attaches to the frame rails. I am patiently drilling and grinding spot welds, but it is a long, tedious process. Is this how it was done? If I was paying a body shop hourly rate to do this I would be broke, yet they must have done it.
No, I’m not just cutting a 26 inch hole in what I have. It is kinked and cracked.
Click to expand...
Remember its a radiator none are made as well as our Forefathers just have to deal.
 
Stanton said:
??? BOTH sides are different on my '69 !!!

Since the whole thing is damaged, carefully remove it as you're doing. The replacement unit comes with everything you're cutting off and it comes pre-welded except for the bottom crosspiece. Re-installing it is not a problem. Hopefully you took some measurements first !!
Click to expand...
Are you positive that the drivers side on your 22" is different than the 26" you are installing?
 
Its funny ppl have to Learn to build again like our fathers and Grandfathers figured out back in the day.
 
hunt2elk said:
That is not a hard job. You will just have to replace the passenger side for your 26" conversion, AMD sells that piece. And then take good measurements before drilling the spot welds on your damaged parts. Maybe leave the hood on for reference gaps. Remember that the upper piece will have the important #'s stamped into it if you want to graft it to your new piece....
Click to expand...
Dang you would hate me.
 
Sahara said:
1970 Coronet.
It’s a 318 car we’re converting to 440. Original a 22 inch rad, converting to 26.
While my stripped body shell was in storage, someone backed into it, kinking the front rad support. Not just the bottom, the entire thing. Since I have to convert to 26 inch rad anyway, my plan is to replace the entire front rad support. What a freakin’ job that is!
And yet, body shops must have done this all the time back in the day. Has anyone here actually done it? It’s all attached to the front frame rails with spot welds, but there are three layers of metal where it attaches to the frame rails. I am patiently drilling and grinding spot welds, but it is a long, tedious process. Is this how it was done? If I was paying a body shop hourly rate to do this I would be broke, yet they must have done it.
No, I’m not just cutting a 26 inch hole in what I have. It is kinked and cracked.
Click to expand...
Learn well don't just cut.
 
hunt2elk said:
Are you positive that the drivers side on your 22" is different than the 26" you are installing?
Click to expand...

I still have the originals I removed but I didn't install the replacements (made my own flat panels) and sold them BUT I'm positive both sides were different.
 
Sahara said:
1970 Coronet.
It’s a 318 car we’re converting to 440. Original a 22 inch rad, converting to 26.
While my stripped body shell was in storage, someone backed into it, kinking the front rad support. Not just the bottom, the entire thing. Since I have to convert to 26 inch rad anyway, my plan is to replace the entire front rad support. What a freakin’ job that is!
And yet, body shops must have done this all the time back in the day. Has anyone here actually done it? It’s all attached to the front frame rails with spot welds, but there are three layers of metal where it attaches to the frame rails. I am patiently drilling and grinding spot welds, but it is a long, tedious process. Is this how it was done? If I was paying a body shop hourly rate to do this I would be broke, yet they must have done it.
No, I’m not just cutting a 26 inch hole in what I have. It is kinked and cracked.
Click to expand...
Drop in one day, pickup the ham radio and other stuff, also the rad support from one of the 66-7 charger parts cars, you’ll get a good deal.
 
Stanton said:
I still have the originals I removed but I didn't install the replacements (made my own flat panels) and sold them BUT I'm positive both sides were different.
Click to expand...
My memory isn't as good as it used to be and you are probably correct. About 10 years ago we did a couple of the same conversions as you are doing. One on a 70 Cuda and another on a 69 Road Runner. I am positive we only replaced the right side. We must have figured the left was close enough to modify without replacing.
 
The left is probably "close enough" but its not "the same"
 
The problem I have is that someone backed into it with a sharp object of some sort, kinking the entire thing enough to crack it. Not a deep bend, nothing else damaged, but it would be a major hassle to fix the kink and cracks AND replace the side panel.
I actually had a new side panel, was just going to replace that as per Facebook and the internet
but by the time I replaced the side panel and bodyworked what I had I would still be into it deep. So I sold it to someone here. One of my parts cars had a very cherry rad support so I cut the frame rails and now have it in my shop, drilling spot welds in the right sequence to get it apart. But jeez, did they really have to assemble this in layers AND random spot welds all over the place?
One good thing, I bought a bag of no name spot weld drill bits on eBay. Cheap. These things work super slick. Seconds to drill a spot weld. They are hard and brittle, though. They will chip if you aren’t careful.
 
Sahara said:
1970 Coronet.
It’s a 318 car we’re converting to 440. Original a 22 inch rad, converting to 26.
While my stripped body shell was in storage, someone backed into it, kinking the front rad support. Not just the bottom, the entire thing. Since I have to convert to 26 inch rad anyway, my plan is to replace the entire front rad support. What a freakin’ job that is!
And yet, body shops must have done this all the time back in the day. Has anyone here actually done it? It’s all attached to the front frame rails with spot welds, but there are three layers of metal where it attaches to the frame rails. I am patiently drilling and grinding spot welds, but it is a long, tedious process. Is this how it was done? If I was paying a body shop hourly rate to do this I would be broke, yet they must have done it.
No, I’m not just cutting a 26 inch hole in what I have. It is kinked and cracked.
Click to expand...

Yep, lots of work. Above my pay grade so I farm it out. Takes the correct tools and knowledge to do it correctly and I don't have either.
DSC_3980 (Large).JPG
DSC_4437 (Large).JPG
 
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