My car was hit before I bought it. It was apparently hit right on the headlight door and that seams to be the only place that anything has been bent. My radiator core support is damaged on the drivers side and I think it is too bad to repar I would be affraid no one could ever get it strait for the price of one out of a junk yard.

Is the radiator core support (the very front steel piece) on third gens bolted in or welded in? I haven't taken out mine but I know it is too far gone and I want to go ahead and get it right the first time and replace it. I have a junk yard that has good clean cars that they keep on hand with clean bodys so I can get one that I know is strait but I wanted to know how they go in before I buy one and try to stick it on.

Thanks in advance.

 

Lots of spot welds.

 

How straight do you want it? 100%? A bodyshop could probably bend it back out; is it damaged that bad?? Can it hold a radiator?

 

My convertible was hit in the front before I bought it as well. Had it pulled out and a new radiator support welded back in for $700. The radiator support it self was less than $100. Well worth the moeny spent.

 

Well I have friends in the auto body industry I am thinking about having it looked at by one of them. It holds a radiator fine but and somewhat strait it is just dammaged on the drivers side but it is bad enough that I can't mount the headlight assy in it properly. I just want it done right that is my problem can weld it if it needs to be welded in. I am glad it is welded in it would make me nervous to think it was bolted in but it is going to make it hard to take out of the junk car.

 

If the metal is mearely disformed (aka.. enough to keep a headlight from mounting straight), and there is no sever buckle across the support... it is more than wise to have it pulled.

Cutting the radiator support severly compromises the integrity and to have a new one welded in is merely a band-aid to sell it to the next suck-- I mean buyer.

 

Well it could probably be pulled then I am just worried about someone getting it right. Would it be weaker to to have another core support welded in?