Hey guys, have a couple probs. Below is a pic of what my car looks like right now, I have 75% of the paint stripped, the interior mostly torn out and panels removed. Keep in mind I am currently learning, my first project car. The car at some point was in an accident as the radiator support is completely twisted and warped. Even though nobody can tell when all the panels are on, the friggin support is weak and rusted to hell. Worst part of the car. I know someone who can sell one to me for 200$. Here's my prob, not a welder... welding a new one on...is that an expensive job?

And BTW, my bumper is welded onto the frame on some random parts. Is it suppose to be that way? Doesn't look like it from the many pics I've seen.

Thanks for the help peeps.

 

No, the bumpers are just bolted on the frame horns. 4 bolts each side.

 

Aw man... you serious? SOB!! I've been noticing that even though this car is a great shape for a 22 year old maritime car, it looks like it was put together with a lot of cut corners. Most of which weren't bad, a few bolts , washers and plastic pieces missing here and there, but my front end (from radiator support and to bumper) just doesn't look salvageable. Spent lots on this alreayd, anyone have any suggestions? I'll post pics of the welds later on tonight

 

Saw-zall or torch the bad parts

Get your donor parts lined up and measure multiple times or your work will look like this car when your done

And be sure to spray some sort of paint on your fresh welds immediately after you make them.

 

What? Other than that, does my car look THAT bad? keep in mind it is a project car.

Oh and... the guy who can give me the radiator support from a 1987 iroc (with lot of good parts), will chop off the radiator support (with a new small chrome intercooler attached, bonus) and the bumper for 200$.

Does this sound like the most decent thing to do? I've cut steel before but not like this, so I'll watch him do it, then I'll do mine. Now.. unless welding can be an easy job, I'll have to search among my friends who can do such a job.

 

Yeah its pretty bad

Both side of your front and radiator area are twisted dented and mashed

Its been hit and repired a few times

Looks at the drivers wheel, the camber is nuts

Im not cracking on your project, just dont want your completion to be another project in the end by a "Why wont this part fit"

Thats about 4x what the whole front frame is worth, your paying extra for the parts that are still attached. Remove them unless you need them

Get him to chop it near the middle of the shock towers.

Get yourself a decent Saw-Zall from walmart and a ton of metal blades. You will use alot

Use masking tape and sharpies to mark your cuts before you do them. Try to avoid blunt end-to-end joints. THey are weak and rely soley on the weld.
Instead overlap the thin sheetmetal when you cut it

When you do your precision cuts you need to take your time. He will likely do a quick CHOP to get the car out of his sight ASAP. Welding is an easy job if you do it right

Since you ask that, Id assume youve never picked up a welder before. Nothing wrong with that, just its hard to tell you easy job vs hard job if you dont know how to do it

A friend with a welder or a trusted exhaust shop should help you

Dont count on the exhaust shop thou, they have a TON of liability if they do something structural to the car

Good luck and keep the pics comming, restoration is always a good thread

 

Ok, thanks for the tips. Rather have tips and truth.

I think the whole rad support was damaged in one hit, All the joints on the Rad support are twisted in the same direction. But regardless, the front is indeed a mess.

As for the camber, I'm assuming it's an adjustment thing, both wheels camber equally, so I'm guessing it's nothing major.

What you're saying which seems like really good info here, is how you're telling me where to cut it. So you're in simpler words saying I should cut a bigger piece of the front end frame, right in front of the strut tower, sparing the wheels, and cut towards thicker parts of the metal to keep the welds solid right?

Yeah, I'll definitely take your opinion on carefully measuring, lol. As for cutting, I have quite a few pieces for cutting steel. I have a couple angle grinders, a reciprocating saw and 2 jigsaws with steel cutting blades. I was under the impression an angle grinder would do a better job. You seem to have a lot more experience, so you sure a reciprocating saw would be ideal?

And you're right about welding, that's my big downfall. I've never done it and have no clue. I know you need a whole course to know how to use them, have a few friends who know a bit more than the basics, so yeah, If it's not crazy hard for them, I'll get them to help out.

 

Yes you need to chop a bigger piece than you need and accurately cut it down once you get it home

I wouldnt cut it infront of the towers but instead right ontop of it

More bolt holes to align it back together with

Use both angle grinder and recip saw

You will use the saw more thou, the grinder sends alot of heat and is not very good at a precision cut

You dont NEED a course to do a good weld, and Ive seen many who did take it and STILL couldnt weld

Practice makes perfect, this sheetmetal is very thin and would burn thru very easy. Thats why its not a good first timer thing