Sorry for being so vague. I have an '83 Z28 and I had a bit of an accident last fall. I have the front facia off, but the cross beam that the radiator attaches to is bent back about 3-4 inches on the drivers side. I'm a do-it yourselfer, but I don't know how to handle this. Is this beam welded or bolted on? Anyone have any suggestions on fixing it? If it's bolted I'll probably get one from salvage. thanks

 

I believe you are refering to the core support which is welded. It is an intregral part of your cars unibody.

 

1. Find a big tree
2. Find a big "towing" chain (they won't snap)
3. Pull up to the tree
4. Wrap the chain in a bunch of towels so you don't kill the tree
5. Loop the chain around the tree, and attach it to the bent piece.
6. Put the car in reverse
7. Nudge the pedal until the piece straightens itself. Don't floor the gas or you'll have worse problems.

Or grab a hammer & start whacking at it. Or ask a bodyshop to pull it forwards. I take no reponsibility for what happens to you/your car/the tree for the procedure above


Oh- got another idea for ya- a hydraulic floor jack. If you can brace it from behind somehow, use the jack to push the rad support forward. This is similar to what a body shop would do, but they'd use a "porta-power" (push or pull, whatever they feel like) and not a regular floor jack.

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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

[This message has been edited by TomP (edited May 23, 2001).]

 

same ****, very pissed.

will get repaired, then tell you how it went
laters.....

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91 FireBird 305 V-8
no true mods,
ghetto rigged cold air intake,
"My G/f Once Wanted To Break Up Because Of Competition With The Car."
GheTTo Riggers INC.
We Make Mcgyver look Like Crap

 

My core support was bent in when I bought the car. The guy hit a deer with it and bent the support in, destroyed the fiberglass hood, and cracked the bumper cover up pretty bad. Anyways, I had it pulled back out at a body shop and it looks pretty good, the hood and the bumper cover don't line up perfectly, but most don't anyways. I got mine done for free, so I don't know how much it would cost, but I would recommend having a shop do it if you can afford it.

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'83 Z28
305 4bbl
TH-700R4
3.23 posi (ok, L/S)
no mods... yet

 

WASSSSSSSSSSap.
im happy. $150ish.
try and get before and after pics...

------------------
91 FireBird 305 V-8
no true mods,
ghetto rigged cold air intake,
"My G/f Once Wanted To Break Up Because Of Competition With The Car."
GheTTo Riggers INC.
We Make Mcgyver look Like Crap