I have a new-to-me 1984 Z28 Camaro. When I bought it it had a janky aftermarket mechanical fan instead of the oem electric fan. I tracked an OEM fan down, and it doesn't fit, the lower mounts don't line up. That's when I noticed the lower radiator support is bent straight up, directly in the middle. No other visible damage. I did notice it also has an aftermarket radiator. I suspect somebody at one time tried jacking the car up from the lower rad support and ruined the support, electric fan, and the radiator.

Anywho, what's the procedure to fix this? I was going to take the radiator out, stick a 2x4 in there, and wail on it with a sledgehammer, does this seem reasonable or is there a better, less violent strategy?

 

Do you have a picture of how it is bent?

 

Good question. The metal will be "stretched", so without a way to "shrink" it, you may struggle to get it 100% straight. Without some hydraulic tools or floor anchors, I think I'd just apply a 2x4 as wide as the opening, and a large hammer.

 

I'm all for grabbing the hammer and trying to pound the heck out of it to get it back to shape. But maybe? A 2/4 and a 1/4 and a few big C-Clamps first to see if you can easy the offending bend back into shape?

 

I had the same problem... Yep... A 2x4 and a heavy hammer... Get it down so it does not interfere anymore... If you work it well... It's not really noticeable....

The bottom on my rad was bent... But not leaking... Didn't trust it so I got a replacement.
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Now this is an idea I can get behind. Definitely going to give this a try.

 

As said, 2x4 and hammer. It's sheet metal, not a structural I beam so it'll move easy, won't be perfect but it'll move.