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Bent lower rad support

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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 04:26 PM
  #1  
Matt trans am's Avatar
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Bent lower rad support

Alright so long story short.... Body shop I got my car painted decided to jack the front of the car up on the bottom of the rad support. It is bent in on the middle of the plate. Is there an easy way of fixing it. Nothing else looks damaged its just my peace of mind. Do i have to remove rad. This part has the lower valance that attaches to it. Its an 85 trans am.
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 06:03 PM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

So a body shop bent it and they aren't capable of fixing their mistake? pictures would help to see what we are dealing with.

-heat and a hammer will bring it back down
-a porta power set can be used to bend it back depending on the bend
-hell I even think taking the radiator and condenser out and jumping on the bend would probably get you close.
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 06:13 PM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

Cars at garage getting new suspension installed. I'm gonna give them ****. It cracked the fan shroud too. Nothing to be scared of structure wise? It looks more esthetic
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 07:08 PM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

Structure wise it should be fine but depending on the severity of the bend it could have cracked the metal in some points on the radiator support itself, not a big deal though, just bend it back and weld the cracks. I also wouldn't be surprised if your radiator cracked as well.
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 07:54 PM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

Mine is bent in a similar manner as well. Happened before I bought it and didn't see it until I was under the car after I bought it. Hopefully there is an easy way to fix it. Just haven't had time to dedicate to figuring out a way to correct it. Maybe somebody with experience with this issue can chime in soon.
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 08:12 PM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

Frame shop; just pull it back out. (hahaha)
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 09:21 PM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

long 2x4 and a sledge hammer will do wonders.
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 10:52 PM
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Transmission: Pro-built 700R4
Axle/Gears: GTA: 3.27, T/A: 2.73
Re: Bent lower rad support

Originally Posted by redneckjoe
long 2x4 and a sledge hammer will do wonders.
Honestly, that was the line of thinking I was considering going with.
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 11:26 PM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

is that the car you bought from Jared?

seriously, they're usually pretty easy to straighten out. if its bent backwards, put a chain on it and wrap it around a tree, put the car in reverse and lightly give it some gas. its just thin sheetmetal.
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 11:41 PM
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Engine: GTA: 350 w/Vortec heads, T/A: 305
Transmission: Pro-built 700R4
Axle/Gears: GTA: 3.27, T/A: 2.73
Re: Bent lower rad support

Yes, it is the car I got from him. The radiator isn't cracked so I don't think its too bad. Should be relatively easily fixable.

He still owes me for the broken front GFX, but I doubt I'll ever get paid for it. Just one of a few issues that he failed to disclose. But then again, some people have no sense of honor or integrity. I've given him several opportunities to correct the issue but he refuses to.
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Old Oct 26, 2016 | 12:00 AM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

karma is a beatch! he should have made things right by now.
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Old Oct 26, 2016 | 05:39 AM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

I fixed one in the same shape with a 2x4 and a sledge hammer.
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Old Oct 27, 2016 | 07:04 AM
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Re: Bent lower rad support

Originally Posted by blacksunshine'91
Mine is bent in a similar manner as well. Happened before I bought it and didn't see it until I was under the car after I bought it. Hopefully there is an easy way to fix it. Just haven't had time to dedicate to figuring out a way to correct it. Maybe somebody with experience with this issue can chime in soon.
I bought one just like that. Mine was actually bent enough that the radiator was all bent up but surprisingly not cracked/leaking.

Originally Posted by redneckjoe
long 2x4 and a sledge hammer will do wonders.
That's pretty much what I did with mine. I had a second radiator and found that it wouldn't fit/4th gen cooling fan swap wouldn't fit without doing something, so I literally took a few boards, a pry bar and a sledge hammer and pounded it back into place. It's not perfect but it's VERY close.
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