ok got into an accident hydroplaining..and now i think i needa change the radiator support...how hard is it to change these?? and how long would it take?? and also, do i have to flush and remove the radiator?? or what parts do i have to remove before i drill out the spot welds and remove the radiator support?? thanks

 

its a pain...I bought a wrecked car because the support was bent, I got it for 300...it was a pain

 

what stuff did you have to do before removing it??

 

radiatior, condenser, horn, and the body panels....thats about it on a 92 CX

 

what about a 96-00 civic??

 

do i have to flush out the radiator?? and how many spot welds are there gonna be?? im asking because im goin to be doin this at skool cause they got the tools and im hoping to do this within an hour and 30 minute span..thanks

 

chop off old front end and weld a used clip from another car to yours (radiator support)

 

will ANYTHING have to be fully takin out of as in can i drive my car and have my radiator working with the radiator support off?? im asking because incase i dont get a chance to finish it all at my skool and continue at home...what stuff hangs on the radiator support??

 

bump

 

I have a bent radiator support..

do I have to cut out the old support and weld in the new one?

 

i did a conversion myself and i had to change radiator support. Its a pain in the azz to remove the stock from the car. But welding and putting the new one on is much faster. Mine, i had to remove the radiator, honk, etc. basically everything in the front that sits on the radiator support.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cilvia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">will ANYTHING have to be fully takin out of as in can i drive my car and have my radiator working with the radiator support off?? im asking because incase i dont get a chance to finish it all at my skool and continue at home...what stuff hangs on the radiator support??</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you have to remove the radiator (which is pretty much a given), you will have to drain the radiator.

If you have the radiator support removed, I really don't think it's a good idea to be driving around. It's one of the structural components that keeps the front frame rails parallel. Remove it and they could start getting ideas about migrating in/out/up/down...

 

It's probably gonna take you more than one day to put in a new rad support. There are generally a good amount of spot welds that need drilled. You'll need to remove the headlamps, front cover, absorber, impact bar, condenser if you have A/C (evacuate/recharge), radiator (needs drained), fan assy(s), trans cooler (if you have one), sometimes minor things need moved like washer fluid resivoir etc... So all in all it'll probably take you 2 days or more unless you know your car well and have replaced a rad support before. Remember to measure before welding the new support in

 

just get a new car.. its gonna be hard for you to get everything lined up perfectly again

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vlc92189 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just get a new car.. its gonna be hard for you to get everything lined up perfectly again</TD></TR></TABLE>

Get a print out of an "under-hood diagram" with all the measurements. Clamp the new rad support in, make your measurements, and adjust from there. Make sure it's all lined up, tack weld it in so it won't move, then plug weld the hoe up! Good to go. Just be patient (spot welds are a bitch) and make sure you measure before welding or you'll have a big mess.

 

it will take you more than an hour and a half, it took about 2.5 to get mine off and then line it up, another 45 minutes or so weld it....It may help that I am a welder

 

any advice for me, cause im planning to remove the old radiator support at my house but will have to take it to skool to get it spot welded bak on...but like someone said im not gonna be having a radiator to cool down my car cause my skool is some what far...haha

 

i'm in the process of replacing the radiator support for my DA, here what i got so far...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cilvia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">any advice for me</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes.

Disassemble/drill the car at your school, if that's where you have to weld in the new support.

Otherwise... I see a flatbed tow in your future...

 

If your good with tools and have an idea on how to remove and install a rad support I say go for it. Its not that hard but dont expect it to be a breeze since this will be your first time. Dont worry about finishing this removal/installation in 2 hrs or even 2 days, it's not a race. Take your time and do it right

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by S2k Hybrid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If your good with tools and have an idea on how to remove and install a rad support I say go for it. Its not that hard but dont expect it to be a breeze since this will be your first time. Dont worry about finishing this removal/installation in 2 hrs or even 2 days, it's not a race. Take your time and do it right </TD></TR></TABLE>

Word to that. If you know what you're doing you can get it done in a day...but if you don't, just take your time. My very first rad support took me a day and a half.