Hi all.. I recently picked up a 96 coupe, which appeared to be in great condition.. shortly after inspecting behind the bumper I noticed the bottom of the radiator core support has been pushed up, and the toe hooks are bent.. so it pushed the top where the hood latches upward a bit as well..

So, I went to a local body shop and asked if they could pull it down to straighten it out, because that's obviously the only thing that needs to be done.. so they go on telling me they can't do that because of liability, and they would need to replace the whole core support for 700.. I said I'd sign a waiver to void any liability and they started getting bitchey saying "WE JUST CAN'T DO THAT".. so I said forget it and left. Anyway, I was wondering what you guys would suggest.

Here's a picture, you can't really see the major damage because of the intercooler.. but if you compare the top support where the hood latches to the pic below it, you'll notice how it was pushed up.. the piece behind the intercooler is horizontally (

 

up for ideas

 

dude im a bodyman thats easy and u dont half 2 replace the support take out intercooler rad etc get a big hammer and a block of wood place wood on bent spot and beat out untill stright its honda metal it moves easy just dont beat the **** out of it and take the time 2 check what your doing it will b fine even bent as little as i can c its minor long as the hood shuts your good

 

I was thinking about that also, but this is how mine is bent:


the bottom part is strong as hell.. i don't think i'd be able to budge it with a block and hammer

 

I'd go get a second opinion with another shop with a frame machine. This doesn't look like a daily driver anyway. I'd try to trailer it there if possible to imply that you don't drive it on the street. That way they'd be a little cooler about the situation. I dunno. Just an idea.

 

yep frame pull from body shop. Shouldn't cost much.

looks sick the way it sits!

 

the car with slicks on it is muddyburns.. and yeah, it was an 11 second D16z6

I don't think the shop I went to actually had a frame machine

 

you can get a wench or whatever they're called and pull it yourself

 

I thought about doing that but since it needs tone pulled downward I wasn't sure how to do that safely... Any ideas?

 

that front xmember/radiator support should never be repaired. Once it's bent you have to replace it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nostreble &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that front xmember/radiator support should never be repaired. Once it's bent you have to replace it</TD></TR></TABLE>

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i dont get it

 

i kinda had the same kind of problem. i had gotten into an accident just replace it. once its bent its done...








i just got the support the other day.

 

did u cut da old rad support out?u gonna spot weld backon?

 

why are you so concerned about the lower part of the rad support? i would just straighten the top support so that the hood closes flush and properly and foget abot it!

nice big *** sledge hammer will do wonders! but if you go too far, cherrypick it! or take it to a frame puller.