Hey guys,
Just wondering who has done this because I'm about to this weekend in order to re weld the JDM rad support. Anybody got any tips or suggestions????

THX

 

Just double check fitment and everything.........good luck should turn out just fine.

 

Yeah, ive done it twice, and it sucks. Use a big enough bit, aprox. the size of the spot welds and drill right through them. Use a crow bar and hammer to help pry it out. Thats about it! Your also gonna have to do some cutting to get the JDM headlights to fit.

 

Hey JDM_ITR,
If I have the JDM rad support, do I still have to do some cutting to get the lights to fit? I thought once the rad support was on and properly fit, it was simply a case of bolting everything back on? Am I wrong here?

 

You should't have to do any cutting to get the headlights to fit as for the spot welds they make a special bit to drill throught them.

 

You do have to cut a little bit on both sides to get the headlights to fit (not related to the radiator support though)

 

yes, you have to cut some even with the jdm radiator support.

 

What needs to be cut in order for the headlights to fit?????
I'm buying a kit off another individual who has already had it on his car and has had it fitted and everything.
Do you forsee any cutting with this project???

 

Just a question that I've always wondered, but when installing the J-spec bumper support in, how does the body shop get it all lined up right, so that everything looks right when the headlights and fenders and bumper are all bolted up? Is there some sort of guide or something somewhere, or something that the support sits on, to help get it lined up before welding?

 

Actually I'd like the know the same!
When I go to put everything on this weekend, how do I know it will all align. Is there a simple procedure like installing the hood and fenders and hten placing the rad support and bumper on so it is all flush?????

 

The placement of the USDM and the JDM rad support is exactly at the same spot...

what I did was, I spray painted the area around the upper part of the USDM support while it's still in the car with white color paint, then when I took out the USDM support, there's an outline along the firewall where you can place the JDM rad support. as long as the rad support is there, everything will lined up perfectly...

Notice the white paint mark




NOW, cutting spot welds is a bitch....trust me...

my suggestion is and I have done this before...

look at your USDM rad support....the headlights opening is the only thing that is helding the upper part of the rad support and the upper part is connected to the center part...WHICH are the only TWO parts that are different from USDM and JDM rad support...

so cut about 2-3" from the top of the upper part ON the vertical part of the headlight opening..you'll make 4 cuts, each for the vertical part of the 2 headlight opening...then remove the 2 spot welds on the center part that connect it to the lower beam support.

next remove about 2-3 spot welds on each side of the support that connects the USDM support to the body...

now, what you'll have is a "T" figure consist of the Upper part and the center part.
like this



imagine the red vertical lines were part of the headlight opening...

do the same to the JDM rad support, cut the JDM rad support at the SAME spot as of the previous cut you made on the USDM rad support...



now all you need to do is place the "T" from the JDM rad support on your car..and weld in the 3 spot welds on each side of the support, two for the center piece to the bottom part.

and VOILA...move the headlights bracket from the JDM to " WHat used to be USDM middle support"

then cut the apron behiond the headlight opening, about 1" back and 4" long (vertical)

then take out the stock USDM headlight brackets (total of 4)


then you have this..




I have one day of welding experience prior to this and just too damn cheap to pay somebody to do it...

HTH,

if you have any questions, PM me your name, I'll give you my number...

stan





[Modified by Flamenco-NA, 11:48 PM 7/16/2002]

 

Hey guys...

Well everything went smoothly. I did most of the work myself and then took it down to the autobody shop to get everything welded and put back on.
The only problem is that they say my bumper does not line up flush with the headlights or the fenders. They say it's a little less than 1/2".
Does anybody know why this might be?????

HEEEEEELP!

 

Nate,

call me again, I had to drill out another bolt to fender hole to make it flush, although mine is only about 1/4" off

stan