Alright so i hit a 2012 bmw x-5 in my 92' accord and due to the lack of collision insurance, i have to repair it myself. I've replaced the hood so that's not an issue. However, the radiator core support has been bent, and possibly more. I purchased a new radiator core support and have taken everything off the front to get to it, i just have to empty the radiator and remove that as well as take off the power steering cooler or whatever it is that runs in front of the radiator. Where i am encountering problems is how exactly to remove the radiator core support, there is four 10mm bolts to remove but there is also several welds. Due to the fact that i am pretty inexperienced with car repairs ihavenofuckencluewhattodohere. Also, part of the side wall/ frame appears to be bent, how to I go about straightening this as i dont believe this is something i can replace. This may affect the fit of the new light housing i have to put in as the old one was shattered in the collision. My brother is a mechanic, however he works on jaguars and land rovers, not hondas and not body work so he isnt really an expert on the situation. Although, there may be certain required tools he may have access to that i am unaware of. Also, another concern i have is that i believe this car falls under the unibody category, so i do not know if i put the replacement core support in it must be welded and if it doesnt i am not sure if it will affect the integrity of the vehicle.



these are the welds i am speaking of

 

The easiest way would be to go to a junk yard and cut the front clip off of another accord of same year model and weld it onto your car. I do custom steel fabrication so i fixed mine without doing that. My next step with that car is removing the whole front clip and doing a tube chassis in it's place for ***** and giggles


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I THINK those are called "spot" welds, any way regardless of what they are called. You grand/drill those out, use an air chisel to separate the sheet metal; remove the front support with out damaging nothing. Install the new one with some help. Youll need an extra pair of hands to get it to line up; once it does use some vice grips to hold it in place. Then you need a welder to "add" metal where you drilled out the spot welds. TA-DA!

 

I dont know about San Bernardino but in Canada im fairly certain it's illegal to weld a vehicles frame yourself.

 

Seriously? It's illegal for you too do any structural welding in your own vehicle. That blows.. Well if you can't do any welding on it then you're fucked. If you can have a shop do it then it can be done but if your strapped for cash then it's not going to happen.


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