Hey wassup friends... As you can see I smashed my lower radiator support into a rock while driving home from school yesterday. The rock elevated my cars front wheels off the ground! Thats how big the sucka was. I smashed my front bumper, lower radiator support, radiator, subframe and oil pan. There was no way of avoiding the rock as I was on a 2 lane road with traffic beside and behind me. This all happened on a turn as well which made it more of a surprise. My question is if anyone has ever replaced this item? I noticed the pinch welds (I think im using the right nomenclature) that secure it to the rest of the unibody. Im purchasing a new one from a local member am in search for a subframe as well!. Thanks in advance!
Chad

 

It's a welded in section of the radiator core support. You can either straighten what is there, or cut the bent section off and weld in a new one.

 

yeah man its spot welded at the factory by those robotic arms.. i honestly think you should have a good body shop put it on a frame machine then either fix whats there or weld in a new part..

did you notice any of the gaps moving? or the hood not sitting perfect anymore? there is a good chance that its more than just the lower beam, its possible the rock shifted the front radiator support up a few millimeters throwing off the frame alignment. I would have a good shop put it on a frame machine to measure just to be sure... alot of times things get tweaked and the eye alone will never see it...

The damage is really not that bad, but believe me i know what its like knowing your baby has been violated and you have to go weeks without it...

 

btw if your going through the insurance just leave it alone so the adjuster sees all the damage... after hes done and give you the check, you can go in and get your hands dirty

 

Im starting to get the ball rolling as far as insurance goes.. I just want to round up as much info and parts as possible to minimize down time. As for body lines shifting, I should be ok. The radiator did rise and crush my AUT radiator plate a little bit but when i removed the airbox, radiator and plate. It caused everything to relax and when I checked my body lines around my hood and front bumper, everything looked well spaced. I will double check and triple check though.

 

ouchies!!! looks like you need some new parts!!!

 

I have a sub frame and oil pan if you need them.

 

Stratocaster.. I attempted to send you a PM but it did not accept. Please let me know what you want for the subframe. I have a oil pan pending from a local member but if it falls through ill let you know and take that as well. Please PM me or Email me Chads2k@gmail.com
chad

 

a similar thing just happend to me today...both my radiator and rad support are f'ed up....i also need a new front bumper now...i dont know what other damage is under the car..im so pissed!!!

 

I got some parts that I bought and never used that might be of use to you.
The items I am refering to you are in the exploded view. Look for item #11. There are two brackets that go on the end of #11 that are not on the illustration as well.
Let me know if you are interested in them. I purchased them from Defender the week of my incident.

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/j...=FRONT+BULKHEAD