Me[kk]A

iTrader: (4)

So I decided to tackle this the DIY way. Screw paying for ****.

This is worth doing for anyone with a reasonably salvageable rad support (aka not rusted to ****, if you oem one is still in good shape? Does this to it and never worry again!)

My i'll tackle anything argentinian buddy also offered to help, so I went to his shop.

My theory was that as i had no rust, simply cracks from a tin piece of crap holding my engine and transmission up, there had to be a way to reinforce it, and give it a big middle finger when it tried to crack again.

Thankfully we found a way. The solution?

Thick as hell steel, and lots of tools. (pizza and pop optional)

We had two large pieces of this steel. one was an L shape bracket that we decided to use to reinforce the rad support and crossmember.

The other two pieces we cut in half length wise and used to weld up to this middle L piece, and along the rad support all the way down to the towhooks attached to the frame.

Reasoning was to spread out the load of weight bearing down on the spot where the crossmember bolts up and to give it support from more points than just two bolts.

Thus, the teardown began.



here is WHY not to ever buy aftermarket.







here is the L bracket we used to support this basket of nissan hell.



One of many awesome actions shots.



We then dropped the support down to test fit our creation, and measured out where to mark to tack weld the piece in.


Preparing the rad support for some ethnic cleansing.


Ethnic cleansing completed. Never felt so positive in my life.


Another angle to show the support we wanted to improve throughout the area.


Another action shot!!


We cut the two remaining pieces length wise to weld up to the L bracket, and support the rad from the face, and from the bottom. Both sides will be welded to the frame of the car.
this is also another ACTION SHOT!


The finished product before a sanding and healthy garnish of rocker guard. My phone started to die at this point.


This took the good portion of today to do, but was well worth it. The front end now feels like rails and literally nothing should mess with the integrity of the rad support other than maybe hitting a woolly mammoth.

JNCoRacer

iTrader: (6)

It aint pretty, by any means, but if it gets the job done.....

Me[kk]A

iTrader: (4)

Definitely not pretty, but keep in mind it was rocker gaurded after so it was all black. It also cost me $0, just time and tiredness.

5150pa

I love it.

Now buy 50 dollars in undercoat and make that **** seaworthy.

eddie982

iTrader: (10)

Thats some DIY ingenuity right there, bravo!

But ummmm, you did add some weight to your front end there...