Radiator core support too tall

[Ronno6]

Dunno if it will cause a hood problem or not,
but the radiator brackets are above the radiator by a good 3/8"
I measured and the support is taller than the original by that amount.
It does not appear to be bent at the bottom.
This support is even CAPA certified............

Any ideas??
I may end up reworking my original......kinda eaten up by battery acid on the passenger side........

 

[bucket]

Is it actually taller, or is the lower radiator area not quite stamped the same?

 

[Ronno6]

It appears to be made the same...just dimensionally different..........

 

[Ronno6]

Though it does not appear to be bent, the rigie dimensions appear to be consistent with my original support.
The dimensions to the rearmost edge of the lower flange appear to be 3/8" to 1/2" "tall" so to speak.
I will remove the core support and attempt to "adjust."

 

[Ronno6]

Nope. not gonna work.
There are some things about how it was made that are not correct.
One of the vertical braces does not fit where the top tab should be spot welded.
It does not lay flat against the mating panel, so no spot weld.

This had been a leftover from a shop that went kaput.
Now I know why it was left behind.....
So much for CAPA Certification.............
I may be able to cut and patch my old one, but I think I'll just go shopping for a better new one.

 

[bucket]

Yep, CAPA certified simply means it might fit better and might be stamped from heavier gauge steel.

 

[Ronno6]

I was a purchasing agent of metal fabrications for 25years, and I have a pretty good eye for finding fabrication errors, but I have not spotted the problem as of yet.
The A/C condenser fits like a hand in a glove, but the radiator mounting has a gap of 3/8" or so.
There are no flex points to take up the slack...........
And one vertical brace is not spot welded at the top because the tab does not lay flat against the top panel. Very odd.................
It is made of a good heavy gauge steel, however!

 

[Ronno6]

Well, at least I have identified the problem.
The A/C condenser fits, but good to the front, not so good in the back.
The ledge on which it sits forms the backbone of the bottom tube, so to speak.
This ledge should be flat and perpendicular to the vertical face of the support itself.
the one I have is not square nor flat. The A/C condenser's mounting pad fit is off by over 3/8" by the
time it is measured at the rear face of the fins.
That gap continues down thru the radiator mounting ledge.
If I drill all the spot welds across the bottom assembly, then flatten and re-weld, it probably will work. I would also have to rework the vertical braces.
That's a bunch of work.
If the seller will not take it back, I will either file a case with ebay or attempt to fix................
Buying new isn't that bad, except for the freight.
I may wait for another trip to see family in Atlanta.

 

[Ronno6]

Well, the saga, and it IS a saga, continues.
I waited for another trip to Atlanta just to purchase a new core support from AMD...Auto Metal Direct.
I had considered them to be very professional and a supplier of quality sheet metal parts.
Only problem with them is that they are not opened on Saturdays, and this trip we were toting
our grandkids, so I didn't have room to pick it up on our way in on Friday.
So, I ordered the part from Summit Racing. They were not too far away and could order the support from AMD, about 65 miles away.
Ordered it ob the 19th, should have in the store by the 25th.
WRONG..........
The part was listed on my order status as "backordered," from whom I am not sure, as AMD had plenty of then in stock, and they send a truck to Summit on Thursdays (the aforementioned 25th.)
Well, several calls to various people at Summit could not confirm receipt, so I cancelled the order and
ordered on line from AMD for pickup.
The pickup was made on Monday, with a few minor hassles.
But, I had my new (high quality?) support.
I got it home and unloaded. LOTS of razor edges on the support, and I have the cuts to prove it.
Also pretty beat up....many bent areas.
EZ to see why, because it is made of metal not much thinner than tin foil..........

It will probably be going back on my next trip.........
Looks like I'll be fixing the original or the first aftermakket CAPA certified one which requires some structural dimensional adjustment.

SORELY disappointed in Summit Racing AND Auto Metal Direct................

 

[idahovette]

Just when you think you've found a good place...........

 

[Ronno6]

Just when you think you've found a good place...........

Makes me wonder about the front fenders and inner fender I purchased there a few months ago.........

 

[donnieray]

That's sucks man, thanks for spreading the word though. I'm grabbing up old stuff every chance I get.