I took a good close look and, as I suspected, my radiator core support is pretty well "rotten to the core" down below. It's pretty ugly and I'm guessing it's the cause of my drive side "fender drop" where the front corner appears to have sunk down an inch or so.
Anyway, I don't suppose anybody here has an extra one or knows where one might be available? Would anything from 72-80 fit correctly?
I did check that "Brad's NOS" place in South Carolina, they have one for $280 plus a whole mess of freight charges (they say it's too big to UPS). I would pay that if it was my only option and I could go pick it up, but I'm hoping I can do better than pay $500-600. Of course I'm realizing there's no point in replacing my inner and outer fenders unless I replace the support first.
Thanks.
fins2fuselage
10-04-2008, 08:58 AM
I took a good close look and, as I suspected, my radiator core support is pretty well "rotten to the core" down below. It's pretty ugly and I'm guessing it's the cause of my drive side "fender drop" where the front corner appears to have sunk down an inch or so.
Anyway, I don't suppose anybody here has an extra one or knows where one might be available? Would anything from 72-80 fit correctly?
I did check that "Brad's NOS" place in South Carolina, they have one for $280 plus a whole mess of freight charges (they say it's too big to UPS). I would pay that if it was my only option and I could go pick it up, but I'm hoping I can do better than pay $500-600. Of course I'm realizing there's no point in replacing my inner and outer fenders unless I replace the support first.
Thanks.
Megunticook,
Be careful of Brad's. I am not just "talking ill of him" to be a trouble-maker; a few people I know have had bad experiences there. Make him take pictures and send them to you first.
That said, there was a core support advertised as "NOS" on eBay yeaterday for $595 "Buy It Now" price. I don't recall whether you could bid on it or not; I just shook my head and moved on.
Surely you can get a local sheet metal fabber and welder to repair your old one (or the best one you can find) for less than $350 - $600 -- can't you? I have never tried to buy one for myself -- I just tolerate the rust. And I have NEVER, EVER tried to take one out! I just spray down the critical areas with Permatex Extend and pray a lot.
Jeff
Megunticook
10-04-2008, 04:41 PM
Be careful of Brad's. I am not just "talking ill of him" to be a trouble-maker; a few people I know have had bad experiences there. Make him take pictures and send them to you first.
Man, that's the second time this week I've been warned off an online mopar merchant...I must admit, I've been to Brad's site before and the pricing and "tone" of the site left me a little cold. Totally different feel at dodgeconnection.
Surely you can get a local sheet metal fabber and welder to repair your old one (or the best one you can find) for less than $350 - $600 -- can't you?
That's what I'd been thinking, just pull it out, clean it up as best I can, and take it to a local metal shop here and have them cut out all the rotten stuff and weld in new sheet metal. But by the time they get all the time into it, labor charges may be several hundred--I really have no idea. I had them fab a muffler bracket for me last week that took them 45 minutes of time, cost $50. So it does add up quick.
Well, I'll keep my eyes open anyway...won't be pulling the old one out until next summer anyway.
bherder
10-04-2008, 08:58 PM
With what shops charge for stuff nowdays, I'm starting to think that buying my own MIG welder would be a good investment.....
L5wolvesf
10-06-2008, 03:16 PM
Meg . . .
I just searched the used part site below and came up with several rad supports. You may have to order form the western US to get a good one.
http://www.car-part.com/
Megunticook
10-06-2008, 05:01 PM
thanks, I'll have to check it out.
the shipping is murder, though...Brad's NOS says they're too big for UPS
ccflash22
10-07-2008, 11:00 AM
See if you can find out exactly what years would fit. I am sure I could come up with one.
Kenny
Megunticook
10-07-2008, 11:36 AM
See if you can find out exactly what years would fit. I am sure I could come up with one.
Kenny
Thanks a lot--I'll see if I can find out: I know 72, 73, and 74 would work, I'll find out what year it changed (possibly when they abandoned the single round headlamps?)
Megunticook
10-08-2008, 07:43 AM
I did a little research and it appears that any 1972-1976 support would work (turn signals moved in '77).
Here's an illustration from the 1974 FSM showing how it looks:
hey meg ,
just put that panel on my truck 72,boy its heavy, more than i could lift into place alone.and it was stripped clean, i looked at the area i think ur refering to is the two mounting points looks to be three layers of steel there, my own has started to blow apart,what is the condition of the rubber gromet mountings ? mine where soft so replaced with poly bushings,there"s a whole load on them old rubbers ,could account for ur fender drop, if as i say its just mounting points that r rusted out,awkward place to get a pic i suppose,one question for u if u dont mind, ur tansfer case is divorced right ,if i remember rightly ,earlier u posted pics of the rear could i ask u to take a look at the front in particular the drivers side there"s a lump that sticks out from the main casing,the reason i ask is there"s a whole into the transfer casing i wondered if there should be some sort of brace there,will attch pic thanx, ps,,i also spent good money with fabricating guys till i bought a hobby type mig couple days practice never looked back,got the burnt fingers to prove it lol
Megunticook
10-09-2008, 06:15 AM
there"s a lump that sticks out from the main casing,the reason i ask is there"s a whole into the transfer casing i wondered if there should be some sort of brace there
Not sure what you're referring to exactly when you say "a lump." On my 205 there is no "brace" on the driver side, just two holes tapped into the top at an angle where the bolts fastening the case to the frame crossmember go.
