Is it alot of work to install a new core support in a 98 fbody?
Is it alot of work to install a new core support in a 98 fbody? If my 98 z28 needs a new core support then i wanted to change it. does this job require alot of body work skills? I just have some tools and core support forward worth of parts. Can someone give me some help with this?
core support is that metal brace in the front of the engine compartment that holds the radiator and all that stuff. its not hard to change if you can weld. if you can weld break out a drill equal to the size of the spot welds, drill the spot welds through, then take a chisel or metal scraper and a hammer to finish off breaking the welds. pull the old core support out and then line up the new one grind the metal so their is no burs, place it back in for a final fit and weld it into place.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 48
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From: Waxahachie, Tx
its not hard to change if you can weld. if you can weld break out a drill equal to the size of the spot welds, drill the spot welds through, then take a chisel or metal scraper and a hammer to finish off breaking the welds. pull the old core support out and then line up the new one grind the metal so their is no burs, place it back in for a final fit and weld it into place.
yeah my bad for putting the all the way through i wasent thinking when i typed it lol. yeah putting one of these in takes a lot of work as stated above. if you have never welded or have no experiance taking a core support out i reccommend taking it to your local body shop and having them take car of it.
I work with professional body men that have been doing it 30 plus years that still cant do it right.
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If the body men that have been doing it for 30 years still cant put on a radiator support, I would not call them professional. Just take it to a local bodyshop and have it done.
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Verdad Gallardo People have the false belief that all bodymen and body shops are aqual when in fact shops that do quality work are hard to find. I would shop around and ask questions before dropping it off at the first local shop you see. Unless its a real POS that you could care less about. I have seen some amazing things done to customers cars by professional body techs.
I do body work for a living and take pride in my work, its not just my profession. I have worked on Boyd Coddingtons Chezoom, Carrol Shelbys personal 68 KR500 Conv. as well as the #23 1969 ZL1 Camaro just to name a few.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Waxahachie, Tx
Wow! those are some credentials. As far as body work goes are you familar with the SHARK ultrasonic alignment machine, I recently had some body work done and I need an opinion.
It is not that bad if you can get away with just replacing the upper section.
I believe, the replacment units know come in 2 sections, upper and lower. The last one I replaced I cut from a donor car and cut it out at the frame rails. But when it came time to install it had to be cut in half, upper and lower. It was that or take off the front frame rail support fittings.
What helps is if you can take some referance measurments from another car. So you have something to go by for the re installation and location.
Here are a few shots of my what I went through.
When and if you get a replacment unit. Stick to a Gm part after market units can be a big pain.
Prior
Durring-donor fitted up
If you look here you can see where it needed to be cut at the frame rail to be installed. Ie lowere section and upper section.
Checking final fittment one more time.
After paint:
I believe, the replacment units know come in 2 sections, upper and lower. The last one I replaced I cut from a donor car and cut it out at the frame rails. But when it came time to install it had to be cut in half, upper and lower. It was that or take off the front frame rail support fittings.
What helps is if you can take some referance measurments from another car. So you have something to go by for the re installation and location.
Here are a few shots of my what I went through.
When and if you get a replacment unit. Stick to a Gm part after market units can be a big pain.
Prior
Durring-donor fitted up
If you look here you can see where it needed to be cut at the frame rail to be installed. Ie lowere section and upper section.
Checking final fittment one more time.
After paint:
Last edited by 618HAWK; Nov 25, 2007 at 03:24 PM.
Nice photos (618hawk) i cann now see why everyone says this is not going to be an easy job for anyone shy of Chip Foose but i think mines worse the passenger side frame rail is bent inward so would everyone say this needs a new subframe. How are subframes installed?
