1973 Camaro Type LT

Radiator Support Repairs and Modifications (September 24, 2007)

This page documents the process of repairing and modifying the radiator support. The radiator support needed a few holes filled from previous items that were installed on the support. I also needed to modify the front opening and lower mount so I could fit a 31 x 19 Universal Summit Aluminum Racing Radiator. I went with this radiator because it is was nearly $200 cheaper than a direct fit unit and it is huge. I should never have to worry about upgrading this unit no matter what engine is installed in this car.

Status photos as of 9/24/2007:

Here are a couple of holes in the radiator support. These were used for passing hoses to an external trans cooler. I will make some patches and weld them up.	Here are the two small patches I made out of 18 gauge steel.

Here is one of the patches fit into place before welding.	The next five pictures are of the patches in different stages of welding.



Here are pictures of the patches after welding and grinding.

Here is the radiator support stripped and repaired and ready for a coat of ZeroRust.

Here are pictures of the radiator support coated with ZeroRust.


Here is the radiator sitting on the factory mounts. As you can see it sits about an inch and a half too high and the front opening is a little small. I will took care of these issues by cutting up the support a bit and doing some fabrication.	Here is a picture of the mount after I cut most of the original out.

Here are pictures of the front of the radiator opened up to the size of the indentation of the support. Unfortunately, the cut is a little too big because you can see the radiator end tank on the driver's side. I later took care of this.

Here is the bottom of the support with the radiator sticking out. I will fabricate the lower mount so these are not seen and the support with look factory.

I used several pieces of metal to make the lower support. Here is the main L shaped bracket and the front side pieces that blend the bracket into the support.	The next two pictures show the bottom support bracket welded in.


Here is the lower front of the support. As you can see, the bracket blends into the factory support like it was built that way. I will later grind down the welds and smooth out with some body filler.


Here is the factory top radiator mount. This is the smaller of the two factory mounts. I have purchased a mount the was wider and covers the radiator perfectly.

Here is the radiator support prepped and ready for epoxy primer. I have smoothed out the bottom with filler. You can also see that I welded back in some of the material that I cut out on the drivers side radiator opening.	Here is the radiator support coated with epoxy primer.

Here is the radiator support done and coated with Eastwood Underhood Black.

Previous (Initial Pre-Assembly and Doors ) | Home | Restoration Index | Next (Door Skin, Rear Bumper and Front Valances)