did a 80-81 vette have this dip in the radiator support?

[JeffP1167]

I kind of remember a plastic piece was here that fed air to a box mounted under my 82's hood. Anyways did a earlier vette have this dip? and would a earlier radiator support fit my 82.

 

[JeffP1167]

Well pricing a 80-81 radiator support made me drop a nut. Thought that would be a cheap fix but would cost way to much :crap:

 

[mrvette]

Well pricing a 80-81 radiator support made me drop a nut. Thought that would be a cheap fix but would cost way to much :crap:

One thing you maybe want to do is remove the mount you have, and drill drain holes in the back bottom edge to let water out of it.....

my OEM was all toast, so I bought a new one years ago, and did that, also poured paint down in it to slow the rust accumulation....they are wide open up top and guaranfreekingTEED to rust out....

:banned:

 

[JeffP1167]

Well pricing a 80-81 radiator support made me drop a nut. Thought that would be a cheap fix but would cost way to much :crap:

One thing you maybe want to do is remove the mount you have, and drill drain holes in the back bottom edge to let water out of it.....

my OEM was all toast, so I bought a new one years ago, and did that, also poured paint down in it to slow the rust accumulation....they are wide open up top and guaranfreekingTEED to rust out....

:banned:

It is a California car and won't be driven in the rain anyways. This car has no signs of rust anywhere,

Yes you laugh at our smog laws but we laugh at your rust problems and vehicle inspections. So it's a crap shoot where it is best to live.

 

[damoroso]

I know 80-82 have that radiator support. If it's clearance for your new radiator your looking for, could you cut a notch in the V that would let the radiator sit where it needs to?

 

[JeffP1167]

I know 80-82 have that radiator support. If it's clearance for your new radiator your looking for, could you cut a notch in the V that would let the radiator sit where it needs to?

The radiator fits fine that isn't the issue. I just don't like how it looks and assume the 80-81 might have had a hood to radiator support seal that ran al the way across. It is just more of a cosmetic dislike for me maybe I could cut the V shape down the center the bend the metal up and re-weld it.

 

[Twin_Turbo]

Only 82 has that support, the dimple is for the hood flapper door

 

[mrvette]

Only 82 has that support, the dimple is for the hood flapper door

and I hated cutting my 'new' rad support to get a fresh air up and over induction.....had that '82 support would have been much better....oh well....

:surrender:

 

[big2bird]

I know 80-82 have that radiator support. If it's clearance for your new radiator your looking for, could you cut a notch in the V that would let the radiator sit where it needs to?

The radiator fits fine that isn't the issue. I just don't like how it looks and assume the 80-81 might have had a hood to radiator support seal that ran al the way across. It is just more of a cosmetic dislike for me maybe I could cut the V shape down the center the bend the metal up and re-weld it.

Yes and no. The 80-81 is straight across, but has the plastic ram air scoop in there, with a seal above. It will fit just fine.

 

[JeffP1167]

I think in some pics I have posted it looks like surface rust everywhere on the frame, this is just dust from the car sitting 10 years. Here is some pice of the radiator support and not a speck of rust anywhere.

 

[damoroso]

Only 82 has that support, the dimple is for the hood flapper door

Not true sir. I've had a few 81's, they all had the same support. That's where the plastic intake piece with the big "Caution" sticker sits. Maybe this support was used on cars made in Bowling Green??

 

[JeffP1167]

Only 82 has that support, the dimple is for the hood flapper door

Not true sir. I've had a few 81's, they all had the same support. That's where the plastic intake piece with the big "Caution" sticker sits. Maybe this support was used on cars made in Bowling Green??

didn't the 80-81 carbed cars have something over the radiator for fresh air pickup for the air cleaner?

 

[damoroso]

Yeah Jeff, there's a plastic inlet duct that sits there....