Bent* Radiator Mount*.. (pics incl) need some opinions before tomorrow..

[Dillon Mac]

Im looking into a sprinter for a first car atm.. When has it crossed the line with a dented/bent/crumpled crossmember.. Any ideas.. :blink: How much would a new crossmember,stering arms and bushels cost me to be replaced and fitted?.. I really got no idea about what im talking about though.. :blink:

Edit: Or what to look for when deciding if tis fixable or not..
Edit: Help? Please lol
Edit: Is it working?

http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/4/8/4/3/150280.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Shot at 2007-06-30

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8981/pict792011sh6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Shot at 2007-06-30

[rthy]

post a pic

[Dillon Mac]

How do I post pic?

[slide86]

go to www.imageshack.us and put your photo location in the area provided. click host it, and then copy paste the link

[Dillon Mac]

go to www.imageshack.us and put your photo location in the area provided. click host it, and then copy paste the link[/b]

Dont have an account..

[slide86]

you dont need one

[Dillon Mac]

Ok.. Pics up?

[Jonny Rochester]

That crumpled bit is called the front crossmember I think. Everything can be fixed or replaced. If you can buy a new crossmember it can be welded in of course. I have not tried to get body parts off Toyota. A pannel beater shop would have the contacts, maybe there is a new aftermarket member you can order?

I almost always try and get things fixed rather than selling and starting again on a new lot of problems.

[Dillon Mac]

That crumpled bit is called the front crossmember I think. Everything can be fixed or replaced. If you can buy a new crossmember it can be welded in of course. I have not tried to get body parts off Toyota. A pannel beater shop would have the contacts, maybe there is a new aftermarket member you can order?

I almost always try and get things fixed rather than selling and starting again on a new lot of problems.[/b]

Ty for opinion and advice, but a friend from work who is a wheel aligner says that if its bent too far or too damaged that it can affect the whole chasee.. i sopose what im asking is where is the line between a new crossmember and a bit of work and a completely whole screwed chasee?

[slide86]

chassis

[Dillon Mac]

chassis[/b]

Thanks for the spell check, any opininion though?

[Jonny Rochester]

If that front crossmember near the radiator is most of the damage, I doubt the whole chassis is twisted. Caster and toe are adjustable. And many of us had adjustable strut tops for camber adjustment. So the chassis can be twisted a bit and its still not much of a problem with adjustable suspension.

The bit you have to be more worried about are the chassis rails inside the engine bay, near the engine crossmember. Are they creased or buckled? If they are, you will be paying $1000 for the car to be stretched out and painted over.

[Dillon Mac]

If that front crossmember near the radiator is most of the damage, I doubt the whole chassis is twisted. Caster and toe are adjustable. And many of us had adjustable strut tops for camber adjustment. So the chassis can be twisted a bit and its still not much of a problem with adjustable suspension.

The bit you have to be more worried about are the chassis rails inside the engine bay, near the engine crossmember. Are they creased or buckled? If they are, you will be paying $1000 for the car to be stretched out and painted over.[/b]

Car needs rust fix and repaint anyway just making sure this cars not gonna have to much money spent on it fixing the crossmember or the 'chassis' or anything.. Am willing to have it worked on but I do need it for a daily e.g. not want it to be in a workshop for a month or something..

I am willing to spend maybe a $1g or $2g fixing the problems up with the crossmember and so on, is that too much? Not enough? Not including paint or rust..

[Dillon Mac]

Is there someone in S.A. you woudl recomend to look at this for me? Is he a member? username please? Will he look at it for me?

[Dillon Mac]

Not my car, am mgiht be buying this car tommorrow though..

Rust pics btw..

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4889/frrfpict7915xl3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Shot at 2007-06-30

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3696/img2202vh6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Shot with Canon EOS 30D (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+30D&make=Canon) at 2007-06-30

[Dillon Mac]

Your radiator support pannel is the least of your worries.That door shut has all the hallmarks of a car that went for a swim![/b]

What is that just left in a really wet place for mos tof its life un covered or do you really mean, went for a 'swim'

[Dillon Mac]

Does this mean the whole car is rusted and no good?

[Dillon Mac]

Well im willing to fix it up but if the car is due to fall apart I dont want it.. But the only thing thats making me hesitate is this crossmember I dont want it to cost me like a couple of grand and it be in a workshop for weeks..

[Gilly]

if the rust is that bad in those places it will be worse in the hidden spots behind the rear bar and in the hatch

get someone with a bit of knowledge to suss it out

out of interest how much is the asking price? (pm me if you want) that will tell if it is worth picking up regardless of damage

[Dillon Mac]

Ty Ricepipe* I will have to further investigate this rust in those areas

[slide86]

i might be le to check it out if its close to my place. pm me if you are interested.

[Gilly]

take up slide86 on that offer, as per my pm someone with AE86 experience would be very helpful in your situation

[Nikkojoe]

I got rust in the door jambs worse then that in the same position but techincally its only the outer skin of the rear quarter and the B pillar behind is still fine. That said im still getting it cut out and welding some new plates in there.

My car has been near the beach a lot (came from a town near a beach where i suspect it lived most its life). The bottom of the rear quaters are rusted (passenger side is worse), and a few other little minor spots. That said, my boot floor is completely fine (where wheel sits is like new, only a few scratches with surface rust) and my front window is fine aswell.

When you go to look at it again, stick your head under the rear of the car. Take out spare wheel, have a look in the wheel well. Check the rear hatch seal, and generally any overlaps of metal as this is where most of the rust starts on toyotas.

Good luck

[Dillon Mac]

I got rust in the door jambs worse then that in the same position but techincally its only the outer skin of the rear quarter and the B pillar behind is still fine. That said im still getting it cut out and welding some new plates in there.

My car has been near the beach a lot (came from a town near a beach where i suspect it lived most its life). The bottom of the rear quaters are rusted (passenger side is worse), and a few other little minor spots. That said, my boot floor is completely fine (where wheel sits is like new, only a few scratches with surface rust) and my front window is fine aswell.

When you go to look at it again, stick your head under the rear of the car. Take out spare wheel, have a look in the wheel well. Check the rear hatch seal, and generally any overlaps of metal as this is where most of the rust starts on toyotas.

Good luck[/b]

Thanks Nikko for the advice will do, I think slide86 is going to be coming along now aswell if he can make it.. Will make things ALOT easier for me

[mc68]

thats a 'radiator mount' or 'radiator panel not to be confused with a rad support

usually a crossmember is where the engine and lca's mount to...but hey

[Dillon Mac]

thats a 'radiator mount' or 'radiator panel not to be confused with a rad support

usually a crossmember is where the engine and lca's mount to...but hey[/b]

SO its not a crossmember? easier to fix? Cheaper?

[steroidchickens]

crossmember would be easier to fix cos you just bolt another one in. where as the lower radiator mount is spot welded in. i have a spare one if you are interested.