front framing under bumper
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
front framing under bumper
Under the front bumper of my '02 Z06 that I bought about 3 weeks ago, the framing is bent up and smashed and the bottom of the bumber has broken in a few spots where there looks to be holes for ventelation. The framing is bent downward so the spoilers were not straight. This can be bent back up for spoiler alignment but I dont feel comfortable doing that because thats just "rigging" the problem. The bottom rubber spoilers were in such bad shape they were hanging down almost ripped from the screws. I have removed these and have new ones in the garage. But im concerned with the framing. The damage is not affecting driving or allignment in anyway, nor is it affecting the front bumper alignment or creating any problems with the radiator/headlights/air intake area. I dont think its the main frame of the car, because its about 3/4" square tubing. Without pictures, does anyone know exactly what im talking about? Ill try and put some pictures up today after work. Is this problem something I can do, or should I just take it to a body shop? Also, looking ahead, is there reinforcement brackets, or framing to counter this? Thanks,
Dave
Dave
Last edited by dsintrepid; Nov 19, 2007 at 10:20 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,899
Likes: 1
From: Denver Colorado
ecklers carries reinforcement brackets or rollers for this. it is very common. i took 1/4 in. steel and welded a plate on the bottom side of the tubing and ground them down to match the tubing size and now it looks brand new. this is a sign that the car my have been mistreated to a point. good luck.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 1
From: Lincoln Nebraska
That is not a part of the structural frame, I believe it is part of the radiator frame. Those bars hanging below the bumper are skid bars so they get damaged and not your bumper. If they are damaged then the previous owner wasn't very carefull pulling up to parking curbs etc. Those bars can be replaced. Post some pictures so we can determine if they are truly damaged or not.
Dogface
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 25,974
Likes: 120
From: At the Beach, FL
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Under the front bumper of my '02 Z06 that I bought about 3 weeks ago, the framing is bent up and smashed and the bottom of the bumber has broken in a few spots where there looks to be holes for ventelation. The framing is bent downward so the spoilers were not straight. This can be bent back up for spoiler alignment but I dont feel comfortable doing that because thats just "rigging" the problem. The bottom rubber spoilers were in such bad shape they were hanging down almost ripped from the screws. I have removed these and have new ones in the garage. But im concerned with the framing. The damage is not affecting driving or allignment in anyway, nor is it affecting the front bumper alignment or creating any problems with the radiator/headlights/air intake area. I dont think its the main frame of the car, because its about 3/4" square tubing. Without pictures, does anyone know exactly what im talking about? Ill try and put some pictures up today after work. Is this problem something I can do, or should I just take it to a body shop? Also, looking ahead, is there reinforcement brackets, or framing to counter this? Thanks,
Dave
Dave
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
skid plate
Thanks Don, looking at the illustration, im about 98% sure the skid plate is what is crushed and bent underneath. Im going to take another look to be sure after work and take pictures before I order the part. Makes me feel ALOT better to know this is probally the skid plate and normal damage.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
You can get the skid plate from Gene Culley at GmPartshouse.com You need to make sure you get all of the nuts that go with it. He will help you out. I need one two. It's not mis treatment at all. The car is low so you have issues sometimes. Mine was from a steep curb from a driveway. The car stalled and slammed down on my passenger skid bar and collapsed it. No harm until it is replaced it just looks bad. Don
Though my car was driven down a ranch driveway for a couple of years, and all it takes is the ramp into the supermarket parking lot to make the "fat daddy" wheels on that skid frame turn.
Mine is tweaked a little, so I may have a body shop straighten it, but if it approaches the $250 range, I'll go to gmpartshouse.com and just replace.
Good luck, and good Thanksgiving to you (and to all!)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 0
From: Worden Illinois
You can get the skid plate from Gene Culley at GmPartshouse.com You need to make sure you get all of the nuts that go with it. He will help you out. I need one two. It's not mis treatment at all. The car is low so you have issues sometimes. Mine was from a steep curb from a driveway. The car stalled and slammed down on my passenger skid bar and collapsed it. No harm until it is replaced it just looks bad. Don
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 722
Likes: 8
From: N.Canton Ohio
Additional costs to the support part are; labor to remove bumper/related componets to access/replace the support[3.5 hrs],
Painting support [1 hr] as I believe it is bare/galvanized metal.
Total cost to replace support at body shop approx $450.00 inc discounted parts.
Painting support [1 hr] as I believe it is bare/galvanized metal.
Total cost to replace support at body shop approx $450.00 inc discounted parts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque NM
I'm not 100% sure that the front fascia needs to be removed. I just replaced my radiator cage, added skid plates and the fatt momma wheels. I had the front fascia off last month to have the underneath repaired from what the previous owner did to it, I never bolted it completely back up since I was going to replace the crushed cage. If you replace the radiator cage, be sure to have the "nutserts" put in, they are the "nut" part of what holds the airdam & brackets on, the horn bracket, and the airpump. FWIW, I didn't support the radiator when I lowered the old cage, it didn't seem like there was much weight on it.
