When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The replacement aluminum lower radiator support i purchased with new lower rubber insulators and new upper radiator support after putting the car back together sits up maybe 3/4" too high. For it to fit correctly I would have to remove the lower rubber insulators or both upper insulators. I read somewhere that the stock is steal vs the aftermarket aluminum. According to some of the instruction videos the radiator support does fit flush to the frame or am i missing something? Anyone have a picture of the frame without the support or with it. Mine had already yanked the nut inserts out and the previous owner had tack welded it.
Last edited by Justin Raney; Sep 20, 2021 at 03:20 PM.
Heres the new one I already installed the bumper so you cant see it but its mounted flush to the frame which i had read it just has hexagon nut inserts flush mounted to the bottom frame rails which mine were missing. Once torqued it would be about 1/2" above where it needs to be unless i removed the lower or upper insulators. Mine is the aluminum aftermarket replacement which sells for 240$ i had purchased but seen lower prices at 190$ on ebay then read the steal one was around 380$ for the stock one.
Last edited by Justin Raney; Sep 20, 2021 at 07:24 PM.
Looks to be pretty close to me. Just needs some tweaking. Nothing will fit perfectly. Everything needs a little persuasion. I mean, you bought the cheapest Chinese option available. I’m not sure what you expected.
I was under the assumption that these were the stock replacements but i guess i was wrong. The upper support and both lower isolator bushings are from GMPARTSDIRECT which i believe are stock oem GM or AC DELCO parts. I can make it fit with 1/2" rubber spacers i had laying around with longer bolts was just curious if anyone else ran into this problem or removed the rubber insulators on top or bottom.
Last edited by Justin Raney; Sep 20, 2021 at 07:31 PM.
im not sure what you mean by “isolator bushings”. I just replaced my lower radiator support and it didn’t have any bushings.
You didnt use the square rubber on one side and round rubber insulators i guess is the correct term not bushings that goes into the metal radiator support that the radiator sits on?
Last edited by Justin Raney; Sep 20, 2021 at 07:42 PM.
The round 1 is the Rt side lower. The 2 U-shape are upper hold down and that last 1 does not look right
It's a general picture I had pulled up of the same design. I had ordered the gm parts upper support which came with new ones installed so I had returned the two I ordered and the square one installed on the passenger side lower and round one on the the right side. They fit perfectly into place almost but the round one seemed a bit taller if the bottom dimensions are square of the radiator support.
Nice box of prothane bushings and look to be cheaper and exactly the same as stock.
Last edited by Justin Raney; Sep 20, 2021 at 08:07 PM.
Did you get the rt lower pushed all the way down into the hole on the cradle?
yes i believe so when installing the radiator they would both flip out but eventually got them fitted in with the radiator. The rubber square one did have some trouble fitting or staying secured but it has that tip or tit i believe that secures it thru the bottom of aluminum support. I'm not too sure what the problem is here.
Last edited by Justin Raney; Sep 24, 2021 at 04:43 AM.
It's a general picture I had pulled up of the same design. I had ordered the gm parts upper support which came with new ones installed so I had returned the two I ordered and the square one installed on the passenger side lower and round one on the the right side. They fit perfectly into place almost but the round one seemed a bit taller if the bottom dimensions are square of the radiator support.
Nice box of prothane bushings and look to be cheaper and exactly the same as stock.
The passenger and right side are the same side, not sure how your bottom support is installed. Left and right are viewed as if you are in drivers seat. The round grommet is pictured upside down, it belongs on radiator peg on passenger side of car and small extension of grommet inserts in hole in the support, over all height is .9 inches. My upper shroud looked yours but with little bit of front to back wiggling it fell into place. The shroud is intended to slightly pressurize contact between radiator and grommet/insulator. The square insulator belongs on drivers side, not sure of dimension as mine stayed in the support during radiator change. Effective height for both bottom insulators should be .5 inches.
Here is a link for bottom left insulator. https://corvettesalvage.com/product/...tor-1997-2004/
It's important to note year of car when posting.
Last edited by purrvert; Sep 24, 2021 at 02:42 PM.
You're correct the square one fits on the drivers side. I wish id have known about the prothane set as they're cheaper then both 15$+shipping bottom insulator bushings and polyurethane is more durable. The bottom frame rails were pretty hammered but i seen this is normal i had to fit one slip fit washer on one to get it to sit even as it was dented slightly. Mine is a 99 may i ask if 97-04 the supports were different?
Last edited by Justin Raney; Sep 27, 2021 at 08:08 PM.
Yes you can see the frame rails are bent up where the radiator support is supposed to be but looks to be from the old support and bottoming out. With all that stuff replaced I believe the frame rails are the same height as originally and not a swapped frame and the 10" of room it takes up from up top the upper radiator support or cover bolts line up perfectly on both sides. You can see that ideally it should fit in it's position just fine.
Last edited by Justin Raney; Sep 28, 2021 at 06:54 PM.
Aluminum radiator supports
