9SecV6

Newbee here 1st real post. I have purchased a 1989 Turbo TA and need to swap the front radiator support. Are these still available from GM? What about the battery tray area?

Has anyone done such a fix? This car was not crashed , but unfortunately was left outside under a tree for storage. The car is solid but for everything under the battery and nose area..

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Bull

iTrader: (5)

Oh man, I don't envy you. Are you sure the support cannot be saved? Is there actual rot and holes, or just deep surface rust?

Any good bodyshop will be able to replace the support for you, but unlike the nice, simple cars of the 70's, the supports on thirdgens are not just bolted in place, they are welded. So, there will be a lot of labor involved in the swap.

I am not sure if they are available still from GM, but even if they are not, you should be able to find someone parting out a car and have them cut out the support area for you.

Keep us posted.

9SecV6

Bull,
Thanks for the reply. I suspected this would be lotsa work. I do have most of the tools already for the job, like several welders, spot weld drill bits ect.. Even with this by no means do i want to do this job. I could probably patch up the holes, but i dont like what i see and i havent even pulled the nose off yet !
This car is a keeper and I really want to fix it right..

Bull

iTrader: (5)

Well, if you've got all those tools, then you must know how to weld and all, so you are in better shape than me! I haven't learned how to use my Mig setup yet.

I thought I'd have to have a new support put in my car, but once I began poking around with a screwdriver, I found that there were no rotten areas, just lots of surface rust. So, I've been laboriously sanding down everything so I can Ospho it, then hit it with a couple coats of Master Series silver, then black.

But certainly, a TTA is worth doing what it takes to save! Awesome car, for sure.

9SecV6

LOL... I can use them good enough to fuse metal together... I found basically the whole area under the battery gone..that turned me to look at the support.. and well its got some rot too. Because the car sat under this tree , leaves collected in all of these crevises holding water and moisture in... and that cause this rust..

Bull

iTrader: (5)

Better remove your fenders and check the area of the cowl down low, right behind where the lower portion of the fender is. I pulled mine recently and was greeted by the heartbreaking sight of rot there from water and debris being stuck in these areas. If your car sat under a tree, it might have the same issues...it's such a poor design, it happens to a lot of cars.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Also check the rear section of the inner fender wells next to the firewall

Leaves and dirt love to collect here and rot thru to the inside