Straightening the Radiator support

[desertnick69]

I am sure some of you have hd to straighten the radiator support! I only have to pull the driver side lower section out about 6 - 7 inch, do i need to heat up the heavy support and pull it out or what . The support is off the truck! any suggestions?

[Boog]

Nick I believe most will agree, depending how bad the supprt is bent, you'd be better off replacing the core support as all the front sheet metal is hung on it and for alignment purposes it needs to be straight. However if its not bent too much you might can pull it back in place. I would avoid applying heat if at all possible. You may have to lay it down and block it up and press it down with something. If you have a press, great. If not a makeshift press can do. Some guys use the weight of their vehicle on a jack to lower onto a part in order to bend it. Picture a bowed tailgate. Lay it down with high side up. Lower the weight down on the high spot and watch it flatten out. You get the idea?

[special-K]

The radiator core support is one part I have always replaced if it was bent in any way. It's the "core" of your whole front of the truck and affects all other alignment of panels,even the doors to fenders. It's just worth it to replace rather than fight getting the rest all together straight and trying to figure out what's off where.