replacing top radiator support

[ehoff]

Have to replace top radiator support and assembly that holds the hood latch on 94 geo prism. Dont have access to any welding equipment and was thinking of using self tapping metal screws and pop rivets, (dont care what it looks like) just want to get back on road. I purchased the entire frame and will have cut out what I need to replace. Any other suggestions on how to secure the new pieces. thanks

[1jzdreamer]

If you have any sort of integrity inspection, it won't pass that way. If you don't and are desperate to do anything, the pop rivets and or nuts and bolts. Overlap the panels over a longer distance. Dont use self tappers. Fyi - There are tools for cutting out spotwelds, and if you were to reattach it using those same holes, it would keep it looking half decent still.

[ehoff]

Thanks for the info. No integrity inspections. Already cut some of the pieces out and did leave some to overlap the repairs. Drilled out some of the spot welds, darn wish I would have know about the tool you mentioned, will check around, maybe I can use when I try to piece this thing together with the new part I just received. Will take your advice and use heavy duty pop rivets and plain old nuts and lockwasher bolts where possible.

[gold94corolla]

why not just get a new radiator support?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RADIA...item563897d193

[ehoff]

thanks for your reply, but I also needed the hood latch support and found it was cheaper to buy the entire frame and cut out what I need. Hopefully I can also tie in some of the new with the old to get the support I need to put back the front end parts that were damaged. I dont have access to any welding equipment, so it could be a nuts and bolds type repair. But as I said in my original post, I just want to get it back on the road for now. I was lucky in that nothing from the radiator back was damaged.