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Front support B4 Narrowing.... Hood Cutting 4/7

chevysmithz71

chevysmithz71

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I just took the Blazer out after a th400 and a Stak swap. The radiator was all over the place. I have the wheel wells removed and I'm sure that took away some support. With only the top and behind door bolts holding the rear of the fenders on probably doesn't help either.

So to those NOT running wheel wells, Did you brace it up some how??

Was thinking of adding more tube and tie it into the radiator support somehow. Planning on narrowing the front now that the 42's are on and will chew up a whole lot. Those that have done it,,,,,,
Is it better to just go Tube up front or keep the radiator support for simplicity??:dunno:
 
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I ran with no inner fenders with a big block radiator and never had a problem. Put in the rest of the bolts, and make sure you have your rubber bushings installed on the top and bottom of the radiator.

I also have narrowed a front clip and ran it with no radiator slop. I did use the original amount of bolts holding the fenders to the core support.
 
Do you have an existing rollcage? That photo shows tubes going through the firewall area which is really where the "magic" comes from to add torsional strength to the front clip area. If you can tie the front a-pillars to some tubes that continue into the engine compartment (and eventually to the frame horns) you'll increase the stiffness considerably.

Don't be tempted to beef up the radiator mounts as a way to increase stiffness up front. All you're doing is asking the radiator to become a shear panel, and the twisting forces are going to tear it apart.....give you cooling leaks, and drive you mad.

You need to fix the issue at the source, which is to increase the overall torsional stiffness of the front of the truck. Convertibles like ours really want to "move around" when twisted up. Having a comprehensive rollcage that ties in to the cowl area will help a ton. Ask VTBlazer sometime...he made some small changes to his cago on Hobo that gave him dramatically better overall body stiffness.


:usaflag:
 
Yeah, I have a cage with tubes running behind the dash to tie into. Didn't think about the support as a shear panel, thanks. Just going to have to do it after it sitting for about a year. Felt good to get it out and drive it. Now, looks like some more down time I guess,but worth it.
Now that I think about it, it could be the notoriuos Death Woble?
 
Is the core support moving, or only the radiator?

With this setup, are you going to attach the core support to the tubes running through it?
 
The whole support was wobbling, Could have been Death wobble also. I am not going to attach the tubes to the support because I was told by Greg72 that it would act as a perferct shear off point. I have it done and will post pics soon.
 
ok. I had a similar problem with my 88 V30 then. The rubber mounts were worn out and I could shake the core support itself back and forth.
 
Got some tubing laid in there and have more to come. Some real fancy work with the shock mounts too.2nd pic shows them to my stinger up front.

San Antonio 2009 045.jpg

San Antonio 2009 046.jpg
 
Looks good. keep the pics coming! I wanna see how you mounted your 9.5ti, havent decided which way I wanna mount mine.:crazy:
 
I will be tieing them together in time with some flanges.
I'll be out of tube for that, so in time.
Well, when I say fancy I mean it looks like it belongs on a buggy, not my beater.
 
Just a quick update when all said and done.
anti-wrapfrntend013.jpg

anti-wrapfrntend014.jpg
 
Looks good... let's go wheelin'! Chris and I are going to Bald on Memorial weekend :deal:
I'm getting my d-shaft lengthened and I need to whip up some quick shock mounts and spacers for my bump stops then I'm ready.
 
Updated first post. Questions?? Need to narrow just not sure to go tube or keep the support and cut it down.Ideas??
 
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