How do you change a 97 Nissan hardbody radiator core support?

Answer 1

The radiator support is spot welded to the left and right inner fenders. If you replace the support with an aftermarket one, you will need to drill out the spot welds and then spot weld in the new support. An easier option for the do it your selfer is to simply bolt the new support in.

If you decided to find a used support, my advise is to cut the replacement support off several inches back on the radiator support. You can then cut off your damaged support far enough forward so that the inner fenders overlap a few inches. They are usually several extra weld nuts and holes that you can use to line up the two pieces. Pay careful attention to the location of the weld nuts on on the top piece because these will need to be removed for the two pieces to lap together tightly. Leave weld nuts on the bottom piece and these will help in bolting the two pieces together.

To to do either of these, you will need to remove the bumper, the grill, the radiator, a/c condenser, marker lamps, both fenders, cowl (to get to some fender bolts) and various other components that are attached to to radiator support and front parts of the inner fenders.

Other notes:

-To remove the plastic grills in the cowl, push in the center of the plastic rivets with a small screw driver. They can be reused if handled carefully. The wiper arms are head in with nuts.

-Most of the fasteners inside the fenders and radiator are 6 mm fine thread and take a 10 mm socket. A few others have 12 mm and 14 mm heads.

-If you pull a support from junkyard, grab as many of the 6 mm bolts as you can for extras.

-You have to pull the hood latch to detach the cable.

-Buy some siliconized latex caulking from the hardware store to put under to the lapped joints before tightening them together. This will help preserve the joint by keeping moisture out. A little primer on the raw metal edges is also a good idea.