Need advice on bent front frame :(

[many944s]

First off, it's not as bad as it sounds.
Since I found my guibo was shot, I decided I would go ahead and replace the Water pump, timing belt, tensioner, hoses, thermo, etc. while it is out of commission. As I took out the radiator I noticed that the A/C exchanger was pushed towards the rear of the car at the top? As I inspected more, I found that the oil cooler was pushed up, out of place and is pinned against the front air dam

I went ahead and evacuated the A/C system to remove the coil to get a better look, only to find that someone in the past must have jacked the car up under the cross member that goes across the bottom front of the car under the radiator and A/C coil, pushing it up and towards the front of the car.

I would like to correct this before I re-assemble the car, if for no other reason so I get air flow through the oil cooler. That, and if I dont It will just bug me knowing it isn't right

Any advise is appreciated, I think I am going to see if someone from one of the local collision repair centers will come out and take a look at it to see if they can pull it back to shape on a rack.

Thanks,
Nick

[Jeron]

Why cant you bend it back yourself? The should not have effected any other portion of the suspension.

A body shop will probably weld in a new piece.

[many944s]

I gave it a half hearted try yesterday to bend it back, but it is a welded box shape, so getting enough force downward on it is not easy.

I'm watching my daughter this morning, but will be able to work on the car this afternoon. I am going to remove the bumper and front lower sheet metal in an attempt to use a bottle jack between the block wall and the cross member to bend it back towards the rear of the car. I'm not quite sure how I am going to get enough force on it to push it back "down"?

I'm not overly concerned, but I would like to make sure that the oil cooler is getting enough air flow, and the A/C coil fits back in so I have the proper spacing between the radiator and fan.

I'll try to take some pictures of before and after whaling on it later today.

[Jeron]

I agree that it may not be necessary to fix it.

How about lashing the middle it to the ground in some manner and the jacking both sides of the cross member.

[many944s]

SUCCESS IS MINE

Well, it wasn't easy, but I managed to reshape the crossmember myself! It involved a couple of homemade jigs constructed of 1/2" steel and 1/2"x4" oak planks, a bottle jack, 2 jack stands, and a floor beam jack!!

To make a long story short, everything fits back where it should! All my engine parts and new guibo get here on Monday, so she should be back on the road by Wednesday

Thanks,
Nick