Non bodyman dumb question about AMD rad supports

[Ghoste]

Sorry if this is insulting to the body professionals but how hard is to swap out the lower portion of a rad support?  You know, leave the top yoke in there and just change the opening the radiator actually mounts to.
As a couple of side questions, my understanding is that the AMD stuff is shipped with the yoke and cradle separated, is this true?  Is the AMD cradle a 26 inch opening?

[bill440rt]

Yes, you can do that. Just drill out the spot welds.
The lower tie bar fits on top of the rail ends so that one is easy. 

[Ghoste]

Thanks Bill, do you know about my part 2?

[bill440rt]

Sorry, I do not. I've never purchased an AMD rad support.
The only difference between the 22" & 26" supports is the passenger side baffle. That's it. The rest of the unit is the same. 

[Ghoste]

Is that baffle a separate part or is it just as easy to change out the whole support?

[Charger-Bodie]

I have used an amd radiator supt. they come as a complete assembly. If you are looking to upgrade to a 26 opening I would change both side baffles and the lower yoke ,just so yo can keep them together. Just remove the upper tie bar and leave yours in place.

[bill440rt]

Pretty sure the rad support was serviced either as a complete assembly or individual parts originally.
Although I don't see the baffles listed separately on AMD's website, I'm fairly certain I have seen them separate before. Sometimes I do see NOS individual pieces also once in while on eBay.
http://www.autometaldirect.com/body-components-radiator-support-radiator-supports-c-23_136_55.html

The only difficult part is that it is sandwiched between the lower tie bar and frame rail, so you'll have to drill thru the spotwelds to separate them at the bottom. Otherwise it's pretty straightforward.

Edit: Here's one I found on eBay.  
http://www.ebay.com/itm/68-70-MOPAR-B-BODY-26-INCH-RADIATOR-CORE-SUPPORT-RH-BRACE-CONVERSION-BRACKET-/200926762907?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACharger&hash=item2ec82b179b&vxp=mtr

[Ghoste]

Thanks guys, I saw on a suppliers website something about the AMD part being sent as two separate parts now and no longer as an assembly but I only saw it in one place and it didn't say why.  They didn't provide much else for details either.

[comet_666]

http://xvengineering.com/collections/frontpage/products/lower-radiator-support

I got this for mine a while back..fit right in.

[Charger-Bodie]

Thanks guys, I saw on a suppliers website something about the AMD part being sent as two separate parts now and no longer as an assembly but I only saw it in one place and it didn't say why.  They didn't provide much else for details either.

They must have changed it. I put one in a Charger last summer and it came assembled.

As for the bare metal piece Bill linked. That is a good part and a viable option, but not made by amd.

[Ghoste]

Is it an accurate reproduction though?

[kab69440]

I believe the XV piece is the formed tube reinforcement, not the stamped sheet shown above(for fit reference).

[Charger-Bodie]

Is it an accurate reproduction though?

It's not points nice,but I have used those a few times. They are just as close as the amd part.

[Ghoste]

Okay.  Raises another question though, where does the AMD one fall short for points close?

[Charger-Bodie]

It's a nice part overall. The biggest things that are incorrect are the welded nuts. Totally wrong shape. We usually change them out.

[Ghoste]

Oh okay thats not too bad then, not like a contour in the panel or anything.

[Charger-Bodie]

even that stuff is going to be a little off, maybe not as crisp or a lip thats not as tall. Its made in China so the specs are going to be wide.