Radiator and panel fitment issues

[aceckel]

I am trying to install my radiator and something doesn't seem right. Actually, the big concern I am having is with the side panels.

In the pics, I have everything mocked up. Radiator is right where I want it, it is flat and not warped. It is resting at 50 degrees on the floor jack. Breeze specifies 51 degrees. I will also be using a Breeze lower radiator support. It will also fit no problem.

So, before I started drilling and mounting the radiator, I thought I would check to see how the side panels fit - even with the body off. UH OH. Check out the pics. Driver side looks fine. With a little positioning, I could get that in place and even silicone it. But why is the passenger side so far off? Check out the air gap between the bottom lip and the radiator side. It is over an inch. If I lowered that to get the lip flush with the radiator, it seems like it would sit so much lower than the other side that it wouldn't even touch the body with it on.

I've noticed the panels ae NOT symmetrical. Did I get a miscut or misbent panel?

Suggestions, comments, and insights much appreciated in advance.

[wibby]

It looks to me like your driver's side is off my about the same amount but it's less noticable since there is a gap between the end of the panel and the fins on the radiator. If it were mine (and assuming the body fit good when it was on), I would trim the passenger side with a plasma cutter and a straight edge and move on. If you don't have a plasma cutter, a set of shears like the ones in the link below works well too. I had to trim my panels, but I used a 94 donor radiator which also required custom mounting brackets.

14 Gauge Swivel Head Shear

Good luck,
Wibby

[aceckel]

There is a small gap on the driver side. However, it is so minor it could definitely be siliconed. The other side is over an inch off.

Can anyone answer: Are those panels supposed to be symmetrical??

Mine are NOT and I'm thinking that is the problem. Help!

[Michael Everson]

First off, dont bother fitting the panels untill the body is on. There is no way to know where they will fit best without the body. The panels are not symmetrical. You have the right ones. These three panels were designed with the donor radiator in mind. So they wont fit real nice no matter what you do. They are mostly invisible. May I offer another solution?
Check out replicaparts.com for the nose aluminum. Looks much better than the FFR supplied pieces.

[aceckel]

And there we have the answer! Forum members (sic) spending my $$$$ again!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Mike. Look for another order soon.

[snapperlr]

I will second Mike's radiator panel. I have it and it works out great. You may want to consider the Breeze radiator mount to go with it.

[wibby]

Sorry, I didn't notice the gap on the side, I was looking at the picture of the front. Something does seem off there. I did not have the problem that you do from the side on my MKIII. Sorry I'm not more help.

Wibby

[ROADRACER83]

Originally Posted by aceckel

I am trying to install my radiator and something doesn't seem right. Actually, the big concern I am having is with the side panels.

In the pics, I have everything mocked up. Radiator is right where I want it, it is flat and not warped. It is resting at 50 degrees on the floor jack. Breeze specifies 51 degrees. I will also be using a Breeze lower radiator support. It will also fit no problem.

So, before I started drilling and mounting the radiator, I thought I would check to see how the side panels fit - even with the body off. UH OH. Check out the pics. Driver side looks fine. With a little positioning, I could get that in place and even silicone it. But why is the passenger side so far off? Check out the air gap between the bottom lip and the radiator side. It is over an inch. If I lowered that to get the lip flush with the radiator, it seems like it would sit so much lower than the other side that it wouldn't even touch the body with it on.

I've noticed the panels ae NOT symmetrical. Did I get a miscut or misbent panel?

Suggestions, comments, and insights much appreciated in advance.

aceckel:

The panels are not right from FFR. Mine did the same thing, so I did a template the way I wanted it, made out of pattern paper and redid it. I had a local sheet metal shop bend the panel at a right angle. You can make the stock one work better if you notch the panel where it fits over the frame part just above the body mounting bolts. that drops it down in the front which makes it better fit the radiator.

[Radar Pete]

I believe the panels are not symetrical because they were originally made for the donor radiator. I just tweaked mine a bit.

[Laser Stan]

I found exactly the same problem with mine, and I went round and round with FFR about it. They eventually agreed to send me another PS panel, but it turned out to be the same bad fit as the one I already had (which was powder coated anyhow). So, I unbent the panel a few degrees, tilted the radiator up, and introduced a 1/2" thick foam cushion between the panel and the radiator. It actually worked out well, but there's no question in my mind that these panels are not made correctly.

P.S. I'll be sending the second (and still bad) panel back to FFR as I promised.

[PaulW]

Mine were the same. I actually ended up adding a piece to the top of the PS panel so I could bring it forward to the quick jack bolt heads. Even then I had to widen the notches for the heads of the bolts. I finally got them all fitted and they don't look bad. However they are only staying on until the body comes off for paint. I have one of Mike's sitting on a shelf waiting for installation.