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Radiator Support Lower Tie Bar?

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3K views 12 replies 4 participants last post by  butch_n  
#1 ·
I bought a new tie bar, mine needs to be replaced on the 92. The old owner used it as a jacking point and bent it. I'm pretty sure that is what happened to it, since there appears to be small scratches on it where the jack was placed and slid a little as the car was raised. Since it is bent, the air deflector that bolts to it is not straight as it bows in the middle.

These are spot welded on, so I will need to take it to a shop to be replaced. I'm wondering if anyone knows what all must be removed from the front end for this piece to be replaced. To save on labor I would like to do as much as I can myself.

I bought a new air deflector from Nalley Buick, if it isn't discontinued and no longer available.
 

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#2 ·
Is the air deflector, which you refer to, the rubber curved parts on the front of either side of the radiator that serve to deflect air into the rad? I know that makes sense, but just wanted to confirm the identification so as to ask if this is still available. Please let us know if you find one. I would buy one too.
 
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#3 ·
docmart said:
Is the air deflector, which you refer to, the rubber curved parts on the front of either side of the radiator that serve to deflect air into the rad? I know that makes sense, but just wanted to confirm the identification so as to ask if this is still available. Please let us know if you find one. I would buy one too.
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The air deflector is the plastic part that hangs low right below the radiator, and it bolted to the core support.
 
#5 ·
frankd said:
With what has to be removed, you would not be able to drive the car.
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Yeah, I knew I wouldn't be able to drive it there, as I'm sure the radiator, etc. has to be taken out. The shop I will get to do it is 0.9 mile away and I was going to tow it over there. I just don't want to waste time taking off a lot of stuff that wouldn't really need to be removed for the bar to be changed out. I'm not sure how much room around the area they will need though. I suppose I could asked them, just thought maybe someone here had an idea of what will and won't be in the way.
 
#7 ·
heartbeat1991 said:
Radiator, condenser, cooling fan, plastic filler panels in the bumper, the air deflector, possibly the bumper cover.

I'm sure you could ask them what they want removed.
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Thanks. Yeah, I will stop by there when the bar gets here and see what they say. I've got everything to change over to the Phase I front end, so I guess now is a perfect time to do it, lol. I'm going to have to mod my hood striker since I haven't found a good 88-90 hood. I think I have come up with a solution though using an 88 striker. Not ideal, but will work. I have to mod the 92 striker which will become a backing plate for the 88's. The 92's on the inside of the hood in it's stock location and the 88 on the outside riveted together with the hood sandwiched inbetween. The 88 safety catch screwed through both striker plates. The striker will be 1/8 to 3/16" lower than stock, but the latch can be adjusted enough to make up for it. But I am still hood hunting, so one may show up before I get this done.

Thanks for the helps.
 
#8 ·
Oh yeah, I should have mentioned, these are hard to get items. A few places showed they had them, but they did not and refunded me. I was about to try Nalley which is very expensive, if they do really have them (you know some things they are unable to get, even though they show on the site). I just happened to try ebay again (I had ordered one from another seller that also refunded me saying they no longer had them and was unable to locate one). And this place showed they had 8 (now showing 7 left since I bought one). It has been shipped and the pictures are not 'stock photos', so I feel sure it is the what I needed. I think it is aftermarket though.

Anyway, if somebody thinks it is something they may need, might be a good idea to get one now.
<LINK_TEXT text="http://www.ebay.com/itm/381057320018?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT">http://www.ebay.com/itm/381057320018?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT</LINK_TEXT>
 
#11 ·
It came today and is a nice reproduction. Made in Taiwan, which now makes things much better than China, imo. I remember years ago when Taiwan was just like China is today. If it said Made in Taiwan, put it back on the shelf and leave the store. Well, after years of manufacturing experience, Taiwan stuff is much better than it first was. Maybe China will get it right in another 20 years, lol.

Anyway, the piece is well made, appears exactly like the factory one and all holes seem to be in the correct place. The metal is heavy and tough too. I took it to the shop this afternoon, but they were closed. I will try to get over there one evening this week and see what they say about putting it on for me.
 
#12 ·
Got the car yesterday. It was raining, so I got some much needed rest and didn't mess with it. Today, I went out to check it out, it is a perfect fit. They did a great job changing it out. I was going to get the front end on (Phase I style) today, but spent 2 hours looking in every box, jar, coffee container and anything else that looked like might have auto parts in it for a stud screw to put the spark plug wire holder on with. I guess the guy I bought the car from misplaced the original one and he used a standard bolt where the stud goes and left the wire holder unattached. I have known this forever and know I got a stud off a junker months ago. But of course I couldn't find it, so off to LKQ I went and spent most of the day on that trip. So I didn't get much done as far as putting it back together.

Anyway, the new bar was money well spent. Now my new air deflector will mount straight and look like it is supposed to.

I'll take some pictures tomorrow of the bar and some of the Phase II to Phase I. I have already drilled out the rivets that held the crush piece to the bumper. Easy enough with a long 1/4" drill bit. Hopefully everything will be straight forward with no surprises. I believe I have everything, except a hood and will have to mod and mount a Phase I striker onto a Phase II hood. I figured if worse comes to worse and it doesn't work, I'll use my 88 hood and get another one for it when one shows up again. But I do believe the mod I'm going to do will work just fine.
 
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