Structural Question 4u

[Fishtiva]

Hi everyone. Haven't been here for awhile. I have a frame/structure question for you.
My 93 is solid, and got nailed by a snowplow in the college lot in April. Bent the driver side corner of the hood, fender, smashed the parking lense, and took out the headlite. I'm finally getting time to fix it (was off the road since then) and thought it might be a good time to pop in a pair of BMW 325 IS dual headlites I've had laying around. Cosmetically, they'll look great, but to fit them in, I'll have to cut into the metal where the edges of the grill mount, and shorten or build a new grill. And the driver's side is critically close to the rad. I thought I'd consult the Gods (you guys) before I make any attempts. Any thoughts??

[festivaWES]

Drill out the radiator core support, go to the junkyard do the same to that one and spot weld it in the damaged ones place. Or the cheap solution hammer and grind it out the best you can for everything to fit cosmetic wise.

[Fishtiva]

Hammer and grind was my first thought as we only have two junkyards in the vicinity and I live in Tinytown. But will it still be structurally sound in the front with some of that metal missing?

[Mike McKown]

Somebody could probably give you an intelligent answer if you provided a photo or drawing of the area of consideration.

[Fishtiva]

o.k.

[Icedawg]

come on - a structurally sound Festiva front end? Given the quality of steel was it ever sound to begin with?
Most of the structural strength is in the bottom, where the rails come forward to the bumper mount, and the rail that goes across at the bottom. Up above is cosmetic, and only supports the rad. If you are leaving enough steel to keep the rail intact across the front of the car it will live up to the job it has to do.

[Fishtiva]

Considering I straightened the hood and fender with my bare hands and a piece of bamboo (grasping onto my asian roots), I agree with your comment on the front end. Ironically, that's what got me concerned in the first place.
All I'm doing is cutting a second headlite hole towards the center to accomodate the inner Beemer lens. It's one housing with two round lights. So those few extra inches where the grill clips in won't be there at all. It'll be more like a horseshoe shape than a hole.

Thanx for the input. I'll post pics when they're in.

[Festiva_tunner]

Drill out the radiator core support, go to the junkyard do the same to that one and spot weld it in the damaged ones place. Or the cheap solution hammer and grind it out the best you can for everything to fit cosmetic wise.

I've replaced the core support and have good pictures of the process if you need (I just havnt gotten around to the complete welding process yet though but it is tacked in) Its not a difficult process at all and could be done in a weekend.
PM me if your interested in pics

[Fishtiva]

Thanx!!