I can t figure it out where to start on these gaps Please help

[ViperTim]

Here's what my core support looked like before and after I repaired it. It ain't perfect, but nobody will see it anyways.
Yours were in far worse shape though... quite difficult to repair that one.

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[JimJoeBob]

Fatboy, my gaps are about as bad as yours. Best of luck on your repair. I've been to busy with work to get into mine recently

[Fatboy 18]

Thanks. I've just got home from work and there's no way I'm going into the Garage tonight. too tired and a short fuse is not a recipe for playing.

Oh found out yesterday that both my Woodhouse Engine mounts are fuc*ed too!

Also today I tried to buy some of the rivnuts for fibreglass, you know what, nobody sells them in the UK
Unreal!

In the USA You guys have it made when it comes to car stuff, you have so many engineering and Auto stores and custom shops. I might as well be living in outer mongolia.

So looks like the USA will be getting my business again.

[13COBRA]

Thanks. I've just got home from work and there's no way I'm going into the Garage tonight. too tired and a short fuse is not a recipe for playing.

Oh found out yesterday that both my Woodhouse Engine mounts are fuc*ed too!

Also today I tried to buy some of the rivnuts for fibreglass, you know what, nobody sells them in the UK
Unreal!

In the USA You guys have it made when it comes to car stuff, you have so many engineering and Auto stores and custom shops. I might as well be living in outer mongolia.

So looks like the USA will be getting my business again.

Sounds like you need to move.

[Fatboy 18]

Here's apic of my core support after I cut all the bad stuff off, I will repair this at some point but its not priority at the moment.
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[dave6666]

Brand new factory core supports are $600. Not worth fixing at all with new ones dirt cheap.

[ducatithunder]

Unless your into vintage Porsche too ... then you sir have it made in the UK. Lol

[Fatboy 18]

Brand new factory core supports are $600. Not worth fixing at all with new ones dirt cheap.

Double that price with Shipping and Customs duty charges to the UK Air freight measures it in Volume (size it takes up in the aircraft) So you get well and truly shafted!

I will attempt the repair for a fun project when I get some spare time, I hate throwing stuff away that can be made good.

[JimJoeBob]

The more I get into my car the more and more I don't want to deal with it and just get rid of it. I received the records from the previous owner finally, as I've taken the front end off of the car and am able to inspect it at a much closer detail than before, it's clear the previous owner and dealer clearly knew the car was damaged AND i have the records that show the items up front behind replaced, such as the radiator, also a sworn statement on paper that the dealer the car co-signed through and the previous owner stating the car has zero damage to the "best of their knowledge." Now I know I've been completely ripped off and man I'm pissed. I know it's my fault somehow but damn.

[Red Snake]

You are in it now. It’s fixable. Fix it.

Man up lol.

[JimJoeBob]

You are in it now. It’s fixable. Fix it.

Man up lol.

True, there's no frame damage, or I can see anything that lacks symmetry. I guess I at least have brand new front components it of it.

[Camfab]

Not saying your car wasn’t in a collision, but changing the radiator isn’t always indicative of a collision. My car has zero damage, but the radiator was changed under warranty because it was seeping coolant very early in its life. I do feel your pain, as once I’ve been lied too, it’s over. Most of these cars have had some sort of incident at this point, especially cars that have had hands change a few times. If your super picky then dump the car. Did you have this car inspected?

[1BADV10]

I'd be very upset if this happened to me but if it runs good and the paint work (if it was wrecked) was done right I would work hard to get the lines right on it then decide if you want to sell. Your going to want it fixed to sell it anyway...

[ViperTim]

Brand new factory core supports are $600. Not worth fixing at all with new ones dirt cheap.

Yeah... as Fatboy already said it ain't that easy here in Europe.
It's really expensive getting these stuff in here...

[Fatboy 18]

Well, my cars engine is back up and running tonight, new Howe Aluminium radiator, new setrab series 1, 72 row oil cooler, I made up new -10 oil lines with blue red anodised fittings,
Gulf Racing 15/50 Fully synthetic oil (as endorsed by Aston Martin Racing)
Coolant flushed, engine drain plugs removed, coolant filler tank removed and fully cleaned out, overflow tank fully cleaned too. Now running Evans Waterless coolant.
Back to alignment tomorrow and bolting headlights down

Then on Thursday morning off to the South of france in the car! Cutting it fine!

It was good to hear the car fire up again today

[Fatboy 18]

Yeah... as Fatboy already said it ain't that easy here in Europe.
It's really expensive getting these stuff in here...

I was hoping that if this Brexit deal comes off, we can set up a new trade deal with the USA and get stuff cheaper

[daveg]

True, there's no frame damage, or I can see anything that lacks symmetry. I guess I at least have brand new front components it of it.

Weren't you suspicious when you saw the front end fitment? I trust no one when it comes to people and the cars there selling. Man made it, man can fix it.. fix the car and you will be less pissed when its looks and runs good again.

Good luck, I hope you are once again happy with the car..

[AviP]

The more you fix it, the happier you will be. The Viper never was a perfect car. But it always is a fun car. Drive it and let it not be a garage queen.

[JimJoeBob]

Now that I've had some time to calm down and come back to everything, one large thing that was indicative of a accident was on one side the rebar was cracked. Nothing that prevents it from being used, but it's still damaged. Also, the bottom of the driver side core support has a crack as well. Not a bad one but it's there. I've formulated my plan of attack and that's too be lower the center portion if the fascia while maintaining the height of the outer sides, then bring the hood down to acceptable levels to mate on the side sills, then work from there on compete alignment of the fascia.

[Fatboy 18]

Well I just spent my last day on this before my Vacation trip to join the French Viper Passion club. Sadly its beaten me my arms are ripped to shreds, you have to slide the headlights back to get the christmas tree fasteners into the holes on the rebar, then you have to slide the headlight back into position tighten up the headlights, I had to remove the spot lamp and get my arms through the hole to get to the headlight nuts.
With everything finally bolted up tight the result is it looks crap! Im a practical guy and can get around most things but this has really beaten me I've been over a week at this and im pissed. Ive read peoples how to guides, but I just can not get it correct.

I really want to know how they set these cars up in the factory, did all the cars have the same amount of shims or were they catered to each individual car?
I will post some pics up tomorrow.
Signing off now, not happy

[ViperSRT]

26C1450D-2F1B-473A-B639-37E8F32D87DF.jpegThey used a partial front fascia as an alignment tool that allowed access to the headlight fasteners. I had one of the original assembly guys from Mack Ave come to my house to align mine after the dealership messed it up.

[JimJoeBob]

26C1450D-2F1B-473A-B639-37E8F32D87DF.jpegThey used a partial front fascia as an alignment tool that allowed access to the headlight fasteners. I had one of the original assembly guys from Mack Ave come to my house to align mine after the dealership messed it up.

I wish I had one of those bad boys

[GTS Dean]

26C1450D-2F1B-473A-B639-37E8F32D87DF.jpegThey used a partial front fascia as an alignment tool that allowed access to the headlight fasteners. I had one of the original assembly guys from Mack Ave come to my house to align mine after the dealership messed it up.

That makes perfect sense, and you are extremely fortunate to have a New Mack tech available for helping you out! The finished product looks superb!

Mark - so sorry you weren't able to get this completed before your trip. Being under a schedule crunch is never a place to be with something like this when you're working alone.

[AviP]

They used a partial front fascia as an alignment tool that allowed access to the headlight fasteners. I had one of the original assembly guys from Mack Ave come to my house to align mine after the dealership messed it up.

Now that would an interesting use of an old unusable front bumper. And it should be used as a collective tool of this forum.

[My98RT10]

26C1450D-2F1B-473A-B639-37E8F32D87DF.jpegThey used a partial front fascia as an alignment tool that allowed access to the headlight fasteners. I had one of the original assembly guys from Mack Ave come to my house to align mine after the dealership messed it up.

These are very tight gaps! I understand that everybody is looking for very small gaps but wouldn't too tight gaps become an issue in a way that parts start rubbing on each other and paint gets impacted? I think everything is flexing a bit when driving, right?