structural support on the front end

[Josh]

Alright guys, I've ran into a problem. I'm running a 5.3l turbo charged motor. I decided to up size my intercooler but have no room. I removed the thin sheet metal pipe that supports the frame rails already to make room for my current setup. Now with the larger intercooler I also need this support in front of the radiator gone. Eveyone think it'll be alright to remove this and add more steel pipe/ bar onto the hard black bumper in front? I don'tsee why not. The support in front of the radiator is more thin sheet metal. I attached a picture. It has the horn mounts ect on it right now.

[Ebush]

I removed both bars you mention and replaced with an L shaped piece of steel. I'll see if I have a picture.

[Ebush]

Here is what I did.

[Josh]

Similar to what my plans are. But weld the support further forward where the bumper bolts on. Maybe 3 inches forward from where the support i pictured is.

[Ebush]

Similar to what my plans are. But weld the support further forward where the bumper bolts on. Maybe 3 inches forward from where the support i pictured is.

You can't get any further forward than mine. It's as far out on the frame rails as you can get.

[spacevomit]

I think so, as long as you make an upper and lower support, to keep it in double shear. If done properly it should be more rigid than stock.

[Josh]

Been thinking about doing it like this instead. Not sure how much cutting would have to be done to the bumper though.

[digitalsolo]

Tubular upper/lower supports on the front of my FC.   Lower is a subframe that unbolts to service:

[Josh]

I do like that.. no actual bumper support in front of the intercooler? The black fiberglass material? Have a picture of what cutting you had to do to the bumper?

[digitalsolo]

Nothing in front of the intercooler.

Here is a front shot that you can see the bumper trimming on:

[smg id=6699]

[SpendOne]

Heres mime

[Ebush]

Heres mime

sorry to hijack, is that a vic jr? how much actually stuck out of the hood with that elbow? im not running that setup but running something similar in height, trying to figure out if this 4" cowl im getting will be enough to clear my 10.5" tall setup.

[SpendOne]

Heres mime

sorry to hijack, is that a vic jr? how much actually stuck out of the hood with that elbow? im not running that setup but running something similar in height, trying to figure out if this 4" cowl im getting will be enough to clear my 10.5" tall setup.

Its actually a super vic. I have a 4" cowl and my hood sits right on the TB elbow.If theres anyhting else u need to know, let me know. I had more of an issue with the alternator mounting then the intake itself. I have homemade mounts on the motor instead of the kit so I believe my motor sits a little higher.