does it come off??

[VRSS]

im talking about the panel at the front of my VK, under the front bumper from the headlights down. heres a pic
the bottom part thats all mooshed in, not talking about the top part that the bonnet clips into.

edit: ive removed all visible bolts from the bottom, and the ones connecting the front panels to the bottom of the front quarter panels. taken the bumper support bars off too. it just wont budge

[NOT.BT1]

i think there are 4 welds you have to cut through they are where the head lights sit there are two each side hope this is helpful
cheers Brenden

[VRSS]

ah crap... thanks for the help.. was hoping for a quick fix but if theres welds involved maybe not

[DANNY8]

Yeah it comes off pretty easy. Undo all the bolts and like lowvh6 said ya have to drill out a few welds. There's about 4 or 5 each side tho, can't remember exactly. Just get a drill and use a drill bit about the same diameter if not a fraction bigger then the welds, and drill them out, but don't drill right tho, just enough to pop the weld apart. Then remove the apron, put ya new one on and re-weld in the same holes.

Oh and its easier to cut the apron off around the welds, so u only have the 2 bits that are welded, coz with the apron gone ya can drill out the holes way easier.

Here's some pics of when I did mine. The new front apron cost $50 delivered. I've seen some on ebay recently for about $40.

All up mine took about an hour or 2 to do, so if ya take it into a crash repair place they might not charge heaps.

[vkberlina]

The front apron will dress up pretty easily with a hammer and dolly, why not just repair the one you have?

cheers
scott

[VRSS]

The front apron will dress up pretty easily with a hammer and dolly, why not just repair the one you have?

cheers
scott

its pretty bad, its bent like a zigzag in the middle and stuff..
also the top radiator support bar where mines kinked under, is that repairable or will i need a new one welded in? cause my car has to go for another inspection eventually if i want to fix it, and i want it back on the road asap, just not sure weather its worth fixing or not.

thanks

[DANNY8]

From www.ozeparts.com.au, ya can get the VK apron for $55, and a VH (don't have one listed for a vk) radiator support panel is $155.

[ported]

I wouldnt go replacing anything there looks like it would be pretty easy to fix with a hammer n dolly like vkberlina said. then a bit of bog and some paint and you'll never know the difference

[VRSS]

even the top radiator support?
i might get out there this weekend and try and get it straightened up a little.

[vkberlina]

Yes the lot looks perfectly fine to beat out, my radiator support & front apron looks alot worse after being towed out of a sand trap with it and and cleaned up perfectly without bog. Depends how good you are with a hammer, dolly & oxy.

If you must replace it, just a warning do you best not to buy a aftermarket radiator support they are different to the OEM and dont fit the same. Personally I would use a second hand support before using a repro one.

cheers
Scott