What the hell caused this? Any ideas?

[Skillet]

While I was installig my horn, I noticed this big impression in the radiator. Does not match anything in front or around.

What do you guys think?

Road debris perhaps?

 

[Sangamo]

Water crossing causing fan to flex into radiator???

 

[Tools R Us]

Something hanging down and swinging back and forth, horns maybe?

 

[fzj80kidpen]

Interesting,
What else follows that arch?

 

[Skillet]

Interesting,
What else follows that arch?

Nothing. It ends there. Like a half circle.

 

[Skillet]

Water crossing causing fan to flex into radiator???

Nope, that is on the outside, right behind the grill.

See, it is wierd.

That pic was taken looking up from the ground, BTW.

 

[Darwood]

Actually I believe that's the AC condenser. Still doesn't explain the pattern though.

 

[Skillet]

Actually I believe that's the AC condenser. Still doesn't explain the pattern though.

You are correct. Condensor.

Even if the front was smashed in, there would be no explanation for the pattern.

Unless, perhaps, at one point the condensor was removed and somthing fell on it or was set on it...hmmmmm

 

[re_guderian]

somebody got excited with a pressure washer???

 

[Koffer]

It looks like there may have been a getto hood lock on it . A pad lock on a bit of chain

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Something kicked up from the road?

 

[bkgiii]

I'm pretty sure that's the markings of a 'Bullhead'........the local term for a swamp rabbit down here that, at the moment of impact, somhow finds it's way up to the rad and, due to the curvature of its torso in mid-hop, leaves that impression on the fins of the rad.

More likely, though...............I have no idea, but I'm interested in reading the subsequent posts.

 

[CruisinGA]

Any evidence the radiator has been serviced by a rad shop?

Might have been damaged by the fan for any number of reasons, and then the radiator was serviced and the techs swapped the upper and lower tanks around so that the bad side would face front.

I don't know why you would want to do this, could have been an accident etc.

 

[BOUNDER]

Any evidence the radiator has been serviced by a rad shop?

Might have been damaged by the fan for any number of reasons, and then the radiator was serviced and the techs swapped the upper and lower tanks around so that the bad side would face front.

I don't know why you would want to do this, could have been an accident etc.

Hmmmm, is this the original rad or a replacement? Also, if repaired, flipped around upon install? It has to have been like that for some time - just never noticed - r u original owner?

 

[Darwood]

Guys remember this is the AC condenser, not the radiator. The AC condenser is mounted on the grill side of the radiator.

Now that we cleared that up, commence with the theories!

 

[offroadkid]

Tire tread shrapnel left on the freeway from a semi, kicked-up from a vehicle in front of you? It's shaped like the curve of dead retread. That's my guess!!

 

[Skillet]

Tire tread shrapnel left on the freeway from a semi, kicked-up from a vehicle in front of you? It's shaped like the curve of dead retread. That's my guess!!

that makes sense. best so far!...or maybe the hopping bunny theory...hmmmmm

 

[notyourmomslx450]

I'm going to say that you rear ended a rather rotund (fatassted) woman after having a few tee many martoonis. on impact, her large, moonish posterior crammed in between the grate of the grill play-doh style and imprinted itself on your condenser.

either that, or the hanging, swinging object theory sounds good.

 

[Skillet]

Hmmmm, is this the original rad or a replacement? Also, if repaired, flipped around upon install? It has to have been like that for some time - just never noticed - r u original owner?

Two owners before me...no way to tell really. Everything appears original. I am pretty good at decerning if there have been accidents.

I know from admission that somebody backed into this car and did some very light fender bender damage, and that is why the drivers fender has been repainted/replaced.
However, nothing in the front looks messed with. All of the original paint around bolts is still intact and the hood is original and never been removed.

Perhaps the condensor was removed and damaged during repair. That would be my best guess. I don't know what would be hanging down there.

Other than that, the piece of re-tread sounds like a good theory.

 

[Tools R Us]

Trust me, seen that kind of damage a bunch of times, something was hanging there, everytime the truck accelerated it swung back impacting the condenser, when the brakes were applied it swung forward, then back into the condenser when the truck stopped. When turning it swings to the side impacting in an arc. Each impact made a small dent in the fins, overtime that's the mark it leaves. From the shape of it, I would guess that the bolt came out of the horns and they hung by their wires, but it could have been a bunch of things including a chain hood lock like Koffer said, most of the time chains leave a bunch of closer together arcs, one for each link.