A question to those with some experience.

Beside supporting the radiator, and supporting headlight mounting points - does the radiator support panel provide any stiffening or resistance to twisting when the body is under load?

I'm thinking of cutting mine out and wondering how well I have to weld it back in later....

I guess if you were running a strut brace it wouldnt be so bad, but I'd definately be making some sort of bar to bolt across to replace the rad support.
I think without it the headlights would be too close together, if you know what I mean

edit: just saw that this question is addressed to those with experience... sorry

Your on fire today Tyrie.

I have a strut brace too, and a roll cage welding in. But the cage stops at the firewall (it doesn't intrude into the engine bay)

I guess i have to put it back - but interested if it experiences heavy forces...

Put that engineer hat back on ......
cut the end out of a cardboard box and see if it will flex or twist in a vertical plane. Same theory to me - although not a lot of metal or major steel thickness - it helps tie both inner guards/struts and chassis rails together. I would A) not remove it or B) weld it back in as good or better than original. My 2 cents anyway....
Cheers

Don't cut it out. R fast is onto it, the caster rods will start flopping around as well.

My other master plan was to cut it out - weld some nuts to it and bolt it back on - so I could pull it off or on as I pleased from then on.

Something tells me there might be some resistance to this idea.

I have a panel beater friend who is currently trying to assure me that this will be fine and represent no risk in twisting the body or losing any front end rigidity...the nervous siren went off in my guts - leading me to ask the question.

So if I bolted it back on, how do you all think I would fair on the circuit?

Why do you want to cut it out mildman?

Just to make engine insertion/removal easier....

theres plenty of hi-po 1200s with the rad supports bolted on. makes taking the engine in/out much easier

Ahh me see! can you not just remove the top section of rad support and then the engine can fit through the radiator opening?