'92 Front end on a '94?

[Secant]

I'm looking into purchasing a 1994 Q with 129,000 miles. The car was in an accident, and the damage is mostly cosmetic: driver side bumper and headlight are bent, and the hood is a little crumpled. The air box is crushed, and there's a leak from the power steering reservoir. However, I have access to a '92 Q in a junkyard with a dead engine (99.9% likely the timing chain guides) that I would be able to take whatever parts I need from. I know the airbox and PS reservoir are the same.

The big question, then, is this: Will the front end pieces from the '92 fit on the front end of the '94? I was under the impression that the mounts and fitment for each style was identical, even though the '92 doesn't have a grill.

...Which leads to the next question: will I be able to get adequate cooling without the grille? From my understanding, the older front end scooped up air from underneath the bumper, but will it be enough, and will it be directed to the appropriate place?

Other than these major problems, everything else wrong (all cosmetic) is fixable with other parts from the parts car.

So, will it work? Thanks for any replies, and please excuse any n00bishness on my part. I'm sure there's a guide somewhere on q45.org explaining in great detail how to do this. If there's not, perhaps I'll make one (assuming it is indeed workable).

This is a great community, by the way. If the Q is even half as good as you say, I know I'm going to thoroughly enjoy owning one.

[elwesso]

welcome to NICO!

It shoudl work, people put 94 front ends on 90-93s sometimes, so it should work the other way.

[Secant]

Brilliant, thanks so much. Do you have any thoughts on the airflow?

How does the grille-less bumper work, anyway? Does it scoop up air from underneath and direct it at the radiator, or is there something more complicated?

[elwesso]

Actually, on a stock 94 it doesnt get any more airflow to the radiator due to the grille, there is a black trim piece there..

But on the 90-93 there is an airdam that brings in air.

[Secant]

Yeah, that's right! I remember seeing a big hunk of plastic right in front of the grille. I feel much better now, I can't wait to start this project.

This really is good, I think it looks much more distinctive without the grill. Thanks for the welcome!

[maxnix]

I remember AZHitman saying the sheet metal was quite different, so you might plan on the fenders also. But I have no personal knowledge.

The gille does have openings that flow to the radiator. Some said it was necessary for the R134a being not as efficient as R12 of non-grille years.

[Jesda]

You definitely need to swap the fenders.

[midnightsliding]

you need fenders/hood/bumper/lights/hood latch. my girll lets more air to where its needed most haha. but for real with the 94 front on my car the car runs cooler and allows more air to get to the Rad/intercooler. my temps stayed lower and allowed me to do about 15 runs around this track around here to where i could only do about 8 runs on a cooler day with my 91 front end. i mean 15 runs in 3rd gear wide open sideways thats aton compared to my friends s13 with FMIC and Koyo he got abut 8 runs also b4 his temps started to raise.

heres a pic of my grillz son.

[Secant]

Yeah, the parts car is complete and I was planning on replacing the fenders as well as the bumper and hood.

I think the airflow will be OK, I certainly don't plan on racing it! Perhaps some hood vents could help if it becomes a problem (that's a last resort, though).