I'm going to remove the front grill so I can paint the radiator core support. Does the part just above the grill that has the FORD letters and houses the hood latch have to come off? What is the best way to get the grill off?


Also, What suggested color should the core support be? Same as the grill or something else? I'm going to paint the truck Pearl white eventually.

 

Others here can probably give you a play-by-play, but yes, remove the upper panel. In order to avoid damaging the grill I would also remove it with the lower valance/rock guard attached. Some of those old J-nuts can be really hard to remove and you risk breaking the tabs on the grille. On my old truck, the radiator support was black.

 

Yes everything behind the grille should be black.
I also am wanting to pull my grille to sell it.
But I know the bolts will spin and brake off the
ears. Leaving the splash guard on is a good call.
Once it is off than one can have much better access
to these stubborn rusty bolts. Thanks Res.

 

Yeah, buddy. I'm still learning...anything that doesn't twist easy or spins without removing...don't waste your time, just get the grinder out and cut the head or tail off. A good soaking in liquid wrench or the like and wire brushing the exposed threads on the tail save a lot of time as well.

 

Thanks for info. I'll be pulling mine off soon, but not in the next day or two since we are going to get something we haven't seen in a while (rain)

 

There has been many debates on this website about what color the rad supports were when they came from the factory.
"Were they all black or color of body"
I've heard good argument for both sides. SO,,, who knows for sure? I would actually like to know myself. I have seen many over the years, that were both ways and the OPs swear, that's the way they came. I thought for sure that Bill (ND) would have chimed in on that, the last time it came up.
I would really like to know. SOOO?

 

Not sure what you are doubting. Core supports were always black 1961-1966. See if this link works for you. Post #152 from TripleFrame.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post14214217




.

 

um, what color do you want them? that's all that matters. (sorry, i'm drunk again).

 

Core supports and inner fenders were black. Firewall was body color if you want to make it look original. Stone deflector below the grill on a CC was a silver/argent color. Not sure on the non CC trucks. Probably body color if it had a white grill and white bumper

 

hi fritz how is going
here is a pic rad support painted body color and one painted black

 

here is the other pic I like this one

 

IMO, the major task of removing the grille are the U and J nuts that attach the upper and lower valance to the grille and can be difficult; primarily because they are difficult to get to and usually find these nuts are rusted and tend to spin. I found removing the bumper, then take the front clip as an entire unit; upper/lower valance, grille support bracket ( at the top of the rad. support there is an access hole to remove the bolts that secure the grille bracket to the support), grille, then the bolts that secure the grille to the fenders, and there are couple castle nuts that secure the grille support bracket to the lower splash pan, plus couple other nuts and bolts.

 

when you go back up with it , use I small amount of anti-seize on each grill bolt

 

Suggest spraying a dab of penetrating oil day, or couple hours before tackling the job.

 

I got the grille off and only broke one bolt. I would like to replace all bolts and the clips the bolts screw into. Does anyone know what the best source for these bolts and clips are? I looked in Dennis Carpenters and LMC but didn't see anything. Thanks for the tips on removal it was a tremendous help.