Just wondering how hard it would be to remove the inner fender on a 97 F150 4x4. I am just asking because I have to replace my radio antenna wire since I am getting poor reception.

 

.......about 10 minutes. There are 4-5 screws around the fenders edge, 1 screw bottom of fender under door edge, 3-4 christmas trees at the radiator support and I think 1 christmas tree center top of inner fender. I think you can get to them all without removing the flare screws. I just had my right one off to replace a fender. I try to photo everything but you got me on this one.

 

thanks for the reply.

 

Some inner fenders are a real pain to get out but these are surprisingly easy. BTW, really nice truck you have! Looks like a twin to my 1998. I just put the updated nose on mine.

 

Thanks for the compliment. I was looking at your gallery also and the updated front end is sweet looking. I'm about to hit 200k in about 3 miles. I like the twin thing. I've seen few other F150s around here that are the same color as ours.

What was all involved in doing the updated nose on your truck? Cost and parts needed? I might do that down the road if money permits.

 

Sometimes if you go by Ford dealership body shops you can get good used parts for cheap. I gathered for a few months and it ended up costing me less than $250 ..... $100 of that was bumper/valance.

 

I read somewhere befor that you have to replace the fenders and hood to work with the 99-03 front end because the 97-98 fenders and hood don't work. Is that true?

 

No. Here's the list that was posted previously on FTE.


‘97-‘98 to ’99-up F150 Front End Swap

The whole front will bolt on but none of the 97-98 parts will work on the 99+ or vice versa. Good sized part lists but a very easy job.


------------------------Normal F-150 Front End Upgrade ----------------

(1) 1999-2004H Grille Shell
(1) 1999-2004H Left Grille Shell black plastic deflector
(1) 1999-2004H Right Grille Shell black plastic deflector
(1) 1999-2004H Bumper
(1) 1999-2004H Left Bumper Brace
(1) 1999-2004H Right Bumper Brace
(1) 1999-2004H Left Bumper-to-Frame Mounting Bracket
(1) 1999-2004H Right Bumper-to-Frame Mounting Bracket
(1) 1999-2004H Bumper Top-Pad
(1) 1999-2004H Bumper 2WD Bottom Air Dam
---------------------or--------------------
(1) 1999-2004H Bumper 4WD Bottom Air Dam w/ Fog Lights
You can reuse the plastic deflectors but they need to be trimmed.


2-4 hrs depending on how much help you've got. Pull the bumpers off first, then the grille shell. You'll need to take the corner lights out to get to 2 screws behind them. IF you have an early production 97 (6/96 or earlier), the lights are mounted different. Just pull the 2 metal tabs behind the header panel. The head and corner light will come out in 1 piece. On the later version, there is 1 screw on top of the corner light. There are also 2 metal clips on the bottom of the shell.

 

Thanks for the info ncranchero. Looks like a straight forward job.

 

Got the most for the least of anything I've done lately!