Gravel pan replace or fix?????
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Woodridge IL
Gravel pan replace or fix?????
Here is my thought.... Yep it's only one. Bob's f100 has a replacement gravel pan for $130. The body shop want's roughly $200 to fix and blend the one thats on there. My concerns are getting the current pan off, then trying to match the paint on a new part. I'm also concerned with having the body shop use a filler on the body. Please advise on wht would be better, and also what needs to be done to remove the current gravel pan.
Thanks,
Heavy_56
Thanks,
Heavy_56
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
Gravel pan replace or fix?????
I would have the body shop fix it if it was mine. The gravel pan is not that easy to get wrenchs on and I could just see me scratching the fenders while installing the replacement gravel pan. A good body shop will hammer out the dent as much as possible then use just a very thin layer of bondo for the final finish. The bondo may be a problem for you if your truck has never had any bondo before, but I think the vast majority of us have at least a little. $200 from a body shop seems very cheap. Are you sure they are even using any bondo/filler? It sounds to me like they may be doing it in a "paintless manner" with cold and heat to pop out the dent. Good luck, John
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Woodridge IL
Gravel pan replace or fix?????
The price is for pounding it out and fill. They havn't seen it yet the price was just a phone quote. I was thinking there is a lot to taking off that gravel pan. Are there and factory welds holding it on???
Thanks,
Heavy_56
Thanks,
Heavy_56
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
Gravel pan replace or fix?????
I'm in the same boat so be sure to post what you end up doing.
$130 seems like a good deal for a bolt on replacement, is that a
new reproduction piece or a good used one?
Mine is bashed up from the previous owner running into stuff with no front bumper on. I think I could probably bash it out and slap a little filler on to make it good as new but for $130 it may not be worth it if I can just bolt a new one on.
$130 seems like a good deal for a bolt on replacement, is that a
new reproduction piece or a good used one?
Mine is bashed up from the previous owner running into stuff with no front bumper on. I think I could probably bash it out and slap a little filler on to make it good as new but for $130 it may not be worth it if I can just bolt a new one on.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 932
Likes: 9
From: DFW, TX
Gravel pan replace or fix?????
Heavy_56,
Removing the pan involves removing the park lamp assemblies, unbolting from the lower fenders (3 bolts per side, I think) and unbolting from the air deflectors (another 2 or 3 bolts per side). The center grill support also bolts to the gravel pan, if my memory serves.
The difficulty level depends alot on the amount of rust and crud on the fasteners!
Like John said, the bolts can be hard to get wrenches on and sliding sheet metal out from between the fenders and back in, could be hazardous to your paint.
Good Luck,
Removing the pan involves removing the park lamp assemblies, unbolting from the lower fenders (3 bolts per side, I think) and unbolting from the air deflectors (another 2 or 3 bolts per side). The center grill support also bolts to the gravel pan, if my memory serves.
The difficulty level depends alot on the amount of rust and crud on the fasteners!
Like John said, the bolts can be hard to get wrenches on and sliding sheet metal out from between the fenders and back in, could be hazardous to your paint.Good Luck,
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
Gravel pan replace or fix?????
Heavy 56, There are no welds and the numbers that Kent brought up seem right. I remember when I took mine off about 6 months ago, that the bolts were very corroded and I ended up having to cut one off. This was inside the fender where there is very tight access. The others required the use of a pair of visegrips to hold the bolt while I pulled on the nut. For my vote, any fix is better than having to fight with those bolts and taking a risk of further damage to your existing paint. If you do decide to remove it though, I would suggest having a friend handy and spraying the bolts the night before with WD40 or liquid wrench. This will help loosen them and maybe help you out a little. Good Luck, John
