I need to get to the transmission cooler but I can't figure out how to get the grill off. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

It may be easier to lean the radiator back, depending what you want to do to the cooler. It doesn't sound like a stock setup, can you get to it from underneath?

 

Unfortunately it also has an air conditioning condenser in the way so the only way to access is through the grill. Thanks for the diagram.

 

You might have to separate the fender halves to sneak the grill out. If you look at the diagram the grill has a lip around the back edge that might make it hard to slip the grill directly out.

Taking the entire front clip off might be the only option, which isn't really too hard if you have help. The entire clip comes off after removing about eight bolts. Hopefully you can just remove the grill.

 

I've tried a couple of times to remove a grill on one of these....
You can't do it without separating the fenders. As Bob mentioned there is a lip at the back edge of the grill that keeps it from sliding forward. Why on earth Ford would design it that way, I have no idea. One of Ford's better ideas I guess.

I think Ford designed this whole front clip where the grill magically hung in the air and all the remaining pieces were then fastened to it.

The last time I pulled a grill I unbolted one fender (I didn't take it all the way off) but unbolted it enough to give some lateral leeway to slip the grill out.

Good luck
Bobby

 

I'm pretty sure the design has all to do with assembly and alignment on the line. They probably bolted the inner fender panels to the cab and radiator support, then the grill and they the lip was used to align the fender parts.

I doubt very much if they cared how they came apart. I'm sure if you could find any of the guys who were on the line at the time and showed this forum they'd think we were all nuts for working on these old trucks.

 

I think you're right Bob.

The first time I tried pulling a grill was in the middle of this old wrecking yard, all I had was a few basic wrenches and a screwdriver. I messed with it for hours. That's when I learned that it was usually easier to overtighten and break the bolts off instead of trying to remove them.

Bobby

 

I guess I was just tired last night after pulling the transmission, exhaust, and interior out of the truck. I went back this morning and realized that I could gain access by removing the top panel that the hood pin and spring bolts to. Two minutes work. Thanks again for all the help!

 

Whew!! dodged that bullet

Good luck
Bobby

 

I was having flashbacks. I owned a car called an MG1100 Sports Sedan which required removal of the grill to access the distributor. The problem with British cars is you need to get to the distributor quite often, typically on the side of the road in the pitch black of night and in the pouring rain. As you can imagine, the grill was a pain to remove.