radiator support
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
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From: Beaverton OR
radiator support
car accident now i need a new gill, fender, hood, bumper, header panel, radiator , headlight corner light and radiator support. i feel like i can do everything but the radiator support i don't have welding or grinding tools. would a shop just do that part for me and if so how much do you think it would cost? any tips or ideas would help.
97 ford ranger,
2 wheel drive, 2.3L Manuel. i dont know how to post a photo from my computer on here
97 ford ranger,
2 wheel drive, 2.3L Manuel. i dont know how to post a photo from my computer on here
New User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
rad support
car accident now i need a new gill, fender, hood, bumper, header panel, radiator , headlight corner light and radiator support. i feel like i can do everything but the radiator support i don't have welding or grinding tools. would a shop just do that part for me and if so how much do you think it would cost? any tips or ideas would help.
97 ford ranger,
2 wheel drive, 2.3L Manuel. i dont know how to post a photo from my computer on here
97 ford ranger,
2 wheel drive, 2.3L Manuel. i dont know how to post a photo from my computer on here
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Sorry to hear about the accident and I hope everybody's ok.?
If it's just the radiator support that needs replacing and not some other issue with the frame or inner fenders then you shouldn't need a welder or grinder to replace it, just a drill to go through the factory spot welds then a rivet tool to attach the new one. Radiator supports run about $100 on Ebay and mine took about 2 weeks worth of nights and weekends to install. It's a big job but definitely something you can handle without specialty tools. Looking around online a radiator support replacement ran somewhere in the neighborhood of $800-$1000 so tackling it on your own might be well worth the effort.
WTF?! Body mounts rusted off front clip - The Ranger Station Forums
If it's just the radiator support that needs replacing and not some other issue with the frame or inner fenders then you shouldn't need a welder or grinder to replace it, just a drill to go through the factory spot welds then a rivet tool to attach the new one. Radiator supports run about $100 on Ebay and mine took about 2 weeks worth of nights and weekends to install. It's a big job but definitely something you can handle without specialty tools. Looking around online a radiator support replacement ran somewhere in the neighborhood of $800-$1000 so tackling it on your own might be well worth the effort.
WTF?! Body mounts rusted off front clip - The Ranger Station Forums
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton OR
Sorry to hear about the accident and I hope everybody's ok.?
If it's just the radiator support that needs replacing and not some other issue with the frame or inner fenders then you shouldn't need a welder or grinder to replace it, just a drill to go through the factory spot welds then a rivet tool to attach the new one. Radiator supports run about $100 on Ebay and mine took about 2 weeks worth of nights and weekends to install. It's a big job but definitely something you can handle without specialty tools. Looking around online a radiator support replacement ran somewhere in the neighborhood of $800-$1000 so tackling it on your own might be well worth the effort.
WTF?! Body mounts rusted off front clip - The Ranger Station Forums
If it's just the radiator support that needs replacing and not some other issue with the frame or inner fenders then you shouldn't need a welder or grinder to replace it, just a drill to go through the factory spot welds then a rivet tool to attach the new one. Radiator supports run about $100 on Ebay and mine took about 2 weeks worth of nights and weekends to install. It's a big job but definitely something you can handle without specialty tools. Looking around online a radiator support replacement ran somewhere in the neighborhood of $800-$1000 so tackling it on your own might be well worth the effort.
WTF?! Body mounts rusted off front clip - The Ranger Station Forums
ok that sounds like a good idea. i got price for close to $500 to do the work and i think that's still to much. will a rivit gun make a strong enough connection?
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Yes. I was skeptical of using rivets at first but the way the radiator support 'snaps in' with the inner fenders the sheet metal counteracts most of the up/down force with the rivets more or less just keeping things in position.
Some things to keep in mind:
- Before you remove the old support measure from the hood release straight back to a point on the firewall that you can remember when putting the new radiator support in. This is a critical point to make sure the hood latches correctly. If that alignment is already off from the crash then worst case you might need to file the hood's attachment hole a little so it lines up with the release.
- You will have to remove the front 2 body mounts so it might be a good time to replace all 6 if they're still original. Those tend to turn into rusty lumps. A reciprocating saw can be helpful to cut those out. There are other ways but that's usually worked best for me.
- It is a LOT of work but definitely doable if you keep at it. As an amateur working out of my garage it took about 20 hours including the body mounts.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Some things to keep in mind:
- Before you remove the old support measure from the hood release straight back to a point on the firewall that you can remember when putting the new radiator support in. This is a critical point to make sure the hood latches correctly. If that alignment is already off from the crash then worst case you might need to file the hood's attachment hole a little so it lines up with the release.
- You will have to remove the front 2 body mounts so it might be a good time to replace all 6 if they're still original. Those tend to turn into rusty lumps. A reciprocating saw can be helpful to cut those out. There are other ways but that's usually worked best for me.
- It is a LOT of work but definitely doable if you keep at it. As an amateur working out of my garage it took about 20 hours including the body mounts.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton OR
OK well I've stripped off both fenders,header panel and the grill and lights. and started it up and found my coolant is leaking from my water pump. looks like the radiator pushed the fan a little into the pump I dont know but its toast either way so tomorrow i will take the fan off and replace the water pump and the thermostat. from there ill update you on the core support. i have access to a grinder and welder now so i dont think it will trouble me to much. the inner fender is bent a little but i think i can bend it to work again. how do you post photos on here from my laptop.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: Grand Rapids, MI
I use a photo sharing website like photobucket but there are other ways too. I upload pictures to photobucket, then go to my album, click share link in the top right of the picture, copy the image code, and paste it in my message here.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
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From: Beaverton OR
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...ps19f97473.jpg
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4012ac9b.jpg
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...psad93cea4.jpg
hopefully this works and thank you for the advise to post theses.
this is a few days old. day after the accident happened. like i said almost everything is stripped off now. ill take more photos here in a few once its light out. i have everything i need ordered some parts get here tomorrow.
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4012ac9b.jpg
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...psad93cea4.jpg
hopefully this works and thank you for the advise to post theses.
this is a few days old. day after the accident happened. like i said almost everything is stripped off now. ill take more photos here in a few once its light out. i have everything i need ordered some parts get here tomorrow.
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Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton OR
*****update*****
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...psa7b920d7.jpg
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...psb0750ed3.jpg
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9fb41e2b.jpg
The fenders are disconnected as well and the fan. But Ii dont know how to do two things still: i cant see where to grind the core support tack welds and i dont know how to get a tool to the lower fenders screw that attach the fender to the header panel. its in a tight spot for sure i can barely see it.
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...psa7b920d7.jpg
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...psb0750ed3.jpg
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9fb41e2b.jpg
The fenders are disconnected as well and the fan. But Ii dont know how to do two things still: i cant see where to grind the core support tack welds and i dont know how to get a tool to the lower fenders screw that attach the fender to the header panel. its in a tight spot for sure i can barely see it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
Core support rust is killer for sure, luckily my 97 srw is pretty well rust free from the cab forward.
I believe that’s because 2 times a year (once in spring and once in fall) I wash the entire underbody with a hot water pressure washer and then coat the entire underbody (and every area that’s not externally exposed) with fluid film to protect it from rust.
I believe that’s because 2 times a year (once in spring and once in fall) I wash the entire underbody with a hot water pressure washer and then coat the entire underbody (and every area that’s not externally exposed) with fluid film to protect it from rust.
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