front clip removal
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 294
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From: Calgary Canada
front clip removal
As a winter project I was thinking of stripping the front sheet metal on my '72. There is a rust hole in each of the inner fenders along the top of the rib. I should be able to repair these.
Also the fenders don't show any rust now but from 2 previous '69s I have owned the part of the front fenders behind the wheels, where there is a double wall tends to rust out so I'd like to remove the fenders and try and do something to head this off before it happens. I was thinking of getting the fenders up on some carpeted saw horses and really cleaning out any mud and dirt that has built up and then coating with some kind of rust converter.
How hard is this to do? How hard is it to line things up after? Any ideas on the rust proofing.
Also the fenders don't show any rust now but from 2 previous '69s I have owned the part of the front fenders behind the wheels, where there is a double wall tends to rust out so I'd like to remove the fenders and try and do something to head this off before it happens. I was thinking of getting the fenders up on some carpeted saw horses and really cleaning out any mud and dirt that has built up and then coating with some kind of rust converter.
How hard is this to do? How hard is it to line things up after? Any ideas on the rust proofing.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 962
Likes: 2
From: Collierville, TN
front clip removal
Taking the clip off as a unit is pretty easy. Remove the battery and hood first, of course, along with the radiator, AC condenser and drier (if you have them), and other items bolted to or through the core support. Disconnect the washer hoses, headlight wiring, and miscellaneous wiring to things like the starter solenoid and voltage regulator.
Removing the clip is then simple. There are two long bolts holding the radiator support to the front frame rails. Then you unbolt the fenders from the cab, and lift the assembly off. I don't think I've forgotten anything (I can't recall if the front bumper has to be removed, but it may), but if I did it will be pretty obvious. This ain't rocket science.
You can also take it apart piece by piece (grille assembly, core support, outer fenders, inner fenders), which you may want to do seeing as you intend to do some body work on the panels, anyway. If so, it will take more time. The hardest part is getting the grille assembly off of the core support and the core support separated from the fenders -- there are scads and scads of bolts to find and remove. Just be patient and you'll find them all. Bag and tag them, though, and take pictures along the way, or you may have trouble remembering what goes where when it's time to put everything back together again.
Removing the clip is then simple. There are two long bolts holding the radiator support to the front frame rails. Then you unbolt the fenders from the cab, and lift the assembly off. I don't think I've forgotten anything (I can't recall if the front bumper has to be removed, but it may), but if I did it will be pretty obvious. This ain't rocket science.
You can also take it apart piece by piece (grille assembly, core support, outer fenders, inner fenders), which you may want to do seeing as you intend to do some body work on the panels, anyway. If so, it will take more time. The hardest part is getting the grille assembly off of the core support and the core support separated from the fenders -- there are scads and scads of bolts to find and remove. Just be patient and you'll find them all. Bag and tag them, though, and take pictures along the way, or you may have trouble remembering what goes where when it's time to put everything back together again.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
front clip removal
>As a winter project I was thinking of stripping the front
>sheet metal on my '72. There is a rust hole in each of the
>inner fenders along the top of the rib. I should be able to
>repair these.
Good idea.
>Also the fenders don't show any rust now but from 2 previous
>'69s I have owned the part of the front fenders behind the
>wheels, where there is a double wall tends to rust out so
>I'd like to remove the fenders and try and do something to
>head this off before it happens. I was thinking of getting
>the fenders up on some carpeted saw horses and really
>cleaning out any mud and dirt that has built up and then
>coating with some kind of rust converter.
Another good idea.
>How hard is this to do? How hard is it to line things up
>after? Any ideas on the rust proofing.
I'm positive it will be harder than heck.
You will need a helper when you start hanging panels back on the truck and an extra set of eyes is always handy. Rustproofing? This could be better asnwered in the body work forum. At least a good primer, and mabye a rubberized undercoating.
I wish I had done something like this when I brought my old '70 up from southern Missouri to the rust belt...
>sheet metal on my '72. There is a rust hole in each of the
>inner fenders along the top of the rib. I should be able to
>repair these.
Good idea.
>Also the fenders don't show any rust now but from 2 previous
>'69s I have owned the part of the front fenders behind the
>wheels, where there is a double wall tends to rust out so
>I'd like to remove the fenders and try and do something to
>head this off before it happens. I was thinking of getting
>the fenders up on some carpeted saw horses and really
>cleaning out any mud and dirt that has built up and then
>coating with some kind of rust converter.
Another good idea.
>How hard is this to do? How hard is it to line things up
>after? Any ideas on the rust proofing.
I'm positive it will be harder than heck.
You will need a helper when you start hanging panels back on the truck and an extra set of eyes is always handy. Rustproofing? This could be better asnwered in the body work forum. At least a good primer, and mabye a rubberized undercoating. I wish I had done something like this when I brought my old '70 up from southern Missouri to the rust belt...
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Canada
front clip removal
Yeah, that sounds doable. I think I'll take the front clip off as a unit then I can roll the truck out of the garage and just work on disassembling the clip.
I had a engine frost plug rust through last summer so I also plan on replacing all of them so it should be easier to do with the clip removed.
Thanks for the help.
I had a engine frost plug rust through last summer so I also plan on replacing all of them so it should be easier to do with the clip removed.
Thanks for the help.
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