Can any of you guys give me a step by step to remove the front clip on my '79 F250. I am going to swap the 460 gasser for a Cummins diesel, and want to get as much out of the way as possible.

 

Mark the panels for alignment with a paint marker and unbolt them, not a difficult task. The worst will be rusty bolts and the body mounts. Save the hardware.

 

if you unbolt the fenders from the body then the two front body mounts the whole thing will come off as one!!!

 

Step by step (as closely as I recall...)

1. Park truck (DO NOT remove front clip while truck is moving)
2. Mark all panels with either a black marker or wax marker.(Fender to cab at the extension posts by the hood hinges)
3. Disconnect all wires, hoses, cables, etc. attached to fenders, hood,etc.
4. Remove the hood via the 4-bolts in the hinges to the hood.
5. Unbolt the fenders at the bottom near the door (1-bolt each side).
6. Unbolt the inner fender from the cab inside the fenderwell (1-bolt each side) This is a little rubber piece for flex.
7. Remove the 3? bolts from each fender near the hood hinges.
8. Remove the two front radiator support body to frame bolts (1-bolt on each side of the radiator)
9. Lift off the front clip.

 

Thanks, this is the information I needed. I assume that the radiator stays attached to the front clip and will be removed with it?
Thanks again

 

don't forget the two bolts tha are inside the fender about midway down inside the doors

 

Yeah, forgot about those...

The radiator can stay attached to the support. Just take the hoses off of it and pull it off all in one. Probably grab a buddy or two and lift off the whole clip. It really makes motor work easier.

 

Don't use a permanent type marker to mark body panel locations, or it will "ghost for ever" through your paint. Use a graphite pencil or a lumber marker or something you can wipe away later

FBp

 

If you want a little more detail, I wrote down every nut and bolt I took off when I did this to my 78 F150. It should be the same except for a few minor details.

Hope this helps.

Disassembly of Front end

Bumper
Remove (4) 11/16" nuts holding bumper to frame and remove bumper.
Hood
Prop up or suspend front of hood so it doesn¡¦t fall when bolts are removed.
Remove (4) 1/2" bolts holding hood to hood hinge.
Wheel wells
Remove (9) phillips head screws holding wheel well to fender.
Remove (1) 3/8" bolt holding bottom rear of wheel well to bottom of fender.
Remove (1) 9/16" bolt holding bottom front of wheel well to radiator wall.
Remove (1) 7/16" bolt holding bottom front of wheel well to fender.
Remove wheel well.
Grille
Remove (7) 5/16" screws holding chrome grille to grille surround and remove grille.
Remove (4) 7/16" bolts holding top of grille surround to radiator wall.
Remove (2) 1/2" bolts holding top of grille surround to hood latch.
Remove (3) 1/2" bolts holding grille surround to fender (access from inside wheel well ¡V repeat for both sides)
Remove (2) phillips head screws holding turn signals and remove signals
Remove (2) phillips head screws holding headlight bezel and remove bezel.
Remove (6) 1/4" screws holding grille surround to radiator wall (behind headlights)
Remove (1) 1/2" bolt holding bottom center of grille surround to radiator wall.
Remove grille surround.
Fenders
Remove light socket from clearance light.
Remove (6) 1/2" bolts holding top of fender to inner fender
Remove (1) 9/16" bolt holding bottom rear of fender to cab.
Remove (1) 1/2" bolt holding top rear of fender to cab (access from door hinge with door open)
Remove (3) 1/2" bolts holding fender to radiator wall (access from inside wheel well)
Remove fender.
Repeat all steps for other side
Inner fender wall (passenger side)
Remove (1) 5/16" screw holding ground wire to radiator wall and remove wire.
Disconnect headlight, turn signal and clearance light and pull wires into engine compartment.
Remove (4) 1/2" bolts and (1) 12mm bolt holding battery tray to fender wall and radiator wall, and remove tray.
Remove (2) 3/8" bolts holding starter relay to fender wall and remove relay.
Remove (2) 3/8" bolts holding voltage regulator to fender wall and remove regulator (small ground wire from battery cable goes to upper bolt).
Remove (4) 5/16" bolts holding plow relay to fender wall and remove relay.
Remove (1) regular screw holding heater hose clip to fender wall.
Unclip wires to alternator from fender wall clips.
Remove (3) 9/16" nuts on 1/2" bolts holding top rear of fender wall to cab bracket.
Remove (2) 1/2" bolts holding top front of fender wall to radiator wall.
Remove (7) 1/2" bolts holding front of fender wall to radiator wall (access from inside wheel well).
Remove (3) 9/16" bolts holding cab/fender wall bracket to cab.
Remove (1) 1/2" bolt holding bottom rear of fender wall to firewall
Lift out inner fender wall front first. Make sure fender wall is clear of transmission cooler lines, heater hoses, and electrical wiring.
Inner fender wall (passenger side)
Remove (3) 1/2" bolts holding battery tray to fender wall, and remove tray.
Remove (3) 3/8" screws holding fuel pump to fender wall. (ground wire for fuel pump goes to top front screw). Set pump on engine out of the way.
Remove (3) 5/16" screws holding ignition module to fender wall. Set module on engine out of the way.
Remove (3) 1/2" screws holding windshield washer reservoir to fender wall.
Disconnect hose and sensor wires from reservoir and remove reservoir.
Unclip all wires from fender wall (6 places).
Remove (3) 9/16" nuts on 1/2" bolts holding top rear of fender wall to cab bracket.
Remove (2) 1/2" bolts holding top front of fender wall to radiator wall.
Remove (1) 1/2" bolt holding bottom rear of fender wall to firewall
Remove (5) 1/2" bolts holding front of fender wall to radiator wall (access from inside wheel well).
Lift out inner fender wall
Radiator and Support
Drain radiator fluid into a bucket for re-use later.
Loosen hose clamps at top and bottom hoses of radiator and disconnect hoses from radiator.
Loosen hose clamps at top and bottom hoses of transmission cooler and disconnect hoses. Plug ends of hoses and cooler to avoid loss of fluid.
Remove (2) 7/8" nut on 9/16" bolt holding radiator support to truck frame. Have someone hold radiator support while you remove the bolts.
Lift radiator support off of frame and lay on the floor.
Remove (4) 1/2" bolts holding radiator to support.
Remove radiator and set aside.

 

Great post KJKozac I actually just used your directions to pull my front clip and it worked like a charm. Thanks!

BRad