Shock mounts
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Postmaster
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From: MD
Shock mounts
I am looking at a 1978 F-150 this weekend. Over the phone, the owner mentioned me that the shock mounts need replacing. I assumed they rusted out.
My concern is, does this mean it is irreplaceable or what? I am not an expert on troubleshooting body issues. Is this a big thing or.....?
Thanks.
My concern is, does this mean it is irreplaceable or what? I am not an expert on troubleshooting body issues. Is this a big thing or.....?
Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Madison, SD
Should be able to find them off a donor truck or at a salvage yard... If the shock mounts are rusted out, you will want to take a very close look at the underside of the body and the frame rails and crossmembers to see how bad the rest of the truck is for rust....
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by Jermafenser
I am looking at a 1978 F-150 this weekend. Over the phone, the owner mentioned me that the shock mounts need replacing. I assumed they rusted out.
My concern is, does this mean it is irreplaceable or what? I am not an expert on troubleshooting body issues. Is this a big thing or.....?
Thanks.
My concern is, does this mean it is irreplaceable or what? I am not an expert on troubleshooting body issues. Is this a big thing or.....?
Thanks.
If the shock mounts are rusted out, that prolly means road salt. The entire truck will have rust issues as the mounts are thicker steel than what's used for sheetmetal.
Find a grease rack somewhere and take a look underneath. Watch out for the old trick of using fresh undercoating, or the new brush on bedliner material and then driving the vehicle over dusty roads to hid the sins. A magnet, and a pointed screwdriver for poking around the undercarriage are the best tool you can carry with you.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Feb 23, 2007 at 04:14 AM.
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From: MD
That is what I was concerned about - rust issues on frame/bed. But such is life in the rust belt. 
I'll have to inspect the undercarriage really good with a 4-cell Maglite.
Number, yes. it's been around in Mid-Atlantic for some time, so it's seen its share of road salt. Thank you for the tip. That's a really excellent one!
I'll have to inspect the undercarriage really good with a 4-cell Maglite. Number, yes. it's been around in Mid-Atlantic for some time, so it's seen its share of road salt. Thank you for the tip. That's a really excellent one!
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Kasson, Minnesota
Yep.....take a good look at the truck. If those mounts are rusted, I would be real concerned about the rest of the truck. But, you never know. I've seen rusted out parts on trucks that shouldn't rust, and then you find parts that should and they never.
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From: MD
I sure will. I'll remind myself to and keep a rein on my excitement. It's been seven years since I had a pickup.
Thanks for the links. The guy said he had replacements already, so I may not have to buy.
If I were to buy it, how would you go about replacing shock mounts? I don't have a similar truck of my own to look under. Is it welded on, bolted on, or riveted on?
Thanks for the links. The guy said he had replacements already, so I may not have to buy.
If I were to buy it, how would you go about replacing shock mounts? I don't have a similar truck of my own to look under. Is it welded on, bolted on, or riveted on?
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From: MD
Went and looked at the truck and said mounts. The shock mounts aren't rusted out - the bolts looked like they were broken off. What does this incidate?
I actually found the passenger frame rail in the rear wheel opening had a 2" rust-through lengthwise near where the shackle mount is. Is this a cause for concern? And is it fixable? I don't know how to weld or have any welding equipment. Is it cost-prohibitive to pay someone to do the work? I passed on the truck for that reason. Other than that, it was a nice, no-frill truck. The guy was disappointed when I decided to pass it on. Sure was a nice guy to talk to.
I actually found the passenger frame rail in the rear wheel opening had a 2" rust-through lengthwise near where the shackle mount is. Is this a cause for concern? And is it fixable? I don't know how to weld or have any welding equipment. Is it cost-prohibitive to pay someone to do the work? I passed on the truck for that reason. Other than that, it was a nice, no-frill truck. The guy was disappointed when I decided to pass it on. Sure was a nice guy to talk to.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Kasson, Minnesota
Anytime a frame rail is rusted through causes some concern. If that hole is near the shackle, than that part of the frame is very weak. The rest of the frame will probably have similar areas of concern.
If the rest of the truck: body, motor, tranny, etc. are in good shape, and if you could get a heck of a deal on it, than you could think about getting the truck. Then, look for a good chassis to swap the body, motor, tranny, etc. too.
If the rest of the truck: body, motor, tranny, etc. are in good shape, and if you could get a heck of a deal on it, than you could think about getting the truck. Then, look for a good chassis to swap the body, motor, tranny, etc. too.