wow that was really hard to read... might want to edit that post and make some paragrahs.

 

A little late now, but NAPA can get me a radiator support for $184, and the local junkyard said they can order them from Keystone for around $150.

 

Not sure how to edit posts. Do not see edit button FAQ mentions Here it is again. edited somewhat.

Sorry about that hard to text and talk on the phone while drinking coffee on the interstate in the dark in the morning doing 75 to avoid getting run off the road for not doing 85 like everyone else. Not really

Sorry I did not take any pictures. The process is pretty much straight forward. Have to take this part off to get this off etc.
Painted after market core support with several coats of chassis paint. Painted top part to match truck. Put 2 coats of 3M rubberized undercoating along bottom of support.

I left headlights attached to plastic grill reinforcement panel. No nead to take them off and have to mess with adjusting them after putting them back. Had to repair my plastic panel. it was cracked at the middle bottom. My truck had hit a deer and was repaired before I got it. Used epoxy and a piece of role strap. painted it after to prevent rust.

Put new bulbs in parking lights, marker lights. Make sure to test them before putting the thing back together. I had one new one that was bad and had to pull the drivers side maker light assembly after to change it.

I did buy a bunch of metal clips and plastic push in panel holders at the local auto parts store. Allot of the smaller original ones were broken or rusty. Larger ones with nuts were ok. Reused hood bumpers they were fine. Used liquid wrench/ pb Blaster on everything coming apart and going back together. Reused 4 lower metal fender washers with new bolts and clips to hold plastic wheel well liner to bottom edges of core support.

Much easier to transfer bottom 2 rubber radiator isolator pads to new core support and pull there little rubber tabs through bottom holes while the entire support is out of the truck.

To hold radiator and ac while swapping core support used 2 step ladders with a 2x4 across. Used some solid copper wire I had around through bolt mounts and rubber isolator bushings to lift and tie radiator and AC slightly up out of the way as best as I could. AC part has to turn slightly to go through. Wired trans cooler to front upper valance to move it enough out of the way and did not have to take it off. Did not have to drain radiator or mess with AC.

After putting everything back together I had to adjust radiator fan shroud and radiator top bolts to prevent plastic fan shroud from hitting top of fan blades. Moved it all up slightly.

Getting old support out and putting new one in is a push and tug a bit at a time kind of thing. Had to bend outer lower corner edges of both supprts where they attach to plastic wheel well to get them out and in. Not much and bend right back with hands.

Must say aftermarket core support went in and all holes matched up for bolts clips etc. ok with exception of holes along the bottom underneith that plastic push in panel mounts go into to hold rubber splash guard between front bumper and core support on. Only outer 2 matched, rest did not. Not a big deal though.

Replacement after market headlight surrounds are not that great. They needed to be filed in several places to make them fit and even then they are so cheaply made drivers side one already has a crack in bottom corner. Comparing them to originals shows the difference. Originals are thicker inside and have ridges to make them stronger. After market are thin and flat inside. After market replacement grill is ok but cheaply made inside edges are crappy. They are not seen but again comparing to original shows the difference. Time will tell how they hold up.

Also not sure why entire truck is metric? Even trans pan is stamped Ford Metric. Hope this helps.
Andy63

Andy63

 

Thanks for that!! I'll hafta remember all that when I do mine....

 

I know this is and old post, but I just started reproducing all these decals needed. Check out Ebay, Facebook, or OBSFordDecals@gmail.com

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F223318337496

https://www.facebook.com/OBSFordDecals/

 

 

 

they have a couple, but not all are available from them