patience my a-- lets break something TIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just grab one of everything or better yet just go buy a decent tool " kit " to carry with you and a good floor jack , so you have them , and go to work . it's dain near impossible to say what you will need and don't until you tear into it due to condition of the parts , etc. . don't think you won't need metrics either .... i found a few instances where the smaller metric equivilant took out a "rounded " off fastener just as pretty as you please , and have found metric fasteners in and on cars that should not have been there .................. if your short on patience like i can be from time to time a B.F.H is not a genuinely good idea .... they tend to break and mutilate parts when you swing away !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

One trick when working on these trucks, if you haven't gotten to the front yet, is to take it off as one unit. There is only only 6-8 bolts holding it to the frame and cab. Once you have the clip off flip it up side down and go at the bolts that hold the clip together. A lot easier than crawling underneath and having junk falling in your eyes.

 

\bob, so you're telling me that I can take off the entire front end (grille and fenders), flip, then disassemble from there?! Awesome!

 

Same thing with the box. There's only about 12 bolts (8 fender/box to running board, 4 bed to frame I think) holding it onto the truck as well, then it comes off as a unit - fenders and all.

 

I popped off the hood, then unbolted the entire front end. and removed it with an engine hoist myself. the pain was the few bolts near the running boards..and you don't need to remove the cab mount bolts... pulling the rad first will also make it easier..

bob

 

silly question that could have gone in "our first project": speaking of the running boards, they're separate from the fenders, no? i see a weld from back of driver running board to rear fender that i was gonna cut out

 

Yes, the running boards are a seperate body part. They bolt to the fender bottoms with carraige bolts - three each I think, and to the running board supports underneath with two carraige bolts per support.

Pics. I did these on my trailer, but they are F1 back fenders and shortened running boards (the back fender portion) - you should be able to see the mating surfaces ok:

 

be advised.... this may or may not be a good idea... this can be used for evidence in a divorce settlement.... at the very least it might give you a heart attack when you draw the line at the bottom and cipher it up !!!

john

 

he's right !! my wife keeps tabs on what i have spent on my various projects as i won't and she has kittens at times , and boy is it ever eye opening to see how much i have . most of it for stupid little stuff .............................

 

Julies Cool F1, I get Kroil at a bolt suppler . I have also ordered it on line at KanoLabs.com . Their # is 866-598-9435 hope that helps.

 

The only record you should keep is what parts you used and where you got them from, especially if it's a hard to find part. That information could come in very handy if you ever need that part again or if some one on the board is looking for it. Also, if you're doing a modification, major or minor, a parts log would come in handy in the future for you or the next owner so either one will know what's in the vehicle. This way you might not become one of the notorious "PO". It could be kind of frustrating to go into a parts store 5-10 years from now and ask for a part for a engine you don't know the year of.

I second, or third, not keeping track of expenses unless you're planning to sell the truck as soon as you're done. That way you can keep it under budget and still make a few bucks. If you're doing it for yourself you're going to go way, way over budget on money and time.

 

so i started taking what fasteners i could off the truck... got half the door screws out with an impact gun, broke 1 off, and the rest are stuck. how do i get them out without messing up the hinges or the frame?!