• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Body Lift Bolt Trouble! Help!


ozziemo27

June 2010 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
1,701
Reaction score
18
Points
38
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1999/1984
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.3
Transmission
Automatic
Hey folks, I'm having a big problem that is preventing me from completing my body lift. Problem: the 2 front bolts that mount the cab to the frame are totally and completely rusted stuck. i broke the head of the drivers side bolt accidentally, I didn't even wrench on it that hard at all! what should I do concerning that one? I don't think the nut is welded on..... Or is it? Its the only damn thing that is preventing me from continuing. I live in michigan so, yea, rust is a major problem! I have doused it in liquid wrench and it still won't move at all!
-Jordan
 


85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,194
Reaction score
17,499
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I used an impact wrench on mine, they came right out. You might have to just break it, then jack the truck up out of the way and try to remove it.

Then break out smokey the blue flame wrench to get it apart out of the truck... fwi at least on mine the nut was part of the bushing so if you ruin it you will need new ones.
 

ozziemo27

June 2010 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
1,701
Reaction score
18
Points
38
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1999/1984
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.3
Transmission
Automatic
i wailed on it for at least 20 minutes with an impact wrench. I cut the other head off of the bolt and exposed the rest of it. I am going to drill both out, shouldn't ruin the nut if i center it perfectly, appreciate the input
 

Joe_Roofer

Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
179
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
Berkshires, MA
Vehicle Year
1990ish
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
is it a nut or a clip? I just replaced the bed on my truck...Allready had a body lift. The bolts are metric m12 1.75 coarse thread (but you probably have new bolts) Just kill that bolt and get it out.
 

ozziemo27

June 2010 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
1,701
Reaction score
18
Points
38
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1999/1984
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.3
Transmission
Automatic
they are definately nuts, by what do you mean, "kill it"? :icon_twisted: drilling it out or....?
 

Joe_Roofer

Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
179
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
Berkshires, MA
Vehicle Year
1990ish
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
Just kill 'em.... No, serioulsy,
I've never done a body lift on the cab but 3 of the six
bed bolts were so rusted/busted when I took mine off that
I lifted the bed out of the way (once the heads were off) cut 'em off flush with the frame
and hammered them out with a drift.
Hope this helps.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,194
Reaction score
17,499
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
is it a nut or a clip? I just replaced the bed on my truck...Allready had a body lift. The bolts are metric m12 1.75 coarse thread (but you probably have new bolts) Just kill that bolt and get it out.
The bed has clips, and bolts right to the frame with no rubber bushings.
 

ozziemo27

June 2010 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
1,701
Reaction score
18
Points
38
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1999/1984
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.3
Transmission
Automatic
Just kill 'em.... No, serioulsy,
I've never done a body lift on the cab but 3 of the six
bed bolts were so rusted/busted when I took mine off that
I lifted the bed out of the way (once the heads were off) cut 'em off flush with the frame
and hammered them out with a drift.
Hope this helps.
I drilled one all the way through today after I found a few of my dad's really good bits, went through so damn easy it was amazing, I am going to get some more of the right size so i can finish drilling it out, then I have to drill the other side out! hopefully i can get it as straight as i did the first time, eyeballing it, its kinda tricky with a 4-5 inch bolt!
 

kozak

New Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jan 27, 2008
Messages
145
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Vehicle Year
97,79,87
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0, 351M, 302
Transmission
Automatic
Same thing happened to me with my Explorer body lift. Funny thing is, my Explorer has literally no rust underneath, and is a 93. I ended up having to take a torch to both the front mounts. Every other mount was easy. Then after I got the front to ready to go, the bolt holes wouldnt line up, so I had to break out the come a long. They can be a big pain in the ass, but well worth it in my opinion.
 

robmurt90

New Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2008
Messages
16
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Pottstown, PA
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
When I did my explorer which has virtually no rust underneath, I soaked them with PB Blaster for two weeks. Then when I did the body lift I used an impact gun. Even with 500 ft/lbs a couple of the s.o.b.'s wouldn't budge.

:icon_welder:
 

COPPERHEAD85

New Member
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
3,490
Reaction score
41
Points
0
Age
59
Location
west tennessee
Vehicle Year
85
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
302
Transmission
Automatic
1st get new bolts and clips.
i used regular nuts with washers,i had dropped the tank for fuel cell in the bed so the one over the tank wasn't a problem to tighten.
grind the heads off the old bolts and remove the bed.use a razor blade (brand name of cutting wheel)on a 41/2 inch grinder to cut it off at the frame.
replace with new hardware.use lots of anti seize.
 

ozziemo27

June 2010 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
1,701
Reaction score
18
Points
38
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1999/1984
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.3
Transmission
Automatic
Update: took the truck over to my buddies a while back and got them out with a torch, we broke an extension on one of the sockets so we just TIG welded a socket to the snapped extension, worked like a charm! :yahoo:
 

oughtsix

New Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
47
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
34
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
I just did mine a few days ago. No rust on the frame, but the front two were one mass of rust. Stuck a sawzall between the top rubber piece and the steel mount and cut them off. had to rig a nut to a stack of fender washers since the bolts were NOT coming out.
 

BLOODBANE

Active Member
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
1,119
Reaction score
19
Points
38
Location
Canon City, CO
Vehicle Year
19841994
Make / Model
FORDFORD
Engine Size
347, 4.oh
Transmission
Automatic
Both my Ranger and my Explorer gave me fits. I just cut the head off the bolts and threw all the stock junk away(pick the body up enough to pull everything out). I used a hockey puck and then my new lift blocks(with the new, supplied bolts) and no problems. Heres a pic.....

This is my Explorer. I still need to do the fix to my Ranger.......
 

ozziemo27

June 2010 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
1,701
Reaction score
18
Points
38
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1999/1984
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.3
Transmission
Automatic
I just did mine a few days ago. No rust on the frame, but the front two were one mass of rust. Stuck a sawzall between the top rubber piece and the steel mount and cut them off. had to rig a nut to a stack of fender washers since the bolts were NOT coming out.
haha nice
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top