How hard is it to align core support?

[Purple]

I have a bad feeling I'm going to have to scrap my truck.

The lower end of the radiator core support is gone where it mounts to the frame. Thought about welding in some metal, but there is nothing left to weld to.

Replacing it (1994) looks like a PITA.

How hard is it to align the new one?

 

[TxGasRacer]

I'am not sure but I think that it is spot welded where the inner fenders meet at the core support area and it should Not be that big a deal but you will have to take quite a bit off to get to the areas you need to put in the new core support. http://lmctruck.com/icatalog/fr/full.aspx?Page=123

 

[black_demon69]

I have a bad feeling I'm going to have to scrap my truck.

The lower end of the radiator core support is gone where it mounts to the frame. Thought about welding in some metal, but there is nothing left to weld to.

Replacing it (1994) looks like a PITA.

How hard is it to align the new one?

get an estimate from a body shop to replace it .

 

[bobbywalter]

scrap a truck over a core support?


hell i make them removable just to ease maintenance.


if you can weld sheetmetel...this is a non issue. and, to that end you do not have to weld at all if you dont want to. just depends on whether you do just the core or the core and inner fenders as a unit.

 

[shane96ranger]

I've got this bookmarked for my F150, and I'm sure it can apply to your Ranger.

http://www.f150forum.com/f6/1997-rad-support-removal-47142/

 

[black_demon69]

you could just piece in a piece from a new core support after the rusty part was cut out but you would still need to purchase a new core support to do so. i have seen the core support being replaced on lots of vehicles and i have a friend that does body work and it would still take him 2 to 3 days to replace..


really not a job for the faint of heart or inexperienced !!!!

that is why i recommend taking to a body shop..

 

[bobbywalter]

days?



http://www.carparts.com/details/For...a&origin=pla&gclid=CJ7hzMmXu8gCFQguaQodsMoLtg


http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...i_sku=141231&gclid=CJfsuuWXu8gCFRApaQod3D8AyA




make use of the spotweld cutter and a grinder....and you can zip screw the thing together to get by....


though i prefer to make the core and inners removable as a unit.

obviously with a small wire welder and some weld thru primer it is a pretty cake job. of course getting the fenders off usually takes longer to do then replacing the core support itself.

 

[black_demon69]

days?



http://www.carparts.com/details/For...a&origin=pla&gclid=CJ7hzMmXu8gCFQguaQodsMoLtg


http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...i_sku=141231&gclid=CJfsuuWXu8gCFRApaQod3D8AyA




make use of the spotweld cutter and a grinder....and you can zip screw the thing together to get by....


though i prefer to make the core and inners removable as a unit.

obviously with a small wire welder and some weld thru primer it is a pretty cake job. of course getting the fenders off usually takes longer to do then replacing the core support itself.

yes days given remove measure replace weld clean up welds mud and paint then reassembly.

 

[shane96ranger]

Bobby, didn't you build a core support out of square tube?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I replaced the core support and inner fenders as a unit on my race truck. I used sheet metal screws to attach the new one. No screws loose yet, and its been at least three years. IIRC there is 29 spot welds per side to cut out to remove the whole thing. The same could be done for just the core support. It seemed pretty easy to me to align it. Use a tape measure and plumb bob.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

 

[Andy D]

The bottom points of attachment on the Rat's radiator support was rotted out and replaced with more of the small pieces of sheet metal a PO used to patch the rotted out body and bed supports. Guy's work was beyond ugly, but it is holding.

 

[ghunt81]

I did the core support in my truck a couple months ago...first time I've ever did one. It was super easy. It takes time to drill out all the spot welds (get a spot weld cutting drill bit, makes the job way easier) but it's pretty easy to line up the new one. It's pretty obvious how it's supposed to be in there, I honestly eyeballed mine and took a couple rough measurements with a tape measure. I welded mine in rather than bolt it, I figure the truck will be dead before this new core support rusts out.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

It's taken me weeks to replace a core support.....

Because I'm usually doing a ton of other work to the truck and it's easier without the core support in my way!

If I was just replacing the core support, I could probably have it done in a day. Use a spot weld cutter and grinder on the spot welds, cut the body mount bolts if they were rusted to junk. I don't even mess around much with fasteners, I have new ones on hand. If I have to break or cut them, no worries. It'll get new. Like Bobby said, if you have a wire feed welder, it's a cake job even if you have to repair the mounts on the frame for the body bushings, just throw a big washer on there and weld it down. Lots of stuff to unbolt and unhook (and if it has a/c, I would just unbolt the condenser from the core support and leave it hang rather than disconnect the lines), but it's really not that bad. I'd even leave the hood on, it would make it easier to get things aligned later.

Arguably, it would be easier to align the front end on a RBV than an F-series because the F-series the fenders (inner and outer fenders are one piece) are what holds the core support in place. On an RBV, the inner fenders hold the core support.

 

[bobbywalter]

yes days given remove measure replace weld clean up welds mud and paint then reassembly.

i can see that if it were 1 guy....and doing some wild too nice for a core support paintjob. cant see where mud would be needed.



but i am serious when i say on a stock application....the fenders/grille/headlight buckets-assemblies take longer to remove then the time it takes to replace the core support. its a job measured in minutes up to a few hrs depending on mechanical skill and goals.


i would just wait for the paint to flash and reassemble. its a fawking core support. its hidden

 

[bobbywalter]

Bobby, didn't you build a core support out of square tube?

depending on what type of cooling is needed its the easiest way...used to open up and reinforce...and it takes some hours to do of course.

but the one on my personal truck was because my radiator goes headlight to headlight... so it was the ONLY way to make that fat bastard fit.