WTF?! Body mounts rusted off front clip

[88B2EB]

I just crawled under my '94 Ranger to inspect what I thought were bad front body mounts and found this mess. I know it's common with the old Rangers for the rear shackles to rust off (I replaced mine about 80K ago) but this one was a jaw dropper for me. So now the question is what to do? Would I need to replace the entire front clip or does the front portion unbolt in which case I find one at a junkyard? I don't weld, not that there's much left to weld to anyway. I guess the other option is just pretend I didn't see it. I'm more or less nursing the truck along till spring but I don't really want to pass the problem along to whoever buys it either. Like I said this was a new one on me so I'm just looking for some advice.

 

[wrecking-crew]

You can get a new rad support from Rock Auto. Link


To fix: Remove everything on the front, Drill out spot welds, place in new radiator support, Weld on new support (in the holes from drilled out spot welds will work fine), put back together, Profit.

 

[shane96ranger]

You can bolt it back in as well. My F150 is starting to rust out, and I started this thread that has some great advice in it. Check it out:

http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128027

 

[PetesPonies]

Looks like just a radiator support. Must be a lot of salt on the roads My '89 Ranger is rust free.

 

[jhammel85]

Michigan road salt sucks!

Agree with everyone above. Rockauto and other vendors sell them and you can weld what you need to back in or just bolt it. Both work fine...

 

[88B2EB]

Looks like just a radiator support. Must be a lot of salt on the roads My '89 Ranger is rust free.

Yeah Pete, why don't you just rub that in Our Michigan roads are about the worst around. My Ranger's got 202,000 miles on it and in it's history I've had to replace rusted out leaf springs, all 4 shackles, the fuel pump actually rusted out and was spraying gas over the tank, both angle arms (could put a fist through), and on and on. The Ranger's chasis is literally rusting off its perfectly running 2.3L. That's why I was so excited to find the Bronco II in my build thread. It was a southern truck, 6 years older, but has almost NO rust on the chasis.

As far as the other comments that's really helpful. I'll check with my local supplier (Jeff's Bronco Graveyard) to see if they can get a radiator support but will have to mechanically fasten the new one (still don't weld).

Thanks guys.

 

[Mark_88]

Well, before spending time or money on that I'd give the rest of the frame a good going over...and the firewall...

I had met a guy who had three 90's Rangers (3rd gen) and all three were rotted out...he offered them to me as motor options but I figured the pistons would be rusty too...anyway...the firewall apparently collapsed on two of them and resulted in a cracked windshield (according to him)...

 

[88B2EB]

I'll definately have to check over the firewall tomorrow then. No holes in any of the frame or suspension. Extremely rusty, but solid. I took most of the trimwork and radiator off the support to get a better look at it tonight. I've really worked hard to maintain the Ranger during the 10 years I've had it and it was a bit disheartening to see all the rust and holes in the radiator support. I guess part of me was hoping my little Ranger would last forever but I think the rust is gonna end up killing it.

 

[racer1044]

You think you guys in the lower peninsula have it bad. Come up to the U.P. My truck is in good shape for an 89 up here.

 

[chrwilkins30]

Yeah, Rust sucks, Got plenty of it. Just bolt on the new core, I did. and its holding up just fine.

 

[Jraymer360]

you should see under my truck...No holes but the whole frame/suspension is covered in rust.

even my 02 Neon is starting to rust out. well it is rusted out. i can't even lift it up to do an oil change. last time i tried it put a whole in one of the lower panels...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Some other options;
self tapping screws
rivets.

Richard

 

[88B2EB]

If you thought the other pictures were sad...

And the culprit:

Some other options;
self tapping screws
rivets. Richard

Not sure how strong rivets would be but I really like the self tapping screws idea! I have a box of exterior grades from an old trailer project that'd be just right.

 

[shane96ranger]

If you use the right rivet it should work fine.

Sent while I should be doing something else

 

[88B2EB]

A lot of progress has been made since I posted last. The new radiator support is on ($100 from Ebay shipped to my door) and some of the brackets are back on. All the rubber body mounts have been replaced (what a P.I.A.) and the interior's all put back together. I did end up going with rivets, just used a lot of them, and all seems very solid. Should be up and running before week's end!