98/97 Front End Swap

[XD40SW]

Hello,

I’m working on my ‘97 Ranger. The previous owner hit a deer. It took out the grill, and both the headlights, and smashed up the passenger fender.

I have a ‘98 that got T-boned a few years ago. The bed and back of the cab are destroyed, and the frame is bent but it has a pretty good looking front end on it. I know the grill and headlights are different from year to year, but is it possible to put the whole front “clip” as people used to call it from the ‘98 onto the ‘97? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Hi. Probably.
Im not familiar with those years but Ive done a front clip swap on earlier years. Basically take off everything you can unbolt including the doors. Then find a drill bit meant for removing spot welds.
1) look at the inner fenders and if there is a difference between the two years then drill out the welds holding the inner fenders to the cab. IIRC there are 29 on each side.
OR
2) Otherwise drill out the spot welds holding the rad support to the inner fenders and swap. No need to remove doors.

 

[auto02]

Old thread I know but option #1 is the way to go. Currently doing this myself. On my 97 and the 04 I got the clip off of both had 25 spot welds per side. Removing the doors and replacing them was easily done by myself. Moving the radiator support mounts out isn't much of a problem either as long as you can weld.