Front Clip Disassembly

Gary Seymour · Post by **Gary Seymour** » February 26, 2009, 9:03 pm

Is it easier to pull the front clip off as an assembly, then disassemble it? Or take apart piece by piece? Looks like a lot of hidden fasteners in there. It's a '62.

Looks to me like there are two huge fine thread bolts at the bottom of the radiator support, then the bolts to the fenders inside the cab, and some sorta strap at the firewall, and the whole thing would come off.

Almost hate to do it, but I'm at that point where the truck needs to be exploded for detail and engine swap, etc.

Thanks y'all!

matt2491 · Post by **matt2491** » February 26, 2009, 9:32 pm

I'm very interested in this as well. Getting ready to do the same thing in order to prep my IFS swap...

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » February 26, 2009, 10:04 pm

don't forget the headlight wiring harness.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » February 26, 2009, 10:17 pm

I took my '66 apart one piece at a time on both trucks(4x4 and donor truck) because I was completely disassembling the whole truck for cleaning, repairing and undercoating. since the cleaning and undercoating is done I have reassembled the front clip and am moving it on and off assembled. much easier assembled. if you are going to be working on it piece by piece then I would suggest dissassembling it piece by piece..just my

..Anthony .(P.S. I believe you are right on the bolts for the front clip...2 for the radiator support. the back fender bolts, and the rubber strap on the inner fender. if there are more I hope someone corrects me

. I'm only going by my escapades.)

clevor347 · Post by **clevor347** » February 27, 2009, 1:27 am

Really bad memory.. But about a year ago I had a 64 donor truck I traded a wench for. Two bolts on the frame and the ones holding it to the cab and it just lifts off, minus the interior engine parts an such.

oldtrucks · Post by **oldtrucks** » February 27, 2009, 4:38 am

Gary Seymour

Front clip removal

To remove the front clip in one assembly and then take it apart is much easier than taking it apart on the truck because many of the bolts behind the grill and the latch support are a lot easier to reach. I stand the clip up on the back end of the fenders and that puts almost all of the bolts at eye level and easy to reach. I also re assemble the same way except I don't tighten the bolts until I set the assembly back on the frame and losely install the rest of the attach bolts. Install the hood and and then shift and shim everything into alignment before I begin to tighten the bolts.

The procedure for removing the front clip, at least the way I do it is. Remove the hood. Disconnect and stow the wiring, labeling all the connections as you go. drain the cooling system and remove the hoses and radiator. Disconnect the fuel line at the fuel pump. Remove the two large bolts at the core support to the frame, taking note of any shims and their location. The same with the rest of the attach bolts that may have shims or spacers. There are bolts under the rear of the fenders and the top of the fenders at the front cowl and inside the cab and the inner fender straps at the firewall. The battery tray should be removed too. That should be all the attach bolts. Find a friend and lift the clip off of the truck and finish the dis assembly

Following a procedure used by Back Yard Resto, obtain a product called evaporust. Dump all the bolts, shims, washers, nutplates, anything that is rusty as much of it will be into this product and let it soak for a day or two and all the rust will be gone. PM backyardresto to find out where to get this product in your area.

Good luck and have fun with this project.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » February 27, 2009, 10:53 am

I bought this a while back for the driver's side fender:

It had been removed from the truck by the wrecker before I bought it. I had to cut a number of the fasteners just to separate the inner and outer fenders from the clip. Having it off the truck was helpful in that I could flip the whole assembly up on one side or even upside down to get access to any hidden fasteners.

As a side note, I never did get the grille and valences separated from the core support. There's still two or three bolts holding it together. It's a real bear of a job, let me tell ya...

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » February 27, 2009, 12:21 pm

done a bunch of them, far easier to remove the clip then disassemble.

stronger66ratfink · February 27, 2009, 12:32 pm

now you tell me it's easier to take it off complete!
it is a booger to get to some of those grill bolts on the truck

61 Merc · Post by **61 Merc** » February 27, 2009, 12:51 pm

stronger66ratfink wrote:now you tell me it's easier to take it off complete!
it is a booger to get to some of those grill bolts on the truck

Ya just needed to ask.

I did the same thing.

Dean

1965fordf100 · Post by **1965fordf100** » February 27, 2009, 2:26 pm

I just completed the disassembly of two front clips one from my truck and another from a donor...much easier when the front clip is off of the truck. I had to grind and cut several bolts off because of broken (spinning) speed nuts on the front of the fenders and grille...if anyone does know of a good place to get replacement speed nuts for reassembly let me know...

Good Luck!

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » February 27, 2009, 2:31 pm

think it was Uncle Skip who first gave me the idea, many years ago to drill holes in the core support below the blind speed nuts and on reassembly replace with regular nuts. i used a 3/4 hole saw, leaves plenty of room for the socket and allows an exit for any H20 that m

Gary Seymour · Post by **Gary Seymour** » February 28, 2009, 8:52 pm

1965fordf100,

look back a week or so in this forum - I posted a question on where to get the fender hardware. I got about four different sources. I haven't contacted any of them yet because a good freind of mine here says to wait until the Hoosier Spring Swap Meet.

ICEMAN - are you talking about drilling under the bolts that go through the lower grille and stone guard? 'Cause I cannot see where those end up or what's on the other end of them.

I've had pretty good luck so far with the bolts coming loose with patience and some PB Blaster. But it looks like and sounds like it will be easier to remove the whole clip as an assembly.

blackagatha · Post by **blackagatha** » March 1, 2009, 12:07 am

maybe to hole-saw the holes in the support you could make a Pilot hole thru the existing bolt hole with a long skinny bit. (from the top)

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » March 1, 2009, 12:45 pm

Gary Seymour wrote: ICEMAN - are you talking about drilling under the bolts that go through the lower grille and stone guard? 'Cause I cannot see where those end up or what's on the other end of them.

yes, that is correct.

statesblue · Post by **statesblue** » March 1, 2009, 1:19 pm

Yeh..............................would'nt ya just like to bitch slap the guy who designed those fastners where they are ?????????????? Or is it just me???

Gnant · Post by **Gnant** » March 2, 2009, 1:53 pm

Just got done tearing apart a 69 over the weekend and super penetrating liquid wrench was my best friend. The fact it was an Arizona truck didn't hurt either. For me it was easiest to take the front clip off piece by piece but I will admit I was on my back a bunch.