Started working on my '78 D100 this weekend. I decided to remove my front clip to make it easier to R and R the engine and pressure wash and paint the frame and front suspension. I had no idea my radiator support was rusted through, but it actually broke apart when I was un bolting it. How hard is it to find a good one? Are they still available from Mopar?
Thanks for any help........
acton mike
03-09-2009, 03:57 PM
can you repair it by welding in new steel?
buck99
03-09-2009, 08:10 PM
Very common on these trucks. A good one might be hard to find. The rest of the truck looks excellent.
DiverDwnPowrRam
03-09-2009, 08:18 PM
Buck is right...very common...I found some on ebay, try there. I just looked on Shermans site and they have changed in the last couple days and have nothing for our trucks....
bherder
03-09-2009, 11:00 PM
Yeah, any good junk yards around there? As Acton says, is it to far gone for a little welding?
(I know Diver is just DYING for me to say 'cutting torch' right now, but not this time m'man:D )
Speed Dragon
03-09-2009, 11:13 PM
I can hardly even find good ones here in the South. All mine are rusty where the inner fender bolts up. You might try some of the Texas and Arizona Mopar yards.
DiverDwnPowrRam
03-10-2009, 01:07 AM
Good lord man this is the one time with rusted fasteners I would have thought it very appropriate for..."It's Cuttin' time!" Just when you think you know a brother....
Megunticook
03-10-2009, 04:10 AM
How hard is it to find a good one? Are they still available from Mopar?
I'm right there with you...the bottom of mine is a wreck. Plan to take it out this summer and have new steel welded in--if it's not too far gone!
I've spent some time looking for new ones and "they ain't none." Well, there's a few around but it's hard to know what condition they're in. And they're awful big to ship anyway. Tough one. Post some pictures of yours and let me know how you make out.
Big Bad Dad
03-10-2009, 07:12 AM
I have been looking at it. I think it can be fixed, just going to take a lot of time and fabricating. First thing is to find a source for the metal. It is thicker stuff than the average body panel. I was hoping for a quick easy cheap fix. Found Frank Miitchell has one on E Bay for only $600! OUCH.........
lilredex
03-10-2009, 01:21 PM
Here is one that a friend and I repaired last summer. The bottom of the channel was still OK, so after removing the rot, we ripped and tapered a bed rail to fit in there. Worked out fine with a few hours work on a sunny day. Cutting was done with a 4 1/2" grinder and welded with a Miller 135 wire feed (.024" wire). The back side (inner fender area) was undamaged, so no work there was needed. In the first picture you can see we have already drilled the spot welds, the bed rail was completely welded in, not just spotted.
volaredon
03-11-2009, 09:58 PM
yup; theres a 79 and 8-10, '81-93s in my local yard. mine's still good in my 83 but that's one thing "on the list" to get a spare of. I am thinking of pulling my front clip off this summer as well, catch the surface rust on the wheelwells before it is more than surface rust and fix the half dollar sized hole in my RF fender while its still fixable; I'm thinking of picking up a whole front clip to put into the rafters "just in case" (there's an 85 in this yard, that would make all of you wonder WTH it is doing in a junkyard)
I just gotta catch the yard owner in a good mood one of these days so he does me a good deal) I have not been in there in about 2 months; where did the time go?? Where are you at; I know of a 73 D 200 clubcab and an 80 Ramcharger in a different yard about 40 miles away.
