1998 explorer front end repair

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

Has anyone ever replaced their inner fender support and radiator support? I had someone pull out in front of me and I T-Boned them. I bought the truck back and intend to repair it. Just wondering if anyone knows where I can get the parts (not the fender or hood I can go to a junkyard) and if anyone has any tips for doing this... thanks!

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

A rust free donor vehicle would be the best way, becuase your going to find damage in places your cant see untill our get it apart. In this case the best way would be to take it apart from the front structure at the factory spot welds from the firewall forward, or from where the damage stops.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I’d be willing to bet the frame is tweaked. I’d trailer it to an alignment shop before spending any cash on it.

 

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

I looked at the frame very closely on the lift at my shop. It is not damaged.

 

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

A rust free donor vehicle would be the best way, becuase your going to find damage in places your cant see untill our get it apart. In this case the best way would be to take it apart from the front structure at the factory spot welds from the firewall forward, or from where the damage stops.

I was thinking of cutting it maybe a foot back from where the damage stops. It’s really the front portion of the inner fender that’s damaged.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

That frame doesn't look harmed to me from here, bumper mounts are flush, doesn't looked pulled to one side or the other, another giveaway IMHO you tweaked the frame is a busted radiator, those tanks are plastic and don't respond to being pulled on very well in old age.

You driven the truck in a parking lot or somewhere similar to verify it goes straight? Most people would recommend either removing the rad support and inner fender at the welds and replacing them, or splicing it together, which isn't as easy as it would sound, I've seen that.

Point being here I'd fix it, it looks fixable to me, I would however when I got the rad support and inner fender apart, make sure the other side was straight. I bumped someone in my 2000 a year ago or so, and I fixed it, damage wasn't that bad but did mess with the inner support some, now later the body lines are off the ever so slightest, on the opposite side. Someday I've got to replace the entire front clip due to rust but for now it'll do

 

[410Fortune]

I did it on my old 96 in my signature
I bought a new core support from Certifit and used a hammer and chisel to break the factory pinch welds on the stock unit. Then I used wrenches and a hammer to "straighten" the inner fenders, line up the new core support and weld it in place.

That damage is pretty mild, you can likely straighten the inner fender enough to make it passable.........

 

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

Thanks for the responses guys. Hopefully I’ll have it fixed up soon. I miss my Explorer. It’s sitting at my shop for now until I get all the parts together. No damage to the most expensive part I’ve put in it either. The TM headers..

 

[shucker1]

No damage to you either hopefully.

 

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

No damage to you either hopefully.

None. I walked away no problem.

 

[shucker1]

Cool!

How about the other guy?

Did you smoke him?

 

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

Well I whacked his pickup pretty good. Pulled right out in front of me and I couldn’t stop. He was fine though.

 

[shucker1]

It looks like you kept it in good shape.

The Chump should be shot!

Same thing happened to me a long time ago with my Mustang.

I blew up the AOD and converted it to a T-5.

Drove it about 2 weeks and was really liking it until a guy tried to get out of a U-Turn in front of me and spun out.

ZAP.

Of course I started foaming at the mouth like a mad dog while everyone was asking me if I cared if he was hurt.....

Poor car still sits in the driveway with a bent front end.

One day though, one day.

 

[imp]

No damage to you either hopefully.

@shucker1

If 'twer me, I'd have mental damage (beyond what's already there!)
Similar hit facing my incapable hands right now, outside my shop. Hit occurred while on a trailer behind 2015 Chevy pickup, semi clipped trailer wheel, threw the p.u. and trailer into a non-savable fish tail, p.u. hit concrete barrier (I-70 60 mi. west of St. Louis), Ford broke loose, hit rear of p.u. My nephew was bringing both here to store while deployed (Marines) to Japan. Ford was brought rest of way on a transport, p.u. totaled along with trailer. It's a 1965 Galaxie, brand-new 5.0L HO installed last summer, uses Mustang EFI EEC-IV system.

Look at the monstrous inner fender apron on this beast!

Gave $300 for two fenders, rad. support, headlight buckets, hood hinges, etc., to a guy out here has 40 acres covered with vintage Ford stuff.

Oxy-Acetylene, the "Master's Touch"!

 

[shucker1]

Indeed that would make me go "Mad Dog".

@imp

Similar hit facing my incapable hands right now, outside my shop.

Like the old series "6 Million Dollar Man"

"We Can Rebuild Him, We Have The Technology"

 

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

Man there’s just too many people that can’t drive out there. I’ve had several close calls and now this one finally got me.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Typical people’s driving is why I over insure everything. If anything happens to any of my vehicles, I can easily upgrade.

 

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

Typical people’s driving is why I over insure everything. If anything happens to any of my vehicles, I can easily upgrade.

For sure. I was also protected against uninsured drivers so that saved me my $500 deductible as well.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

You can get a NEW radiator support? What's one run? I've always figured when I fix my white truck's rusty one, I'd have to go find one in a junkyard and pull it.

 

[Mikey98Ex5.0]

You can get a NEW radiator support? What's one run? I've always figured when I fix my white truck's rusty one, I'd have to go find one in a junkyard and pull it.

I found Rockauto has one for about $75 or so shipped. Unpainted but new.