Installing Running Boards

[gtyates]

Picked me up some junkyard runing boards for my '96 4 door XLT. Got them installed, but I have a question on the bolts that support the boards. I put 2 bolts into the thin metal pieace at the bottom of the truck, but I believe there is suppsed to be one more bolt screwed in a little higher underneath the truck, higher on the "L" bracket. Is this correct? And, if so, is the hole in place to screw the bolt into? The junkyard gave me a total of 24 bolts form where they removed them off of the wrecked truck. Any help appreciated. My Ex is tan in color, and the boards are black, off of a Limited model. If anyone has a pic from underneath the truck that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I just took mine off, same year and model as yours. Where the "L" brackets mount on the bottom/inside of the body usually had 3 bolts, 2 on the bottom 2 holes on one at the top of the brackt (although each l bracket had 4 holes, 2 top and 2 bottom). There where a few brackets that only had 2 but didn't seem to make a difference, both boards where solid. Wow, when I took them off it was rust city down there. 4 hours with a grinding wheel, iso and rustolium too care of it though.

 

[gmanpaint]

Yupper's. !2 bolts per side. 2 on bottom & 1 on top of brackets. Each hole needs the c-clip for the bolt to thread into. They sell these at most auto parts stores in the hardware section, if you don't have them.

 

[gtyates]

Thanks for responses. To update, I have now crawled under the truck and installed the 3rd bolt for each "L" bracket. Yes, the holes for the bolts are pre-drilled, but it is not easy to install them due to having to screw the bolts through this rubberery membrane that is under the entire truck. But, I have them installed, wife and son are happy!! They are not my first choice as far as color, as they are black and I would have preferrred gray. On my tan truck, the black sticks out a little. But, if I had gone after market, most of those are black as well. Junkyard I got them form had one truck with grey, but the metal supprts was bent so I did not take them. Wonder if he would part with the grey plastic??

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Worth a shot to ask, in my experience most junk yard guys don't really like breaking stuff down that far but you never know.

 

[robmika]

Hi,
This seems like the place to ask.

I have gotten a set of used OEM nerf type for my 1996. No instructions. The L bracket has 4 holes but I see throught the previous posts that I will only be using three of these.

I got under there today to look at the mounting holes on the back of the body panel and.... well i cannot see any!

Do I have to make my own holes? but what about these C clips I read from an earlier posting?

Does anyone have a picture (or even a link to one elsewhere.. I have found none) of what the finished mounting looks like on the back side?

Thank you all in advance!
Cheers
Rob

 

[gtyates]

The holes are there. When you line the brackets up for the bottom 2 holes you will find where the top hole is. When you crawl under the truck use a flashlight to help you find the top hole for each bracket. You will need speed nuts for the lower bolts, but upper just screws in.

 

[gtyates]

Follow-up on my install. I did go back to the junkyard and get the grey plastic from the other truck. Did not like the black boards on my tan truck. The truck I got the grey ones from the brackets and main metal support are bent. Plastic was also a little out of shape, but hs regained shape after mounting on my truck.