My votes go to the front body mount to frame bolts ,that hold the radiator support to the frame...you know,the ones that always have the big flat washer under the rubber cushion disintagrate from rot,and let the nose jump up every time you hit a bump..
On my '82 GMC,thats just what is going on,plus the inner fenders look more like swiss cheese ,all patched up with scabbed on galvanized tin,and no more rear inner fender to cab bolt too--the drivers side is the worst..the one that I need most,to mount the plow control valve on,of course..
I can litteraly pick up on the fender and the left side of the nose will lift up a good inch..no doubt plowing is rough on the body mounts,with all the impacts and sudden stops..no wonder it sounds like its coming apart going over rough roads...
I had wanted to try removing the nut on the bolt holding the radiator support to the chassis,but the thing is rotted so badly no socket will grab it,and about 2" of crusty threads protrude from the bolt's shank..it's partly blocked by the front spring hanger bracket too..
Cant get near it with a sawsall,grinder,or a nut splitter,if you use a torch the rubber cushions will burn and ruin things like wiring and maybe the radiator--and you cant even see the head of the bolt from above--no access to it I can see without taking the radiator off..
I'd at least like to get a new bolt & washers on it and get the nose to stay "tight" better...
It has been too long since I yanked a nose off one of these trucks to recall just how I had to do it..(most likely the bolts just sheared off on those trucks,all whittled down to 1/4" where they go through the rubbers..or the nose was easily pulled off because the rubber bisquits and washers rotted off !)
Other bolts I hate dealing with are the exhaust stud bolts,torque converter,and motor mount/ bellhousing bolts,but none of those are as difficult to access as the "nose" bolts..
Been thinking about swapping a "new" nose on the truck,if I can score one cheap--I saw one on CL awhile ago for 200 bucks with nice fenders,inners,and the grille and lamps all looked decent..but with my limited phyisical ability it'll be quite an undertaking,and I hate taking my only means of daily transportation apart for such major work.I fear I wont be able to finish it once I start--...but doing the nose as a whole would be quicker and easier than putting the fenders and inners on my existing radiator support piece meal..(which might have hidden rot too,so I think doing it in one whole piece is a better way... )..
On my '82 GMC,thats just what is going on,plus the inner fenders look more like swiss cheese ,all patched up with scabbed on galvanized tin,and no more rear inner fender to cab bolt too--the drivers side is the worst..the one that I need most,to mount the plow control valve on,of course..
I can litteraly pick up on the fender and the left side of the nose will lift up a good inch..no doubt plowing is rough on the body mounts,with all the impacts and sudden stops..no wonder it sounds like its coming apart going over rough roads...
I had wanted to try removing the nut on the bolt holding the radiator support to the chassis,but the thing is rotted so badly no socket will grab it,and about 2" of crusty threads protrude from the bolt's shank..it's partly blocked by the front spring hanger bracket too..
Cant get near it with a sawsall,grinder,or a nut splitter,if you use a torch the rubber cushions will burn and ruin things like wiring and maybe the radiator--and you cant even see the head of the bolt from above--no access to it I can see without taking the radiator off..
I'd at least like to get a new bolt & washers on it and get the nose to stay "tight" better...
It has been too long since I yanked a nose off one of these trucks to recall just how I had to do it..(most likely the bolts just sheared off on those trucks,all whittled down to 1/4" where they go through the rubbers..or the nose was easily pulled off because the rubber bisquits and washers rotted off !)
Other bolts I hate dealing with are the exhaust stud bolts,torque converter,and motor mount/ bellhousing bolts,but none of those are as difficult to access as the "nose" bolts..
Been thinking about swapping a "new" nose on the truck,if I can score one cheap--I saw one on CL awhile ago for 200 bucks with nice fenders,inners,and the grille and lamps all looked decent..but with my limited phyisical ability it'll be quite an undertaking,and I hate taking my only means of daily transportation apart for such major work.I fear I wont be able to finish it once I start--...but doing the nose as a whole would be quicker and easier than putting the fenders and inners on my existing radiator support piece meal..(which might have hidden rot too,so I think doing it in one whole piece is a better way... )..
..
.getting sick of not having the health required to work on these trucks ,and always having doubt if your actually going to get to your destination and back when you go anywhere in them...parts aren't getting any easier to find or cheaper either..also having your "only" vehicle down sucks..your grounded,your freedom is taken away..
..
