98 Expedition Radiator Support Replacement

[Fitz98]

Anyone ever replace a radiator support on a 98 expedition without a welder?
I do not have a welder, but wondering if it could just be bolted in place? Mine's rusted out at the bottom.

 

[Chris142]

That's an intregal part of the crash protection. I don't know if bolting it on like a crashed Craigslist car would be a good idea

 

[maxdustington]

Buy a welder, cheapskate! How much is a HF 110v mig?

 

[Whimsey]

I had a body shop in town do it for my 2002 F-150. The total cost was $1700 with NJ 7% sales tax. It was labor intensive. Within 1 1/2 years I had to sell the truck to be parted out due to the rest of the frame resembling swiss cheese and being unsafe. I should have saved my money. I was too attached to that truck, I bought it new. Oh well I won't repeat that mistake again.

Whimsey

 

[Trav]

Its a big job and welded in. Picture of the rot?

 

[mattd]

The radiator support and frame rot are usually the killer of ford trucks of that era. It's quite common unfortunately .

As trav said it's a bigger job than you think. IMO I would really consider a new vehicle than spending that kind of money on that old of a vehicle. That's likely not the only rot, either...

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted by maxdustington
Buy a welder, cheapskate! How much is a HF 110v mig?

And how much more is a welder that can handle metal that thick?

 

[Trav]

That thick? Its sheet metal spot welds.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

You have to deal with rust in Florida?

A body shop will probably charge about $600 in labor. Aftermarket radiator supports aren't worth using because they are thin and cheap

 

[Trav]

It will probably be more than that, both front fenders, bumper, lights and grill have to come off then start drilling spot welds just to get it out.

 

[wag123]

In your case Fitz, replacing the rusted lower radiator core support may turn out to be a moot point. If your bad radiator has caused transmission damage, the old rusty Expedition is history and there isn't any point in throwing any more money at it.

 

[Fitz98]

Yeah, I hate rust. I am definitely going to deal with transmission and radiator first before anything else. Didn't realize support was such a big job. I have had it 10 years, original 10 years was from Connecticut. Dealt with most of the rust issues, radiator support is one of the few remaining, but as you said, is a non-issue if major transmission problems show up as a result of the radiator transmission coolor failure.