Jon.

Hi - first post; thanks for taking the time to read.

I'll cut to the chase: I'm looking to purchase a 1990 F-150 XCab 4x4, and the crossmember right behind the steering box has loosened up enough so that steering input/road impact flexes the framerail away from the crossmember.

No cracks are visible at the box mount points or anywhere else on the framerail. I've found a pretty decent amount of info on the 'net regarding standard bolt replacement of rivets that have loosened up, but there's only one at that junction.

The question is that if the frame is intact and the rivet is driven out, hole reamed, and a bolt is installed --- well, that single bolt (7/16" Fine) can't possibly do the job by itself, can it?

Oh, and the confusion continues.....anybody have experience with the factory's "glue" job of the frame liner?

Many thanks in advance, I'm hoping this won't prove to be prohibitively expensive and rule out a purchase....

Regards,

Jon

FYI:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/5...eringcrack.jpg

mecmar44

I would say as long as the frame isn't cracked, yea you can take the rivet out and replace it with a bolt. I wouldn't think you'd need to go bigger, but if you did the bolt would be stronger. Just make sure if you do, you replace it with a grade 8. Many of the rivets on my truck have been taken out while replacing rusty parts and standard procedure has been to replace with whatever size grade 8 bolt that will fit in the whole. Good luck.

Jon.

Thanks for the opinion -- sure enough I did manage to find a crack...fortunately not at the steering box mounts/frame liner, but well behind the steering box at a factory-welded junction. Oh well, the chase is on....probably an aggravated issue from the loose rivet!

mecmar44

Well good luck in your search. There are plenty of nice trucks around, i live in PA and you can find decent ones but they are all rusted up. Gotta go down south or out west. But trucks are even more expensive in those areas from what i can tell.

dewman

I wouldn't say they were ALL rusted up. I got my 96 F150, on eBay, from a dealer just northwest of Philly. The truck is very much not all rusted up. It does have much of the normal rusty stuff underneath, but what vehicle doesn't? The body is in great shape! Just check out my gallery to see for yourself!