How to replace fender on 77 620?

[Speedymaru]

I'm planning on picking up a 77 620. It was in a front end collision and the passenger fender and valance is pretty well mangled. It's unfixable so I'm just going to replace. I'm sure I can figure out the valance myself but I'm not sure about the fender. How do I got about removing and installing one? Thank you very much

[Speedymaru]

I'd add a picture of the damage but can't figure out how to

[flatcat19]

Remove bolts. Remove fender. Install in reverse order.

[flatcat19]

Rust penetrate is your friend. And impact tools.

[Speedymaru]

Yes, but where are the bolts located? Is there any order to remove them?

[datzenmike]

There is a small bolt up near the windshield, not sure if you can get to it by opening the door or the cowl must come off. Three? up inside, beside the headlight attaching it to the rad support, and one bolting the chrome bumper to it. One (or two) down at the bottom in the rocker panel area underneath and the rest are along the engine compartment hood line.... and two to the front valance.

[sebpv]

If you end up breaking bolts(you will), there are 3 ways to fix it:

 

1) heat the nut with a burner and try an extractor

 

2) drill thru the broken bit and rethread a bigger size

 

3) dremel the welds around the nut, remove it and weld another one back. Thats what im doing. Problem with this one is if you break the rocker panel bolt in the nut, you cant remove the nut. Lucky me i have to redo the side panel behind each corner mount so I can easily access the nut.

[flatcat19]

If you end up breaking bolts(you will), there are 3 ways to fix it:

1) heat the nut with a burner and try an extractor

2) drill thru the broken bit and rethread a bigger size

3) dremel the welds around the nut, remove it and weld another one back. Thats what im doing. Problem with this one is if you break the rocker panel bolt in the nut, you cant remove the nut. Lucky me i have to redo the side panel behind each corner mount so I can easily access the nut.

 

Sert nut. Harbor Freight has a Sert nut tool that actually works really well.

[sebpv]

if you can insert it, technically it can also come out, nah?

 

EDIT: nevermind, i typed HF and found the expending ones

[flatcat19]

I use one(not HF's) at work to repair M8 skid plate holes on Tundras, Tacomas, and 4Runners. Never an issue. They hold up well. Lots of torque applied to insert after install.

 

Other techs in shop bought the HF version to keep up with me. Theirs seem to be working just fine.

[Speedymaru]

Well the owner of the truck I was planning on getting backed out on me so now I have to try to find something else. I really like the 620s so I think I'm going to find another one. There's one on Craigslist that has a salvage title. He says the reason for it is a little bit of frontend damage, but it seems very minimal. What do you guys think about that? It's a 78 620 kingcab, with the l20b and 5 speed. Truck looks clean and has an amazing interior

[sebpv]

id take it. But then i would look for a scrap yard or another salvaged truck with a good frontend. Drill out the spot wels and cleanly install the replacement body

[Speedymaru]

Alright cool. What all should be replaced on the front end? I don't know a ton about body components. Thank you

[sebpv]

depends on the frontend damage...obviously. Front of the firewall can be separated. The body bumper below the headlight can also be separated i believe

[flatcat19]

Lack of pics can only take us so far.

[Speedymaru]

How do I post pics on this site? And the front end doesn't look that damaged. There's a few small dents on the good but it doesn't seem major. I'm assuming it's been repaired