Front body mount replacement

[studdmstr]

How many of you have had to replace one or both of the front cab mounts. If you have, about how much did it cost you? My passenger side mount is almost rusted through. I have the DC replacement piece, just have to find a shop to do it.

[xxxtina63]

Need to replace one of mine too. My guess is that installation/welding will cost more than the replacement mount. Plan on doing mine myself.

[FORDification]

It's not about the cost, it's about the fix. Yes, installing the new cab mounts is going to be more expensive than the purchase price of the parts, only because it's a lot of work to install. The end result is well worth the investment, though.

Good luck on finding a shop to do it for you. You might have better luck though if you do a lot of the initial work yourself, and just bring the truck in on a trailer to get the final welding done. Get the old mounts removed and the floorpan area cleaned up, and strip out the carpet/floormat. You also might consider removing the front fenders for better access. If all they have to do is the actual welding and none of the cleanup and removal, and they have easy access to the area with a minimal amount of crawling around in/under the truck, I'd think their charges would be a lot less.

Good luck!

[460 crew]

Keith can we bring them to your place?

Someone could make a small roaming business by having a mobile setup on a trailer with all the parts and tools needed for cab mount and floorpan replacement and do a house call for all those on the site that need this operation.

[FLATBEDFORD]

I don't think anybody will bring his small roaming business out to NY. My right side front body mount looks like its about to collapse. I understand that replacement would obviously include removal, and welding new one in place. I've never done such a thing, but a friend of mine has done silmilar work on other trucks. We'll have a welder, grinder, and most other tools. I'd like to know more about doing this. My truck's floor won't need replacemet, just the mounts. It seems, reading from this site, that the Dennis Carpenter ones are the most recommended. Does anybody have advice, photos, etc.

[Tech 1]

I did mine while the cab was off. Had to compensate for poor quality of replacement parts though. Lets see if these pics work. These are Dennis Carpenter Cab Mounts.

[mrsnicks]

If you check the yellow pages you should find someone who does welding that will come to you. Before I had a welder and knew how to weld I had to get someone to come out and do some welding for me.. Cost wasnt that bad... here it ran me 50 bucks for an hour of work. Not quite a complete hour, but really close.

Patrick

[studdmstr]

Had to compensate for poor quality of replacement parts though. Lets see if these pics work. These are Dennis Carpenter Cab Mounts.

Are you saying that the Dennis Carpenter Cab mounts are poor quality and if so who makes the best? I have the Dennis Carpenter ones now, but if there are some that are better and fit better I would get those instead.

[FoMoCo]

Your DC mounts look sweet, just like to OE's. I would rather work those than the typical junkerds floating around.

Nick

[FORDification]

The Dennis Carpenter mounts are the ones that fit the best and look the most original. About the only problem I've heard about them is pretty minor....that the holes for attaching the rear of the inner fender aren't drilled properly on one side.

However, I should also say that I've never actually tried using them, just hearing second-hand reports.

[Tech 1]

I'm not saying they are poor quality, really they are good mounts and I doubt that you could find better ones. It's just that I had to shim the left mount to make it level and square. They would have fit the curvature of the floor no problem but the part where the mounting pad goes would have be canted. The mounts have to be square and level with each other or you will have other problems down the road like the clutch not working properly ect. My experience with body parts of any manufacturer has been that they have to be made to fit. Hardly any are direct fits like the factory parts.Even some NOS Parts are like that.

[FLATBEDFORD]

Thanks for the pic Tech 1. I'll be doing mine with the cab on the frame. I'm curious about what people have done to keep everything in place while doing the job with the cab on the frame. I imagine it'll be tricky doing it without taking everything apart. Pointers and advice would be helpful.

[Tech 1]

I guess once you get the old spot welds drilled out and clean the area up you could just put the new one in and drop the cab back down on it. I would probably clamp the upper flanged edge to the firewall lip then put the new body mount bushings on both sides and then you can tack it in there. Once you get it where you want it you'll be able to see if you have to shim it or not. Then you can take the weight back off it and weld it in. I would consider taking the left fender and inner fender off so I had plenty of access. If you do that you will have to consider either removing the hood or supporting it some how. It's not really a hard job if you can weld, but it is a lot of work. Hope this helps

[notsofine69]

I am getting ready to purchase frt cab mounts. DC, LMC, or JCWhitney? DC appears to be at least twice as much but made in the states?anybody have more comments on fit/finish/price. are the overseas mounts comparable at only 30.00 apiece?(LMC). thanks.

[Tech 1]

Trust me on this. You are going to get what you pay for on body parts. The Dennis Carpenter parts are made from Ford Stampings, that is why they cost more. It probably cost him a fortune for the Dies to make the stuff he does. Even at that, they don't always just fit right up. I tried one of the JC Whitney Box type mounts. They get the job done but I just didn't like the look of them. Even so , I welded them in instead of bolting them in. If the truck you are going to use them on is just a beat about work truck then I would say go with the JC Whitney boxes. The mounts that LMC sell are probably Taiwan made. I don't know for sure because I have never bought any from them. The price of them is what makes me suspect it.