Header panel R & R

[RF Overlord]

Never been good at body work.

Broke a chunk out of the header panel due to my own stupidity. Bought the new panel from tascaparts and had it painted locally. I want to do the work next weekend, but the FSM is a little light on info. Is it really as simple as it looks, or am I in for a whole weekend of swearing profusely and never having anything aligned properly again?

[Blackened300a]

Front fenders need to come off or at least loosened up so you can insert the pins from the header panel into the fenders. That's the hardest part of the job. After that its pretty much straight forward. Set aside a few hours and be aware of bolt lengths. Ford decided to use different length bolts in different parts of the header panel. There is also a 5.5mm bolt that needs to be removed, I believe it was behind the marker lamps so be sure to have one handy.

Good Luck.

[RF Overlord]

Removed every bolt and nut I can find and the silly thing won't come out. I see how those pins go into the fender tips, but that isn't what's holding me up.

Anyone have any further advice?

[yjmud]

loosen the front of the fenders and open it up a little (pry/pull open gently)

[RF Overlord]

OK, so the pins were holding it up. I have the old one loose, now, but it still won't come out. It does seem that at least one fender has to come off. This project is turning rapidly downhill...I hate bodywork.

Loosened all the fender bolts I can find at the front, and they won't budge. I guess I'll actually have to remove one...dammit

[RF Overlord]

OK, I'm done whining and crying. I was just really hot and tired. I managed to not only get the old one out, but I have the new one in, without scratching or breaking anything. Lots of swearing and making deals with God, though... ;)

Now I just have to put all the rest of the stuff back...headlights, grille, bumper cover, corners... Thanks for letting me vent...it did help.

[cat in the hat]

I sympathize 100% - I am famous for having stuff like this turn into a giant bxxx-breaker. It is the origin of my Rule of Triple for home repair :
"Everything takes three times longer, costs three times more, and requires three more trips to the hardware store than you thought it would."

In fact, according to The Rule of Triple, you got off easy ! ;)