Howdy all! I have to replace my core support so my truck will pass inspection and after looking around on-line, I'm a little curious as to the quality of the one from LMC Truck(?). Has anyone used this from them and is it easy enough to install without a lot of tweaking and such? I'm just leary of it because the Ford dealer wants $725 for it but LMC is only around $100. I have a shop willing to do the work with me supplying the part BUT he only likes to use original replacement parts from Ford. I'd appreciate any and all comments as long as they don't get out of hand!

Thanks for any help.

 

I recently had my rad support replaced. The guy ordered it out of a catalog not sure if it was lmc or not but the part was only about $175 I paid $400 for parts and labor. Ford told me it would be atleast $1200. They also wanted about $800 for the support itself. The one I got seemed easy to work with and is built well.

 

Thanks Tomzilla. I was quoted about the same at my local Ford dealer. I don't mind paying for good work but their price was a bit out of my reach.

 

Part is $221 from Tasca.

http://www.tascaparts.com/parts/2003...ATOR%20SUPPORT

 

Thanks Kingfish51. Although, unless I read it wrong, Tasca wants $430.66 for the part and it says you save $221 over regular price. Did I locate the wrong part?

 

Nope, my bad. Had the eyes crossed. Definitely $430.

 

Youre welcome buddy.

 

LMC's part is good enough. I posted a long description elsewhere. The paint job was spotty, but not worse than the OEM, some of the sheet metal crimping wasn't as smooth as the OEM. Their core support fit the same way the OEM did, however I had to cut or drill a couple of mounting points for stuff on the new one.

 

Thanks to all. It helps a lot. Now I just need to convince the shop to use the aftermarket part instead of buying from Ford. He says that the quality, fit and finish, and metal thickness can vary quite a bit from an oem. I can believe that but I'm looking at it from a cost and quality perspective. I simply can't afford not to have it fixed and I can't afford too much. This truck needs to last me as long as possible because I'm not working due to illness and have no income but wife's paycheck. You gotta do what you gotta do!!! Thanks again.

 

Bottom line is its your truck and your decision. Ill be d@mned if my mechanic wouldnt do a job because he only wanted to use ford parts. I realize that the ford support may be a better quality but for the price you can buy 4 more from lmc.

 

Unfortunately, the problem with fit is that if the part is bad enough, it will cost hours more in labor to get it and the surrounding parts to fit properly. Hopefully the AM part will be a good one.

 

I am strictly an amateur body worker, and my LMC core support needed slight adjustments, but it did not take hours more in my labor to make the thing fit.

 

Then you are lucky. Many pattern parts do require a lot of trimming, reshaping, and refitting to get them to fit properly. Which also affects the parts around it.

 

Thanks to all for responding. I agree in part with all of you. Naturally an AM part could go either way. Maybe no problem,maybe a headache. But I hope that it will be fairly easy to install by body shop without too much problem. If it is, well I'll have to pay him the extra price for labor. Have a great one!!