03 Radiator support and frame rot

[Gruz7]

Figured I'd stay on my own thread for some opinions...

My Ford dealer had taken in my truck the week before I left for a vacation so they could change the radiator support and the AC condenser. I got a call a few days after dropping it off saying that the front crossmember in the frame has BAD rust on it and that the dealer would be unable to replace the radiator support and also the condenser without first having the frame's front crossmember repaired. After waiting to make the decision I had the truck sent a body shop where they received wrong information in thinking that it was radiator support that was bad and not the crossmember so they originally quoted for that until I got their number and called to inform them it was the frame itself that needed repairs/replacements. As of today the truck is at the body shop still and the shop is sending info to the dealer that they will get tomorrow. Also, as of today, there seem to be 4 options for me...

Option 1: I have that body shop in MA find a crossmember from another truck's frame and weld/graph it to my truck. (No quote on this) but it seems to be the best option as of now.
Option 2: (Most unlikely option) I buy a new frame from a parts truck (found one for $500) and have it installed for a quoted price of $3500.
Option 3: I drive the truck as it is and hope nothing happens until I can afford a decent newer truck.
Option 4: I send the truck to this shop near me called Auto Rust Technicians where they will give me a $50 quote to repair all the rust damage and blast/coat the whole frame.

Posting all this because I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar issue and has found a fix for their similar issue because I really am not ready to get rid of this truck just yet.
If anyone has any info on the Rad support or frame rust/rot PLEASE feel free to chime in with anything you have to say or let me know if I'm missing something easy or obvious.

Thanks guys!

Attached a couple pictures the body shop owner sent me of the rusted spots up front... Looks to me like its just pictures of my bad rad support but I'm uncertain. The crossmember they are telling me about looks to not even be that far up front?











Apologize for any spelling mistakes too

 

[foredeckguy]

You really need a second opinion from a reputable body shop. Your pictures are exactly the same as I took last year, 100% radiator support. The frame is, as you suggested, further back under the engine. I had quotes from $1200 to $3200 to replace the radiator so it worth your time to shop around. Good luck

 

[stamp11127]

You can buy a complete 2003 for that price here in the Atlanta area - without the rust. Unless you have a bunch of money tied up in repairs it isn't worth the $4000 to fix.
I say save your money until it craps and get a rust free replacement.

 

[Gruz7]

You really need a second opinion from a reputable body shop. Your pictures are exactly the same as I took last year, 100% radiator support. The frame is, as you suggested, further back under the engine. I had quotes from $1200 to $3200 to replace the radiator so it worth your time to shop around. Good luck

Thank you... I figured the same but also with help from a friend of mine I think I could go about changing the support myself with the right tools and the right help but I'm nervous because the dealer had said it was the frame... Didn't add up to me


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[Gruz7]

You can buy a complete 2003 for that price here in the Atlanta area - without the rust. Unless you have a bunch of money tied up in repairs it isn't worth the $4000 to fix.

I say save your money until it craps and get a rust free replacement.

Yeah same around here basically so that frame swap option is almost completely out so I may just try to take on this repair myself and see where leads then if all works out I'll have it blasted and coated by a great shop I know


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