Heater air intake box

Anyone taken out the air intake box for their heater before???? It looks like it is welded to the bottom of the dash brackets. I'd like to get in behind it to try and smooth out some spots on the front of my truck.

I'm planning on doing the same to remove the FARGO emblems and prep for paint... I need to learn which spot welds to cut to get access to the front panel!

not removable from what i know of mine. you will need to use a stud gun and a slide hammer. this is where the body work of a pro comes into place cause after the dent pulling is done then the metal shrinking comes into play. not a job for rookies for sure. the three guys who did my truck could make a lada fender fit a lincoln when done and i sure do apprecieate their work.

I didn't think it was going to be possible, but had to check just in case my brother "the body man" asked. He is going to help me with the tough stuff and give me pointers on the easy stuff that I can do without him.

Yup...it's all welded in place.

nate the skate wrote:Yup...it's all welded in place.

spot welds, or a seam all the way around? I really want to get in there.

Spot welds I'm sure. I've never removed one.

Pretty sure Nates right there spot welded if I can remember right.

I might have to investigate on the parts van on how hard it will be to mess with, before I screw up the one in my pickup.

Has anyone dove into this??? I sanded all the bondo out out the front of mine today and really need to get in behind the air box as you can see from the pics.





hole that the last body men did not weld up drilling holes and using pullers


must have been a hard hit to dent the door pillar

I'm no body man, but after seeing 3 posts on this, I figured I'd chime in.
Another way would be to cut out the damaged area and weld in a straight patch. Work the edges while it's out.


I think that cowl area was some of the first stuff spot welded together. They spot welded darn near every body panel, only a few critical areas (suspension, bracing) got the full weld.
You might also drill out the spot welds holding the 2 halves of taht section together, so you can reach in, but I bet the edge of the front one is wrinkled too. Using a stud gun to pull it is probably the least intrusive, but the body guy will have to make the call as to if the OE metal is too stretched...

I've got a spare nose, but it was butchered in and goes from the red line down.
That's why I am looking for the crash sheets to see what size the nose panel should be.

The OE panel was from the A pillars to the 2 corner sections. You can see the seams, the factory didn't finish them smooth, they left the indents. As you know, the heater box is spot weled to it and the entire top of the dash. There is also the door frames, front edge of the floor and the headlight buckets welded to the nose skin. You would need an alignment jig and a huge amount of time to remove both skins and then fit and weld them back together.
That's why I suggested sectioning in a small part of it.

Thanks, I will leave that spot for last and let my brother the body man deal with it after he recovers from knee replacement.

If I can cut sections out of my parts truck for ya....just let me know. I'll checkit for filler the next time I'm out there.



may have a good pillar too, luckily I haven't cut that side yet

Thanks dan... I have 2 donor noses for patches if that is the direction that my brother wants to go.