Hardbody Experts- Core Support Pre-93 vs. Post-93

[Rev_D21]

Can anyone do a side by side comparison of a pre-1993 sore support vs. a post-1993? What I am looking to find out is 1) can a pre-93 core work on a post-93 truck? and 2) What are the actual physical differences between the two...ie screw hole locations, general shape...ect.? I am swapping my 94 to a 1987 Pathfinder front end but before I dive too deep I need to know a few things.

[truckfriend]

I am a newb to this site- I have a 1997 truck that is like a friend- but it needs TLC or parts out. it needs a core support and frame welding- I am not sure that I can afford to fix it - It has many good points and I hate for it to be wasted. Can the frame be fixed if it is rusted under the passenger seat area? This truck is like a friend and my land lord wants me to fix or sell it- Can you help me to understand the potential for fix- trade- let the parts salvage have something I think is more useful? Thank you for your help I could not figure out how to send you a message another way- I do not have aol and My Space had interesting music but no e-mail I could find - so thank you in advance for any help- you have soooo many images on google!

[Rev_D21]

Welding the frame all depends on how badly it's rotten. Some frames I have seen are beyond repair and need a frame swap. Without seeing a pic of your frame I wouldn't be able to tell you. As for the core, the OEM core is the best way to go but the most expensive as well. I am getting a deal because the franchise I work for is also a Nissan dealer. I have looked at the ebay core supports but I am opting for the fitment superiority of the OEM unit, recycling lots of bottles and cans to get there:). If the truck is not a daily driver then I would put it into storage while you accumulate parts for fixing it. If it is a daily driver then I would go with what is most cost effective both storage and repair-wise.

[truckfriend]

Hi- thank you for your quick reply- I have not been driving it- I live on a steep hill...over a year ago I and went to turn it in the driveway so water would drain- and I had no breaks- I made a quick turn and drove between the house and trees - it was a slight grade and I stopped.. I am an artist and cash is used with great care. I have an s-10 to drive. No where the same machine. But it runs.
I have a small leak in the brake line- so I called last night to get prices and $350 is the top so far for salvage- I can get a camera and go under the truck and make some images. I think it is worth more than parts- but maybe not

My landlord wants to rent the place next to mine- so to him it is Junk- For me it is a friend and helped make community art for years- It was a great machine and I am a recycle person- resourcefulness is important. Do you know someone with skill who would want the truck?

[Rev_D21]

Sorry I don't know anyone who might want your truck at this time, maybe one of the members here could help you out on that. Have you tried www.car-part.com or www.rockauto.com to find parts? At this stage in their lives more and more people have sentimental investments in their trucks and so they are worth more than the parts in their opinions and hearts. I have 5 times the $1500 KBB says my truck is worth into it. Stupid? To some yes but mine is an old friend just like yours. In fact my truck is downright spoiled when it all boils down to it. Others would have given up and moved on to something newer but that's them.

[truckfriend]

OK Rev -thank you for your patience and empathy (intelligence too) I started to take the moving bins and art materials from the bed of the truck- It is not just my sense of friendship with the truck- it is also that it does not look that bad and it ran very well- it never left me stranded -it needed a transmission fix - at home and other than having a stuck engine check light after that it has been good. By now I imagine that the brakes will need fixed.

Ok so If I take it to a place I found that will look at it- and at least give me $400 and that repair salvage shop and the mechanic says to be safe I need more than welding- I need a frame (for safety) then what is the range I should expect for that? I had been given a $250 estimate by a welding shop - but that was a year and a half ago- (My dad was sick and I did hospice when I last tried to really just sell the truck- I did not want the folks calling who were mostly men with Spanish as their first language to break down on the road or have a problem- so I told them they needed to tow it not drive it away, My focus was then on my mom not the truck

Since then I tried to move it to get the water out of the bed- I had lifted the liner and found some rust i ground out and primed and didn't want to have to redo that- and there were no brakes- I live on a very steep hill and somehow drove on to the grass between thee house and trees. A friends husband checked that and said that there is a small hole in the brake line.

I have had an s-10 to use and I have been resistant to let go of the truck It is the oneI have liked better than any other I owned. I can ask to transfer the 2000 s-10 into my name and use 1/2 of that money to fix the Nissan.

Is a truck with a new frame any kind of a good idea for safety? I can't really see under the truch today- but when the rain stops I can look and document.

Again - thank you,