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🙁 Hey Guys, I’m back again with another question. . . So my front end is wrecked, and I have been looking into a replacement front bumper cover and well I want to go to a pull apart and get one, but what years will fit my car? I have a 1996 Ford Taurus lx, blue. So there’s a 2001 that is blue there and I was wondering if it will fit. Because I would like to pull one with a blue color so I wouldn’t have to get it painted and spend more money. Also what is the headlight holder thing called? I know I sound dumb, but I could really use the help. Thank you
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a 95-99 will defiantly fit since you have a 3rd gen but a 4th gen may fit if you fabricate it realistically i would buy the same gen as a parts car and use it so its all direct fit.
I think your car is Third Generation Taurus (1996-1999)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_TaurusLooks like one might want to check the hood to see if a new front end is going to fit. Is there damage to the hood lock assembly?
Also take a look at the diagram here to see how many parts are involved in a front end replacement, and which parts might be needed and which ones reusable.
http://www.oemfordpart.com/auto-parts/1996/ford/taurus/lx-trim/3-0l-v6-gas-engine/body-cat/bumper-and-components-front-scatAlso looks like one might need some headlamp components:
http://www.oemfordpart.com/auto-parts/1996/ford/taurus/lx-trim/3-0l-v6-gas-engine/electrical-cat/headlamp-components-scat/?part_number=f6dz13n019aWell the whole hood shifted over about an inch at least. I looked and I’m missing the piece that the hood lock grabs onto
Don’t forget that your car, like most, is a unibody car. The front end is obviously a bit tweaked (bent).
Here is a game plan that will get you some great results. From a paint and body man.
Get a friend and a tape measure. After removing the front bumper and raising the hood, you need to do X measurements in the front plane where the bumper was, and the engine bay under the hood.
What is an X measurement? Look after you raise the hood, look at all the bolts that hold the right and left fenders on. Those are fixed points that are symmetrical before the crash. Use the tape measure on the upper most bolt nearest the fire wall, then stretch it to the last bolt on the opposite fender nearest the headlights. Do the reverse measurement also, so you basically make an X. If the unibody is bent, the two measurements will be different. Do that X measurement again on the front of the car after the bumper is removed. I bet it’s off too.
Why do this you ask? Because you can’t just slap on new body panels and expect it to all come together correctly at all.
What can you do to make it right?
After removing the front bumper and any other panels you expect to replace like the hood or a fender, or the headlight mount etc, you can then get the car to a body shop that does frame stretching. Not a fly by night dinky joint, but a professional body shop. If all they do is stretch the unibody frame back, that will cost around $200 at most body shops. If you want them to do more, they can, but they charge by the hour. That is why I suggest you remove the busted stuff that is in the way of the needed frame stretching so you save money.
If you take that SUPER IMPORTANT step, your new body panels will fit and work like they should.
If you have any other body work questions, I’m happy to help.
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