anyone know

Does anyone have any tips on fixing or replacing this section of my truck? I'm thinking of getting a resistance welder as I'm replacing the radiator support assembly, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Also anyone know where I can get one of these? Headlight connector

 

You're actually prime to do the 2014+ conversion.

McNeil offers a kit that includes the bedsides which typically don't get done when ppl piece the front together.

 

Salvage or eBay should get you one

 

Welcome from NY.

Aaron @Outbound can answer that question.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! Looks like a fairly major project.

 

Welcome from Pennsylvania

 

I've never actually used a resistance welder or done body work. My first instinct would be to TIG weld it due to how thin the metal is.

 

I've MIG'd auto sheet metal before but it's a time consuming process. MIG for one second and blowgun for 10 to cool it back down. I'd love to have a TIG.

 

Welcome to the best gens forum.

 

There was a guy down in FL, bay area IIRC, who basically did this exact same job for his son after he wrecked it. Wish I could find the damn thread...

 

Where are you located ?

 

But back to the point, yes, while a junkyard is your best bet, and normally parts you need can be easily tracked down HERE, the part you're looking for is part of the actual headlight housing, and NOT a factory harness. You'll need to replace the housing to get that little wire harness, or hit a JY and pull it off a vehicle there. I recommend buying something CAPA-certified, either from DEPO, TYC, Eagle Eyes, RockAuto is a great choice to buy from online. OEM is pretty spendy, most go aftermarket. BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR CHOICE. The headlight housings on these trucks are wildly variable depending whether you're double cab or reg/acc cab, whether you have DRL, and by year. Don't believe me? See for yourself, here's the harness you need, sitting on my brand new aftermarket housing from a couple months back... :

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MIG setup with .023 wire is my go to for automotive sheetmetal. I use a block of copper to backup the weld area and act as a heatsink. Aint nobody got time to do the required amount of prep for TIG bodywork.

 

@Keith P I found that damn thread, here: https://www.tundras.com/threads/coastal-off-road-bumper-after-a-little-repair.120372/

That guy basically had to do the same repair you're up against. Maybe that thread helps you on the sheet metal aspect of things. I see @MI-FL off roader was signed on here about a week ago, he may still check his thread if you reply to him/tag him with an @ symbol like I just did.

 

I did a repair like this on a couple of salvaged Toyota trucks I got from a wrecking yard and rebuilt in the 80s. Spot weld drill, air chisel and a MIG welder are what I used. I also had access to a hydraulic dozer that a friend who was a professional welder made. Back in those days aftermarket body panels were readily available in CA but usually required some working to get the to fit properly. I was a broke student and this allowed me to drive decent vehicles and make a few bucks