I'm currently in the proccess of cleaning up the frame to repaint it. I am eventually going to pull the axle out and get it on the bench to service bearings, seals, and brakes, as well as paint it. I would also like to remove both the "behind the cab" cross member, and also the rear/spare tire cross member, so that way I can clean them up and paint them better. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to seaperate them? Or just better to leave them how they are. Also, Would bolting it with one size bigger (drilling the hole slightly bigger) grade 8 bolt be fine for replacement of the rivots?

If this helps, its a 2001 Ford Ranger Edge, 4.0 SOHC, 4x4, Ext. Cab, 6 ft bed. I've attatched a poorly taken blurry photo of what I'm talking about.

 

Why be only partially OCD about the whole thing? I suspect that if you don't go ahead and do it completely you'll always wish you had....even though it really makes no sense to do so.

 

Use same size holes, bigger hole means less metal around the hole, and bolts rarely shear off, metal usually cracks from fatigue.

But I would leave them as is, clean and paint as one part.

 

Replaced the back half of my bad frame on my 99 with a junkyard piece. Easy to do. Replaced rivets with grade 8 7/16 bolts same size as rivets. Works like a charm.