I had the same problem installing the windshield center piece and ended up leaving it as 'good enough for now'. My dad was in town helping me put in the regulators and glass. I think he was shocked by the many 'choice' words that came out of my mouth during that little project

 

I plan on taking the truck out for its maiden voyage (around the block) in the next week or two. I only have the brakes (replace master cylinder) left to do before I can see if it will drive.
I am trying to adjust the belts and am having a difficult time with them. The first problem is the generator. When the bolt is tightened, it does not move up or down, but it does tilt from side to side (pretty sure this isn't normal). Anyone have experience with this? Seems like there has to be an easier way to adjust them. I also have to figure out the fan alignment; the fan is sticking out too far and the belt is not straight up and down. As always, any help is appreciated!

 

Good to hear from you fordgal. I was wondering how you were doing with the p/u. Something does sound amiss with the genny/fan mount. It has been a while since I messed with mine but I recall having to get the genny bracket slid into some grooves. Kinda awkward to do and that genny is heavy. I'm going to do some work on my truck tomorrow and will look at my setup.

 

Thanks Joe,
I got it figured out. It took everything off to see what was going on. There was a stray washer behind the bracket, so it wasn't able to sit on the block properly. All is good, I hope. I have a lift in my workshop now, so doing the brakes/master cylinder will be much, much easier.

 

A lift in your shop! Argh, I would love just to have a shop (garage) but a lift would be a dream!!!!
Glad you got the genny sorted out .

 

I took the truck off the lift yesterday to see if it was ready for a trip around the block. I have a toploader 3 speed and I wasn't able to get it to reverse. When I had the shifter in the reverse position (left, top), the truck moved forward. Has anyone worked on these transmissions? I am just wondering if they are difficult or if I would be able to go through it and figure out the problem. I see that Van Pelt has a book available on these for rebuilding. I was excited that it started, stopped and at least went forward. Seems like it's always 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

 

Sounds like a shifter fork is out of place but I am no expert on transmissions. Surely someone will chime in with some guidance.

 

Swap the thingamajig on your dumafloppy and hunker it down tight. Hold your tongue out the side of your mouth and bite down hard...then test every gear again- does it still for forward in ALL of them, or do you get reverse in 1st? I had an old Chevy 3 spd that someone had reversed the fork on 2/3 so I had to pretend I was shifting into 3rd from 1st and then to 2nd to drive it. It was indeed the fork.

 

I looked back through your pics and it looks like you had the top cover off of the transmission and a temporary cover on it?

Align the shifter forks to the neutral position with the shifter. "Put it in neutral"

Take the shifter out of the shifter housing. Just unscrew the cap on the shifter base.

Take the shifter housing off of the transmission.

Then slide the reverse sleeve and the main synchronizer sleeve in the transmission to match the alignment of the forks on the shifter housing.

Put it back together in reverse order. Make sure that the forks on the shifter housing engage in the sleeves in the transmission.

 

That is exactly what I had to do. The GREAT news is that I drove it around the block for the very first time! Such an adrenaline rush! I was so nervous and my heart was beating outside my chest, but it started, stopped, drove in reverse and drove forward in all 3 gears. It did not spring any leaks and all worked well. Success...Finally! Still have to get tires and finish up a few things, but those are minor issues comparatively speaking.

 

Great news! Do we get to see a first drive video?

 

Even a 2nd drive video would be great!

 

I didn't video the first drive in case something went terribly wrong. I plan on taking it out again this weekend for another trip around the block. I don't think I can post videos on here though. Here are a couple of pics of it out of the workshop for the first time in well over a year.

 

I posted a video on here by first putting it up on YouTube and then linking back here.
Nice looking truck with a satisfied owner behind the wheel.

 

The Ford looks brand new!

It looks like you bought the one on the end of the row.