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Pictures say more than I can, but here it where we are at.
We continued to undercoat and line the frame though that's not all done yet. Where I left off last we had just finished the vinyl floor. Since then we got a fresh headliner put in, sanded downand, worked the body and painted one of the new doors and fenders and are in the process of doing the last fender. They were a bit rusty but nothing major...just looking to get a few years out of them.
Got the motor running like a top. Just like she did back in 2006 before we started having problems. The entire fuel system is now brand new and works flawless. We were having issues with the bowls flooding and launching raw fuel out the vent tubes but further analysis led us to too much fuel pressure from the Holley pump, so we installed a Summit brand adjustable pressure regulator and gauge up to 15psi. It is now set to 7psi at idle and running smoothly. During diagnosis we disassembled the bowls off the 4160 and replaced the plastic floats with brand new brass ones and put on new gaskets. The needle and seat were very clean and there was no signs of corrosion inside the carburetor, which is unusual for one that has been sitting. The engine is running smoothly and healthy, just as it should for a 40k give or take mile engine. Had it up to temp quite a few times no, nothing out of the ordinary and all is working fantastic. The rest of the drivetrain is working fine, no unusual leaks or noises, brakes are fairly new and work well, the rear end could use a fluid change, the trans and power steering topped off, transfer case is in good working order...body work is the only thing holding it back from going down the road.
We also redid the cowl, I cannot recall if I mentioned that lately or not, but it was cleaned up and refinished and painted, resealed where old seam sealer had worn out and was leaking water into the cab, and sprayed the hell out of it with undercoating. Upon inspection after removal of the cowl, there was so no signs of any apparent rust issues, which is so common on these as the cowl air vents are so much larger than the small holes of the later trucks.
In the meantime we have begun relocating the batteries. He wants to move them to the bed. He's also working out where to put the hydraulic pump and distribution block for the snow plow so we can pull the fenders off. The battery boxes are rotted out, and that inner fender is beginning to cave in, as the plastic has had it. He pulled the plow frame off and has begun disassembly of the front end. The front end is sagging 1.5" lower than the cab now due to the bottom of the core support being rotted out. We will be welding in new frame savers and putting in the puck and Energy suspension polyurethane bushings as we did with the cab and then it will sit level again. A new core support is in the garage. We are finishing up body work and then we can take the fenders off and finally slap on some clean ones. The original hood is in fantastic shape, no rust at all, and the underside was undercoated back in the 90s and has held up to the heat well. We are going to sand that down and repaint it.
Paint has been paint matched to the Light Canyon Red code of this year. It is rattle can stuff we have been ordering online and then being clear coated over with Rustoleum rattle can. This is NOT the final paint, it's just to get it all clean and one color until the truck, when the time comes, goes in for a real paint job. That will be the 4th paint job this truck has received since it was built by Ford, including factory paint. Doors and fenders were primed with red sandable primer, resanded The painted accordingly.
The antenna on the cowl was replaced with a cheap adjustable one. That's coming off for a Ford one that is correct to the truck. We also have a new vintage bugshield to replace the broken one. The wiper arms were also replaced with new ones,a and he stuck on his old double blades from the 80s.
It's going slow but getting there. Only gets worked on a few hours of the week. But it shows that most trucks are save able of you.put the effort in.
The motor is getting a new timing cover and were are throwing around the idea of slapping taller valve covers on as he wants to convert it to a roller motor before he buys a 374" crate motor making 540hp and 486tq. I believe the part number on that engine is M-6007-S374W for anyone who wants to check that out.
I left off starting to tear into the front end. We raised the core support to where it is supposed to be and turns out the front kf the cab needs to go up about 3/4 of an inch to be straight when the new support and fenders go on. As usual the mounts rotted but the rest was ok. The new one has been painted and undercoated at the bottom. The undercoating done back in 93 held up well to the heat and salt and did its. Minimal to no rust under the hood.
Both battery boxes rotted completely. The inner plastic fender is beginning to collapse on that side. I wish I could find a set of steal inner fenders instead of plastic. h
He does want to relocate the batteries to a protected box under the bed. The side shot with the cab tilted forward is where the core support should sit. It was leaning a lot more forward.
Front clip totally off. Frame savers welded in, mounts look great. Frame looks very good. Cleaned it up and worked on the old plow frame. Thing is beefier than I thought, damn near half inch thick rails in spots off the old Fisher mount. We have been talking serptine conversion and engine dress up just for something for now. Over all it is progressing well. Cab sits where it supposed to, all it is now really is finish the clip, and engine bay, fix or replace the bed and she will be nearly road ready. Mechanicals are great.
05-04-2016, 10:46 AM
