Hello all. I have visited some other sites and this is hands down the best one I have seen thus far for information relating to 70's Ford trucks.
I have gotten a lot of my questions awnsered just by simply searching this subforum.
That being said I have a few that I just couldn't quite find.
Let me start out by saying this is my first Ford truck, oldest vehicle I have owned and first carburated vehicle. I bought it for primarily yard work, and an occasional trip to the dump and such.

Ok. the truck in question is a 78 F250. It is a 2wd truck with a 400ci and 4 spd manual.
I know only one question per thread but c'mon do you really want to see three or four threads by a noob within minutes?

First, When I purchased it from the previous owner the interior was in pieces. I got it all put back together for the most part but I cannot for the life of me get off the ***** for the headlights and wipers to put the trim bezel back on. Any tips how I might do that?

Second, I have absolutely nothing reading in the instrument cluster. No speedo no fuel no nothing. I have heard this is fairly common on these trucks.

Third, and probally the most important issue. The truck does not like to idle when it is cold. I always have to keep on the throttle until it warms up. Now this being my first vehicle that has a carb I am pretty dumbfounded and lost on how to go about correcting this issue.

Well thanks for tolerating my incoherent ramblings and I look forward to hearing some great input on these issues

 

As for removing the headlight **** you'll need to reach up under the dash and there's a button on top of the headlight switch you'll need to depress in order to release the headlight ****, as for the wiper **** there's a little metal clip just behind the **** itself you'll need to push in to release the ****.

Your instrument cluster problem is most likely a faulty ICVR (instrument cluster voltage regulator)

Is your choke operational? is it electric or manual? verify it's opening and closing properly, it should be closed during cold start-ups otherwise your truck will not want to idle.

Welcome to the site.

 

The speedometer not working is most likely a speedometer cable, the driven gear on the cable, the drive gear in the transmission or the speedometer head itself.

The cold start problem is most likely choke related, and the gauges problem is most likely the ICVR, as Montana Boy suggests.

 

Depress this button pictured here to release the ****.

 

Gee, I love this forum!

Swapping out the light switch as I have no rear or dash lights at night, which is very restrictive for night driving (ya think?)....is easy.

Light switch ****/shaft removal same as the old Dodge's, easy.

The wiper control **** I couldn't figure out, till I came in the forum and found out how it's done.

Thanks for this old tread!

Thanks guys!!!

 

You really want some forum knowledge? Read the 3 stickies at the top of the forum. Way more links, sub links, and sub sub links.