PB Blasted the cab bolts on the 84, removal tomorrow.

 

FINALLY found out where my firewall is leaking from. The water is getting in through between the cowl panel and the hood, then running down the firewall, then reaching the hood release and speedometer cable hole grommets, and since they're torn, it's getting in that way. Gonna go out some time this week and seal those holes up. It'll be great to finally keep the moisture out of the truck.

 

Well, since I'm on vacation I couldn't work on my truck so did the next best thing - worked on my SiL's truck. When we got here he said it was overheating at idle, but had it at Firestone for an estimate. Their estimate was $1000 for a new fan clutch, electric fan, and valve cover gasket - on a truck he paid $800 for. I suggested we take a look, and then pointed out that the electric fan wasn't plugged in. We plugged it in and started it up, and sure enough both fans worked fine.

To make a long story short, the overflow hose had gotten into the fan such that the bottom of the hose was missing, but that couldn't be seen from above. What was happening was the system would heat up and push coolant out through the hose, and then cool and pull air back in. A few of those, with each time getting worse, and it would overheat.

Backflushed the radiator, block, and heater. Replaced the overflow hose and detoured it away from the fan. Replaced the thermostat awa the coolant, and it doesn't overheat even when left idling with the A/C on for an extended period.

 

Plow - if that doesn't work you might try the "hot wrench". I've had good luck on bumper and bed nuts heating them for 15 to 20 seconds with a MAP gas torch, which is a gas that's 20% hotter than propane, and then putting a breakover on and hitting it with a mallet. It breaks the bond and usually let's me bring them off, although on some I've had to reheat a couple times as the nut started to bind as it cooled.

 

Got factory dark red carpeting from the JY today. It was in a late 80s Supercab. $15 out the door.

Vacuumed it, popped it in my truck and trimmed it to fit the cab, and now my truck looks more like a daily driver and less of a lumber wagon (not that there's anything wrong with lumber wagons ).


I'll post pics after work tomorrow. Looks really good with the other red and black interior pieces.

Also washed my truck, cleaned out all the trash that had accumulated in the cab over the past few weeks, aired up the tires to proper levels and put some gas in the tank (...switched to 93 octane Shell V-Power last week, seems like it sounds a little different compared to 87 Shell gas).

Been a good day

 

If need be, unfortunatly I need these guys or I would just cut them off.

 

My letters finally showed up so i put them on today.

 

From where did you get them?

 

Ebay, the guy custom cuts them from FORD patterns (so he says) but they lined up pretty well, and for $17 shipped you can't beat them.

80- 86 ford fleetside tailgate letters decals stickers | eBay

 

Oh, cool!

How do you feel about their quality? What do you think might happen after a few years of use on a DD? e.g. fade, peel, shrink & crack, etc.

 

Wow, man. That looks really sharp. I might have to grab me a set of these...

 

Those look good! I'd get some, but the Lariat tailgate panel would just cover them up.lol.

 

They are vinyl letters, not sure how they will to over time. Were the factory letters vinyl also or were they painted?

They feel like good, thicker vinyl. They come with a clear cover on the front and a white paper backer.

THey were a breeze to put on.

Clean with wax / grease remover
Spray a bit of warm lightly soaped water
Peel white paper backer
Apply letter and position where you like
Squeegee out excess water
Peel off clear
Squeegee bubbles out carefully
Wipe with clean / dry cloth or towel.

 

The factory letters on my truck were painted on.

 

I got my flareside tailgate letters here. They were perfect.

80-89 Step Side Ford Pickup Truck Tailgate Letters

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