I removed the ignition switch form my 1983 F150 with a 351/400m....the thing was causing my solenoid to stay engaged...scared the crap out of my. I am picking up the new one tomorrow...I will try to update if I can.

 

Are you sure it wasn't the other way around? If it's an aftermarket solenoid, they love to stick, resulting in constant power to the starter, regardless of what position the key is in.

 

We shall see in a couple days..:O

 

I painted my firewall!

 

Don't know where my last post went, I couldn't find it.

But for the past week or so I've been running around sans muffler after a failed attempt at a DIY glasspack installation.

The first time I went to walmart with it like this, everybody was rubbernecking to see what the sound was from. Later in the week I was at a light and some guys turned their radio down, looked over at me and asked what I had in it. I just said "it's straightpiped"...lol.

It actually sounds pretty good but it's LOUD. Also it doesn't have as much grunt as it did with the stock muffler, probably from the drop in backpressure.

I may just have it welded back up Friday and have a resonator tip put on after the stock muffler to get more volume but keep the backpressure. With the stock muffler it would actually move pretty quick.

 

Assuming a V8 engine, are you sure it's not the intake manifold leaking and oil isn't just collecting down there?

 

Today I bought a front drive-shaft, and the correct 90" speedometer cable.

The drive shaft has an E2TA engineering number, but good drive-shafts are too hard to find, so being picky will not prevail in this situation.

I also realized that finding a rear drive-shaft for this truck is going to be a nightmare, since there aren't too many 1980-1982 single cab long-bed 4x4 trucks around here.

 

Gary Lewis might have what you need. He's pulled apart a few single cab long bed 4x4 trucks here lately

 

I just called Green Sales, and confirmed that they have the correct N.O.S shift **** for my F150 for a pretty decent price.

I think he's using them all. lol.

I want to find one close. Preferably at my favorite yard, since drive-shafts are only $20.

 

Ray - The only two 4x4 rear shafts I have are for Dad's truck and Rusty. It is a different shaft than for the 2wd models.

Shaun - Glad you found the ****, front shaft, and speedo cable. You are getting there.

 

Thanks Gary!

I have to say, I'm learning that swapping to 4x4 isn't just about swapping the axle, transmission, and transfer case, at least on an 80-86. There's soooo much more to it than that. Grabbing a parts truck that matches the configuration of your truck is one of the best pieces of advise I could give someone.

 

YES! I'm so glad that I bought Rusty since it set me up for converting Dad's truck to a manual tranny from the C6. And, to go from 2wd to 4wd it would be that much more beneficial/necessary. Good call.

 

Ranger XLT w/convenience group and all Ranger Lariat trucks are supposed to have a carpet section glued to the front of the map pockets. A few months ago I bought a spare back wall carpet section to use for my map pockets. I cut out two strips and then cut them to size. I dyed them from gray to black, and then rolled them up and put them away. I finally went out and bought some adhesive, and installed them onto my map pockets.

I'm waiting for glue to set, and I think two days will be plenty, so Friday or Saturday I will go out and put the map pockets back onto the truck.

 

Looks good, Shaun. I guess Dad's truck isn't too convenient as it doesn't have map pockets, much less carpet on them. So, I guess it's a lesser XLT.

 

So on top of my brakes, bearings, steerin collum, and need for a lift, my tranny is givin me fits . I think my truck may just be down for the count for some time. Next is to find a runnin/drivin 1st gen Cummins. FUMMINS FTW!!!!