Newbie Here With Shifter Problem
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2011
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Newbie Here With Shifter Problem
Hello all from Arkansas. I don't currently own a dentside, but am more than likely going to buy one by the end of the week. There is one I am looking at that seems like a steal. It's a 76 XLT with a 460, and a trailer brake controller. The truck has 136,000 miles on it, but the engine only has 40,000 miles. There are two "minor" problems with it so far the guy has disclosed. One is a small power steering leak, no big deal, power steering hoses are cheap. The other problem has me baffled thinking about it. It's a column shift manual, and the current owner says the truck will only start if the shifter is in reverse. Now, he says it's a manual, so this makes no sense to me at all, but I have zero experience with a three on the tree. If it was an automatic it would baffle me more because my brain would say neutral safety switch, but reverse would tell me I'm dead wrong. Any insight from you dentside wizards??
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2011
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That's what I was thinking because his description said it was a "standard (column shift)" and if it was a true manual all these southern boys would call it a three on the tree. Neutral safety switch is no big deal at all, dealt with that with a buddy's old Fairmont. Considering this truck is in nice looking shape, and runs and drives, I'm pretty willing to shell out the $950 he's asking for it. I just traded in my Nissan Titan for a Hyundai but still need a truck to go hunting in and love the old Fords.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
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From: Stanley, VA
Welcome to FTE, yeah, there are usually quite a few people lurking around here just waiting to answer questions.
Glad I could help.
If you get the truck post some pictures of it. We all LOVE truck ****.
Glad I could help.
If you get the truck post some pictures of it. We all LOVE truck ****.
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2011
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LOL, truck **** is good, maybe some gun **** with it??
I'm really diggin on this truck. I refuse to buy something without researching and after reading every sticky in this forum, literally, every one, this is sounding more and more like the truck for me. I've even read some posts of people getting 18MPG around town in these suckers??? My Titan wouldn't even get that on the highway, going downhill, with a tailwind! All I'll have to do is find a welder to use so I can put some anchor points in for my little buddy's car seat. I don't trust the seat belt mounting.
I'm really diggin on this truck. I refuse to buy something without researching and after reading every sticky in this forum, literally, every one, this is sounding more and more like the truck for me. I've even read some posts of people getting 18MPG around town in these suckers??? My Titan wouldn't even get that on the highway, going downhill, with a tailwind! All I'll have to do is find a welder to use so I can put some anchor points in for my little buddy's car seat. I don't trust the seat belt mounting.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
Sorry, I think they're being a little uhh...shall we say "optimistic".
A whole lot more dentside owners (like all of them) get anywhere from 10-12, some get 8 others get 15-16.
Just get the truck and enjoy it for what it is, a huge two ton chunk of real Detroit iron that has all the aerodynamics of a concrete block and all the safety devices of a mouse trap.
Have fun with your little co-pilot.
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2011
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Ok. That makes more sense. When I read those posts it actually made my blood boil. Thats why the Titan went bye bye, I was spending over $100 a week just to drive to work and back. Now I spend $27 in a fully loaded Elantra. But the truck is still a necessity to get to my fishing holes and my hunting spots. I can't find a 4x4 dentside around here on the cheap, but we don't get much snow so I figure a 2wd with some good A/T tires will do me just fine. Plus this truck will be a rolling hobby too. My wife has her hobby, I have mine. Mine can just go places. I'm an aircraft mechanic about to be medically retired from the Air Force so I know my way around a tool box! And we got a pick n pull literally 5 minutes away.
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Tuned
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Well, the guy with the 76 has kind of stopped responding to emails. I would have gone to see the truck but he's about an hour away and I'm recovering from surgery for a broken back. So now I found a 79 with a 300 inline 6, automatic, factory A/C, and only 52,000 miles on it. Called today and the guy let me know about all the issues it has. The A/C compressor is shot, and the rear main seal is starting to seep. No big deal in my book, so I think I'm gonna go with this one, especially since the 300 is known to be indestructible, it has ridiculously low documented miles, and will more than likely be a bit better on fuel than that monster 460. What does anyone think??
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2011
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Yeah, being military I have access to the on base auto shop so changing the rear main should be a piece of cake. Drop the driveshaft, pull the tranny, and swap the seal. A/C compressor is easy stuff, but I'm wondering what else I'm going to have to change to convert this to 134 since I refuse to pay for the R12 stuff.
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2011
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Another question, please don't laugh at me for this....
I'm going to pick up the '79 with the 300 I6 this weekend. I have to drive it two hours to get home. The guy has been driving it every day to work and back, but being the worry wart I am, I want to carry some spare fluids with me just in case. Soooo...being a bone stock 79 with a 300, would anyone happen to know offhand what transmission is in there, and what fluid does it take?? I'm guessing Type-F, but have NO clue. Up until I own this truck, I have pretty much wrenched on imports and Lockheed Martin products!
I'm going to pick up the '79 with the 300 I6 this weekend. I have to drive it two hours to get home. The guy has been driving it every day to work and back, but being the worry wart I am, I want to carry some spare fluids with me just in case. Soooo...being a bone stock 79 with a 300, would anyone happen to know offhand what transmission is in there, and what fluid does it take?? I'm guessing Type-F, but have NO clue. Up until I own this truck, I have pretty much wrenched on imports and Lockheed Martin products!