Challenge "76 HIGHBOY" started
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 448
Likes: 31
From: Park City, Utah
When I had the upholstery done I chose gray cloth for the seat inserts (from a Thunderbird turbo coupe) and a gray vinyl for the rest of the seats that was a close color match. I don't think Ford ever offered that interior color option in the "dent side" trucks. By using the same vinyl on the dash pad it matched the rest of the interior perfectly.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Cleaned up the cluster housing , guage faces and front lens with warm soap n water, had a ton of dust and grime. Cleaned the printed circuit and bulb contacts, repainted the guage needles flourescent orange and gave the front Bezel a Ranger XLT trim HaHa ! dont forget to check all the bulbs before you reinstall the cluster .
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 147
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From: Phoenix, AZ
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 43
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From: Wisconsin
Yes I do, if I can ever get back at it. Been gone all summer on Military. Your thread has really motivated me to get back at it. I've been putting off cleaning up the chasis until I got a sand blaster, but I see you did yours with just a grinder w/ wire brush. I think I will just get at it and get it done. I plan to take pictures as I go and will post them when I'm done. I have many questions so I will probably hit you up with some in the future.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 448
Likes: 31
From: Park City, Utah
If you've never done it before, you probably don't know how miserable sandblasting is.
I've done a bit of it at home with a pressure blaster and a hood/gloves, etc. It's not fun. I had a K5 Blazer frame (actually a full rolling chassis) professionally sandblasted and it was like $350.00. They did an excellent job and I'd have to say it was worth it.
One downside to sandblasting is that the media gets EVERYWHERE. If you weren't planning on disassembling your front and rear axles, after blasting you will do it. However with a wire brush you almost definitely won't get as good a job, but won't have to disassemble components either.
One last bit of advice absolutely wear good eye protection!
I've done a bit of it at home with a pressure blaster and a hood/gloves, etc. It's not fun. I had a K5 Blazer frame (actually a full rolling chassis) professionally sandblasted and it was like $350.00. They did an excellent job and I'd have to say it was worth it.
One downside to sandblasting is that the media gets EVERYWHERE. If you weren't planning on disassembling your front and rear axles, after blasting you will do it. However with a wire brush you almost definitely won't get as good a job, but won't have to disassemble components either.
One last bit of advice absolutely wear good eye protection!
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Blackfoot is absoulutely right on that, it,s just a judgement call on how far you want to go with it, like everything is about these things. But if your disassembled down to the frame, which it looks like you are, blasting is definately something to think about. I'll be removing the bed once I get
the engine and front sheet metal assembled, and i'll have the same decision to make on the rear end of the truck, save time and get a better result but spend some bucks, or take my time do it myself and save some
money ?????????
the engine and front sheet metal assembled, and i'll have the same decision to make on the rear end of the truck, save time and get a better result but spend some bucks, or take my time do it myself and save some
money ?????????
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Got my poly bushings for the xcase from BGY so I can reinstall that, but they dont come with any of the sleeves or washers so I had to find and fit my own. thats so you dont just crush the bushing when you tighten.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 138
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Here they are installed, make sure your xcase carrier plates are in the right position to match up with the holes in the crossmember before you tighten the bushings cuz you cant do it after you lift the case into position !