Hello everyone. I am very new to older trucks and also to Fords. I was given a 1971 F-100 that was my dad's and I am looking to get it back up-to-par. The truck didn't run for about 3 years so I got new plugs, wires, master cylinder, air filter, fuel filter, PCV valve and drained the gas and added new gas. I actually drove the truck home!! It runs great, but needs a few things. To make things easy it is a 1971 F-100 short bed, manual steering, manual brakes, no a/c, L6-240, 2WD, 3-on-the-tree,regualr cab. That's really all I know about it. Here are some of the things I am hoping to get help from you guys so that I am accomplish them in the most effective manner!

-Rebuild Carb
-Add Power Steering
-Add Power Brakes
-Find out why instrument cluster doesn't light up even though the fuse is good, but you can wiggle the headlight switch and only the heater control panel lights come on and my test light flashes at the fuse when the heater panel lightswhile moving HL switch.
-Get rid of the "play" in my steering
-install the C6 tranny that my brother is giving me
-Find a wiring schematic for the dash

If anyone can help me, I would greatly appreciate it, I am new to Fords and I am very excited about this truck!! Thanks!! Here's my e-mail addres if anyone needs it GLN305@satx.rr.com

 

Just talked to a friend of mine and he tells me that he has a 1987 Lincoln TOwn Car that he si getting rid of. It has a fuel-injected 302 that runs well along with the tranny and anything else I need. WOuld it be easy to get this into my truck?

 

GL, Welcome to FTE and Ford trucks. I hope you can find a place here and sit with us on our discussion porch for a while. This forum has most of your questions asked many times, and you might want to go through the archives and or use the search engine for your questions.

You need a plan for your project. The carb rebuild is just a matter of buying a kit for your carb. at your nearest parts house. As for the rest that can be taken care of in a single buy. I suggest you look for and buy a 73-79 donor truck with a I-6 or 302 V8 engine. You can find those donors from $300-600.00. You can sell parts that you don't use and you might end up with a free donor truck, I did. Everything from the back of the cab to the front bumper is bolt up exchange from 65-79. In 73 Ford started making power steering and power disc brakes standard equip. You might want to think about buying the donor removing the sheet metal, cleaning and painting the chassis and putting your sheet metal on it. I strongly urge you not to just buy parts here and there. The little parts that you didn't get will dog you to death. and can end up costing a lot more in the long run.

I also suggest that you don't put a C6 behind that engine, but rather look for a C4 or AOD. While the C6 is considered bullet proof it is too big for the 240 to push. IMHO

 

N othing better than good advice, thank you. I don't have any place to put a donor truck, which makes my project a little harder than most. Honestly it was a push getting the truck here in the first place. thanks for the suggestions and I will browse these forums and see what U can dig up. I will also look for a c4 Instead of the C6.

 

Welcome to FTE! To replace the light switch (the reason the dash lights don't work), depress the small button on top of the switch, (behind the dash) and pull out on the ****. The **** and shaft pull out. Unscrew the bezel retaining nut and remove the switch. Unplug the wiring harness by pulling down and wiggling it. Install the new switch in reverse order and use plenty of dielectric grease. I use a plastic wire tie to keep the switch and harness nice and tightly together.

 

GL, I can only suggest the best way to make it happen, sorry I can't help with the logistics.

 

This forum has to be the best thing I have come across for information and friendly people. Thanks for the help so far, I will get the headlight switch after my 2-week vacation that I will be leaving for tomorrow. Once again, thanks!!

 

Well, I got the headlight switch in and everything is working now except a couple of bad bulbs. I am also trying to figure out why the right turn signal indicator is not working, I suspect a bad bulb first and a bad switch second...any other ideas??

 

I really like the idea of the EFI 302 w/AOD. I have the same engine just waiting for me to find a real clean short bed Ford to put it in. I also have a perfect T85/R11 overdrive to go with it as well. I think I could get some terrific MPG with this combo. I agree with Jwilker about getting a complete '73 up "donor" truck to get most of the parts you'll need for the swap. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like you have the space to do that.

 

Would you believe a bad turn signal indicator bulb in the cluster will cause the signal on that side to cease?! Something to check out.

Barry