Fairly new to the forum and reading some great things on FTE!
I just picked up a 1978 F250 4x4 Custom with a 400 and 4 speed a few weeks ago. Not the prettiest ford I have owned, but not in bad shape considering the location and price, plus I was sick and tired of driving a Saturn station wagon. It had been sitting the last 3 years; I checked the fluids, poured a little gas down the carb and the rest in the tank. Fired right up.
Got it home and went to work on the old boy. Cleaned out the cab and found a dozen or so .22 rounds, a .270 round (all good), 96 cents in change, the original owner’s manual and purchase papers, and a ½ inch wrench!

On to the engine. Changed the oil and filter, plugs, wires, and kitted the carb. Wouldn’t you know it but some ding bat dropped a carb nut down the intake while he was putting the carb back on. So, I beat his head against the hood and went to fishing with a magnet. No luck, off came the intake manifold and in went a new set of intake gaskets. I got rid of all the EGR components minus blocking of the exhaust port below the carb (who in the heck ever thought that would be a good idea?!) and re-blocked the extra vacuum ports. Fired it up, set the idle and idle mixtures, and the old boy is running smooth as glass .

Up next, rear main seal, it has been leaking pretty bad since the time I fired it up . After driving it around town a few days, I noticed the bottom end rattle. Figured since I was going to be under the truck anyway might as well do the rods and main bearings. I tore in to it this morning, here’s how it went.

1.) Dropped the stock exhaust. 5/8” nuts at the manifolds sprayed with some chain lube and zipped them off with the air ratchet. Got lucky there 9/16” on the exhaust hangars, and the entire thing slid down and back out of the way after dropping the front drive shaft and tying it to the side of the frame
2.)Pulled the starter. ½” on the top and bottom 5/16” for starter wire. Gone and out of the way
3.)Dip stick tube took a 5/8” flare nut wrench
4.)Oil pan bolts took a 9/16” on the front 2 and rear 2 bolts. All the others were ½” zipped them all off with the air ratchet (sure am happy with that little purchase
5.)With the pan down, but not out; I rolled it around to the right side and was able to easily reach the oil pick up nut and pump bolts, all 9/16”.
6.)I pulled the second main cap (13/16”) and number 5 rod cap (1/2”) took those bearing halves into Carquest and got new bearings on the way, they should be here Wednesday

Some considerations so far:
I have only spent a little over an hour on the main seal/bearing project so far. I probably could have saved myself some time and hassle if I had jacked the frame up on the suspension. I’ll do that tomorrow when crawl back under to clean up the surfaces and get ready to roll in the bearings and rear main seal. I will post pictures in the next day or two. Any hints or tips will be greatly appreciated!

 

Sounds like you got a good start so far, Just be sure every things clean well putting it back together, Some carb cleaner and emery cloth to clean up the surfaces.

 

Pics are in my album. Check them out!

 

Rear Main seal is out. The old rope type, came out alot easier than I thought it would. Top side came out in three peices. Ran a piece of weed trimmer line through with ease and then blasted it with brake cleaner and air. It would appear that the seal twisted when I fired it up for the first time in who knows how many years, but whats a guy to do to prevent that? (see pics in my gallery).

While waiting for parts I have been cahsing some other little issues. Wen to change the wiper blades (so it had some to be more exact) found alot of slack in the wiper arms, so I knew what was goin on there. I had some dash lights to replace anyway, so out it came to get to the wiper motor. Wiper motor was missing 2 of the 3 bolts causing all the play (one of which was the ground tab). 2 new ones and tightened it down. Good to go. Just waiting for the bearings and seal.

I am a little worried about fishing the new rubber type rear seal in. I don't really want to use any lube to push it around, or what do you guys think?

 

Done and done! Seals are in, bearings are done (clearances were ideal, go figure) Panned, primed, and runnin like a Singer...and not a drop of oil on my garage floor. I love it when a plan comes together!

Next up, steering shaft and dash lights (along with brakes and shocks at some point).

That being said, and I have read it all over this forum, why do I have ALL the gauges, turn signal indicators, 'headlights and wiper" lights, and ashtray light...... but no dash lights or high beam indicator?

I have replaced the headlight switch, the 3 amp fuse, dashlight bulbs, pulled the fuse box off checked it for loose wires and even tracked down the illusive "blue with red stripe" wire for the radio.

There was a two wire connector wht/red and yellow/blk, that tests with the dash light circuit, located where the radio was. All the wiring appears to be factory (no splices) any odeas?