1978 F100 project
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1978 F100 project
This is my first truck purchase and my first real dive in under the hood of a vehicle. I've done some minor modifications to my challenger (added a catch can, added CAI, and changed exhaust) but never done anything crazy... I'm just looking to learn. I found an F100 for $1000 near me. I checked the truck out, the body was mostly clean, a few dents here and there, but nothing major, and the 302 cranked right up. What concerns me on the truck is that the camber angle of the wheels is very intense and on top of this, there's a lot of play in the steering wheel. I took it in to have new tires installed and the mechanics told me that I would need to replace the king pins, the radius arm bushings, and the coil springs. Although I could tell that the springs had lost a lot of their stiffness, I couldn't see any damage to the king pins... is this the mechanic just trying to get some more cash out of me? What should I look for to tell if I do, in fact, need new king pins or if I should just replace the coil springs or add a spacer?
There's a couple of pictures here: Aug 20, 2012 - a set on Flickr
There's a couple of pictures here: Aug 20, 2012 - a set on Flickr
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
To check the kinpins, jack up a front corner and grab the tire rock it at the top and bottom. It can also tell you the condition of the front bearings.
With the age of these trucks, a full suspension should be planned for. Replace all the bushings to establish a baseline.
As far as installing spacers, don't do it. They're nothing more than a band aid to mask what may be wrong with the springs. Parts for these rigs are relatively cheap so there is no excuse for doing it right. A pair of coils can be had from many vendors... below are the usual suspects so order their free catalogs. Please bookmark for future reference.
Jeff's Bronco Graveyard
National Parts Depot:Ford Truck Parts & Accessories | 1948-1979
LMC Truck - Ford Truck Parts and Truck Accessories
MAC's Antique Auto Parts
Blue Oval Truck Parts
Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts
RockAuto Auto & Truck Parts
Carolina Machine Engines-Rebuilt Long & Short Blocks
Summit Racing
Shock Warehouse
Inline tube The brake plumbing experts
Benchworks Steering
Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA
Borgeson Universal Steering Components
With the age of these trucks, a full suspension should be planned for. Replace all the bushings to establish a baseline.
As far as installing spacers, don't do it. They're nothing more than a band aid to mask what may be wrong with the springs. Parts for these rigs are relatively cheap so there is no excuse for doing it right. A pair of coils can be had from many vendors... below are the usual suspects so order their free catalogs. Please bookmark for future reference.
Jeff's Bronco Graveyard
National Parts Depot:Ford Truck Parts & Accessories | 1948-1979
LMC Truck - Ford Truck Parts and Truck Accessories
MAC's Antique Auto Parts
Blue Oval Truck Parts
Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts
RockAuto Auto & Truck Parts
Carolina Machine Engines-Rebuilt Long & Short Blocks
Summit Racing
Shock Warehouse
Inline tube The brake plumbing experts
Benchworks Steering
Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA
Borgeson Universal Steering Components
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 43
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To check the kinpins, jack up a front corner and grab the tire rock it at the top and bottom. It can also tell you the condition of the front bearings.
With the age of these trucks, a full suspension should be planned for. Replace all the bushings to establish a baseline.
As far as installing spacers, don't do it. They're nothing more than a band aid to mask what may be wrong with the springs. Parts for these rigs are relatively cheap so there is no excuse for doing it right. A pair of coils can be had from many vendors... below are the usual suspects so order their free catalogs. Please bookmark for future reference.
Jeff's Bronco Graveyard
National Parts Depot:Ford Truck Parts & Accessories | 1948-1979
LMC Truck - Ford Truck Parts and Truck Accessories
MAC's Antique Auto Parts
Blue Oval Truck Parts
Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts
RockAuto Auto & Truck Parts
Carolina Machine Engines-Rebuilt Long & Short Blocks
Summit Racing
Shock Warehouse
Inline tube The brake plumbing experts
Benchworks Steering
Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA
Borgeson Universal Steering Components
With the age of these trucks, a full suspension should be planned for. Replace all the bushings to establish a baseline.
As far as installing spacers, don't do it. They're nothing more than a band aid to mask what may be wrong with the springs. Parts for these rigs are relatively cheap so there is no excuse for doing it right. A pair of coils can be had from many vendors... below are the usual suspects so order their free catalogs. Please bookmark for future reference.
Jeff's Bronco Graveyard
National Parts Depot:Ford Truck Parts & Accessories | 1948-1979
LMC Truck - Ford Truck Parts and Truck Accessories
MAC's Antique Auto Parts
Blue Oval Truck Parts
Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts
RockAuto Auto & Truck Parts
Carolina Machine Engines-Rebuilt Long & Short Blocks
Summit Racing
Shock Warehouse
Inline tube The brake plumbing experts
Benchworks Steering
Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA
Borgeson Universal Steering Components
Do you know if any of these companies offer a kit to redo all the bushings?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
Yep... NPD, LMC, Mac's, and DC for sure.
I got my kingpins and bushings from NPD... dropped off the spindles at my machine shop and they fitted the kingpins for $95. Avoid the nylon bushed versions unless ya want to redo them in 30,000 miles. Go for longevity.
Opt for polyurethane bushings.. lasts waaaay longer and preserves the suspension/steering geometry alot better than rubber bushings.
I got my kingpins and bushings from NPD... dropped off the spindles at my machine shop and they fitted the kingpins for $95. Avoid the nylon bushed versions unless ya want to redo them in 30,000 miles. Go for longevity.
Opt for polyurethane bushings.. lasts waaaay longer and preserves the suspension/steering geometry alot better than rubber bushings.
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How would I be able to tell if the coil springs are any good or if I need to replace them first?
I think that the main problem is that the springs are too low, which causes the extreme camber angle and makes it difficult to steer. The play in the steering and the up and down wobble on the wheels is likely the result of bad kingpin bushings. I'd just like to get the truck on the road for the moment so that I can get it to my house (I live in Del Rio texas and the truck is currently at my wife's house in San Antonio) should I attack the springs first and leave the kingpins for my house? Is that going to get it close enough to make the 150 mile drive to Del Rio?
I think that the main problem is that the springs are too low, which causes the extreme camber angle and makes it difficult to steer. The play in the steering and the up and down wobble on the wheels is likely the result of bad kingpin bushings. I'd just like to get the truck on the road for the moment so that I can get it to my house (I live in Del Rio texas and the truck is currently at my wife's house in San Antonio) should I attack the springs first and leave the kingpins for my house? Is that going to get it close enough to make the 150 mile drive to Del Rio?
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I've also got a slight electrical system problem. My driver's side brake light remains on at all time, and I can't get any of the blinkers to work. Should I assume there are two separate issues, or is it likely one thing causing both problems? I already replaced the turn signal relay, and it didn't fix anything.
The headlights, windshield wipers, etc work fine... just the blinkers.
The headlights, windshield wipers, etc work fine... just the blinkers.
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Posting Guru
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The tail light issue sounds like you may need a new turn signal switch.
I would go ahead and change the front springs. I don't recall the exact price, but I bought a set for my F-150 a couple of years ago and they weren't that bad. New springs will go a long way to getting your camber issue resolved. You may or may not need kingpin bushings. Just have to check them. My F-150 has nearly a quarter-million miles on it's original kingpins, but they get plenty of attention from the grease gun every oil change.
If you have slack in the steering (side to side steering wheel play), check the rag-joint and the clamp on the steering shaft. Rag-joints are cheap, but a bit of a pain to install. My Crew Cab developed a lot of steering play a few years ago and I found the clamp loose.
I would go ahead and change the front springs. I don't recall the exact price, but I bought a set for my F-150 a couple of years ago and they weren't that bad. New springs will go a long way to getting your camber issue resolved. You may or may not need kingpin bushings. Just have to check them. My F-150 has nearly a quarter-million miles on it's original kingpins, but they get plenty of attention from the grease gun every oil change.
If you have slack in the steering (side to side steering wheel play), check the rag-joint and the clamp on the steering shaft. Rag-joints are cheap, but a bit of a pain to install. My Crew Cab developed a lot of steering play a few years ago and I found the clamp loose.
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Anyone used "Summit" springs? Here's a set for a pretty good price: Summit Racing CS8228 Coil Springs Front Cargo Control Ford Pair | eBay
Fleet Owner
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From: NorCal
<A HREF=http://i55.tinypic.com/21jw50l.jpg>74-78 Wiring Diagram Pt1</A>
<A HREF=http://i52.tinypic.com/35luc8n.jpg>74-78 Wiring Diagram Pt2</A>
Visually? Remove the steering wheel and do an inspection. My rig's TSS was dried up and broken in pieces.
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It's kinda hard to tell from the pics but it looks like a low buck lowering job. I don't think weak springs and worn kingpins would give that much negative camber. Your new tires won't last too long in the front if you don't correct that soon
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What can I do to raise it back up?
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Break out your multimeter and start chasing voltage signals. Oh, you'll need a wiring diagram.... here you go:
74-78 Wiring Diagram Pt1
74-78 Wiring Diagram Pt2
Visually? Remove the steering wheel and do an inspection. My rig's TSS was dried up and broken in pieces.
74-78 Wiring Diagram Pt1
74-78 Wiring Diagram Pt2
Visually? Remove the steering wheel and do an inspection. My rig's TSS was dried up and broken in pieces.