05-30-16 @ 105,763 miles.

Today I started the truck at work, made it a mile, and she died like I flipped a switch. Tried restart, no go. Sounded like no fire at all. Old girl still had her OEM Duraspark on the fender.

Twice in the last year she's done this same "cut off" but restarted both times real easy. After the last time I picked up a new aftermarket one at work to carry as a spare. I forgot I had one I picked up for same use in the '80s. Today I first checked for fuel, squirters squirted .... so I looked and I found the older ICM from the '80s, it was behind the seat in a wooden box I carry stuff in, I forget who made it ...... plug it in, truck started right up. Get home, went to mount module but first tried OEM again ..... truck started. I'll carry OEM as a "backup backup" and get the use out of this old new one ..... and my newest will be my bestest backup.

Edit to add old link about Shift Collar R&R ... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...witch-tab.html

 

Just adding a link:

Red Head Steering Box ordered / installed:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ering-box.html

Still drives great ..... just haven't gotten to drive it a lot lately due to issues beyond my planning .... but we'll get through them.

Carry On!

 

Not sure how I missed your thread Tbear, but I'm glad I stumbled upon it!

Just curious, how much did you red head steering box cost ya?

 

It was a group buy here and we generated enough orders to each qualify for a $60 discount December 3rd 2012:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ox-buy-16.html
Post 238 was after my call:

Post 305 was when I got mine. Ordered Monday the 3rd, it was here in Va in my hands Wednesday afternoon. When I sent the core back, my card was credited back within a week of when I sent it .... but I don't know how long the "return trip" actually took.


I had to think about it, I had been wanting to do the mod for several years, just seemed expensive. Had to decide if I was gonna keep or sell her then. It was bad enough that it was either a steering box from somewhere or stop driving her on a highway. "Any" box would have cost over half as much or more.

Have I gotten my use out of it? Maybe yes, maybe no .... I do use it more now, it stays in the lane hugely better, drives so great so that now I actually enjoy it again. I haven't run out of the road, that's a plus.
There are times I think I should sell the old girl and all my accumulation of stuff, don't know if I'll ever get a chance to do bed sides, doors, tailgate, the 400 swap, etc ... might make someone a heck of a package deal. I do have the '07 and a trailer.

She does tote a ton pretty well still. Wood Pellets for my stove.

 

$320 isn't too bad at all. Wonder what mine would cost me, being that I'm in Canada and shipping charges are out the wazzoo... not to mention the exchange on the dollar is GOD AWFUL right now.

 

You could have it shipped to Plentywood, Montana and pick it up there (Plentywood Package Service -). I do the same thing here in Ontario - everything shipped to Ogdensburg, NY. Saves a ton on shipping not to mention weeks of waiting for items to arrive. Just a thought.

 

That's actually not a bad idea at all.

I'm going to have to remember that for when i want to place a larger order on stuff. I may as well go pick it up myself because shipping is damn near killing my budget on my truck build.

RockAuto's service agreements with shippers really helps, but eBay, Amazon, and sometimes the odd other website (JBG) really hurts the pocket.

 

Bought a gallon of " Iron Armor" bed liner at HF today and some rollers.

Have a fiberglass pull behind a MC type" trailer that matches the Trike but the top surfaces got damaged and the paint peeled so I had used some old textured vinyl to cover over it, looked good but the adhesive is going away now(dying). Want to pell it off / scuff up good, roll on the Iron Armor maybe 3 coats so no scratches from laying helmets or jackets on it at like rest stops, etc. Also think might do front leading sides of trike's rear fenders like "fender bras" and may re-coat some areas of '77's floors???

If goes well, will pull drop in bed liner out of '77 and get another gallon and do it ..... after wire cup brush all loose rust flakes out. Pics when "got her done"

 

post some pics when you're done and if you like it or not. I've been eyeing that stuff in the store.

 

OH .... fer sure will post pics AND report of my experience when I do it.

 

Here it is , Oct 19 of 2018 and the old girl hasn't been on the roadway in over a year, old gas and all. Inspection expired in May 2018.

So I put a charge on the battery last week, one afternoon only. She has a decent group 65 batt.

Started just fine with some choke, all lights and stuff OK, checked tires … OK too.

Called, made inspection appointment in case I got stopped with 5 month dead sticker (I been battling other issues), and we drove her to town. All was A-OK until I was asked to show left & right signals … they worked a minute ago. Wiggle 4 way flasher button, shut truck off & restart …. they start working and continued to work as needed rest of day?

Well, now she has a Oct 2019 inspection (expires then). I have put 2 or 3 Dorman signal switches in when the cancell tabs broke. Finally … I just cut tabs off and put a loud flasher on …. couple years ago. I also noticed gas gage on empty mark, so I filled her with 100% gasoline 87 at pump, one of two places it's sold in Lexington.

 

Glad to hear you're still around tbear - sucks that the truck has given you a bit of grief but sounds like a reasonably easy fix? Just a lingering issue is all.

 

Thank you sir!, proud & blessed to still be "here"

This one ain't giving no real grief. Never before had that signal issue, tempted to put in new switch. Wish I still had that OEM Ford one that stopped cancelling, at least it switched great!

Now, since I gave up job, just used to pull stumps, tree trunks, haul trash, etc,. Would love to find good indoor shop and put them bedsides, tailgate, doors, trim etc on …. and then paint. I know I been saying it for years ….. but now I have the funds.
Did it too in 2021, near finished in 2022, see @ I have a plan for my '77 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums (ford-trucks.com)

One thing, when I go to get a ton of pellets, or other "load", might just use the '07 and my trailer. Single axle trailer, has 3 x 1.5" channel frame, good 3500 pound 4" drop axle I shortened from longer one, single axle, it has good 3,000 pound rated mono leaf springs, but no brakes so I keep speed low with it loaded. Trailer hauls a good load well enough, wish I had pic of it that day I let them put a load of stone on it (trailer). Thinking of new hubs for trailer, maybe some with 5 on 5.5 circle as I have some extras that fit. Plywood was zip tied in place to not blow out when empty on way to get mulch. It is easier to load / unload due to low height.

 

Made some solid (not screen) Cowl Vent Covers out of 1/8" LEXAN.

Well, I thought it was Lexan, it was Acrylic sheet instead, and went to take one off today to photo and it broke, so I repaired it with another piece of scrap and some small rivets.

Looked at Lowe's last night, they have exactly what I want but first I want to look in my attic over my carport for a sheet of 1/8" thick clear Lexan that I know I have, I think it's big enough and it don't break. But I did draw up a drawing with dimensions, Make TWO. Glass shops sell it too.

Acrylic is strong, but not yielding. Lexan is tough, but not stiff so much. .

Start with 25-1/2" long X 4" wide pieces, to get a near perfect curve on front edge mark back 1/4" from corner and taper two ends for 8-1/2" leaving straight 8-1/2" center. Notch for wiper arms is 3" wide to within 1-1/2" of the front edge. If I use clear, I'll be able to see the slots to place my fasteners. I'm thinking of using just three per cover, two on the long side, one on the short side of wiper cut out. For now, I used zip ties but I intend to make some fasteners that the head of will drop through the slot and a twist will lock it in slot, use wing nuts on top side. I think some 1/4" bolts with the heads filed flat on sides, to look like a tee bolt, will work. Maybe put a piece of rubber tube under the wing nut.

You can almost fold 1/8" LEXAN.

 

Very cool. Sorry to hear you bust one of them up when taking it off! That stinks

I like the idea though - much cheaper / easier than doing a cowl delete with welding / sheetmetal.