Somehow I broke my lap belt today... the front metal piece fell out when I went to buckle up and then the top came off. IT still functions, just have to push down on the H looking thing.

 

NOTE: Photobucket closed my account. All my photos so far are not lost, but they aint on here no more! Sad but I think they sold out and new guys are real dicks..

so working on Grumpy again today.. Parked for the winter and I unhooked the battery and I took out the dash cluster. It was acting up this year. ONE of the four gauges would work and they all took turns doing it lol! So I figured I should give it a shot and see what I can do. Well I can tell someone has been in here before. There was screws missing holding the dash bezel on, there is bulbs missing out of the back of the cluster (yes I know you CAN change them without taking the dash out). I also know someone has been in the bezel itself as some of the 1/4 inch screws holding the 2 halves together are also MIA...


Nice and dirty back there. Guess I couldn't expect less with the windshield being shot out for several years.


The darn clip! Protip! to remove the speedometer cable from the instrument cluster, push that big tab on the far side in, towards the cable and it will wiggle off. It took some research to figure that out!



picture from back side.



Looks so weird with the cluster out! Also the Headlight / Wiper light for the dash just unclips. Mine will need replaced. it has exploded..



Not sure what to think of the back side of the cluster. Far right bulb and holder was missing (Brakes light) and the far left 2 were burnt out.


They look to be in good condition! Good thing these were used from 73 into the 2000's super duties! wont be hard to find one more.



I doubt these are original but who knows. Yazaki Company has been around since the 1940's apparently!

 

Looking to fix this bulb while my dash is apart. Anyone know what bulb this is? does it just come apart/

 

I figured it out. GE 1445 bulb is what it is in mine apparently. now to find an LED equivalent.

 

Great thread great read. Like looking in a time capsule thank you for sharing and keeping us updated on grumpy

 

Well just before the snow arrived Grumpy was the victim of a theft...

Grumpy was parked out front along the street and apparently overnight someone took the fuel cap and drained out about $60 worth of gas. Figure they then tossed the fuel cap into the garbage bin (garbage day) or took it with them.. Luckily a friend of mine has some old fords on his father-in-laws farm and the first truck he tried had the right style of cap!

Also the interior light has left this world. My wife was putting skeletons in the cab for Halloween as it sits in the front driveway and neighborhood kids like the decorating she does..
Anyhow while putting these skeletons in the truck, one of their heads smashed into the interior light and broke the cover but also jammed the light against something metal and well it started to smoke and burn. Luckily there was some neighbors home and a pair of needle nose pliers and disconnected battery later, it was not burning and no way for it to do that anymore. Grumpy did not have a good 2021! lol

I get a bad vibration at highway speeds right around the 100km/hr (64mph) mark. If I stay below it, not a problem. Kinda leading to think its a fuel issue or carburetor issue. I have the Edelbrock 14053 Performer black edition on right now and even after drilling the dreaded hole in the dash and installing a manual choke cable, It does not make any difference in the engine idle or warmup times. If anything it makes Grumpy more Grumpy when using it.. Would anyone know for sure what the rebuild kit would be for that? It seems the 14053 just doesn't exist for parts or rebuild kits outside of being listed as a complete unit. Thinking I will try to rebuild it first and get some new gaskets before completely swapping it out for something different.


Not in too much of a rush as Grumpy is sleeping for the winter lol



Also grumpy turned 49 December 19th.