Official NCFTE Works Thread
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,535
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,153
Likes: 0
From: Concord NC
Yeah my 7-up is a 90 model factory 25th anniversary. They were originally built for a Pepsi/7-up promotion that fell through so ford made them their anniversary edition. She’s rare and will haul a$$. That’s why I’ve kept her so clean and low miles.
Im getting ready to have to do the front end on my SD. It’s got some wobble and the tie rod ends look pretty worn. I’ve already done both hubs and ball joints . I’m thinking about going ahead and changing out the steering box while I’m at it. So the track bar gave you a hard time?
Im getting ready to have to do the front end on my SD. It’s got some wobble and the tie rod ends look pretty worn. I’ve already done both hubs and ball joints . I’m thinking about going ahead and changing out the steering box while I’m at it. So the track bar gave you a hard time?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,535
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
Yeah my 7-up is a 90 model factory 25th anniversary. They were originally built for a Pepsi/7-up promotion that fell through so ford made them their anniversary edition. She’s rare and will haul a$$. That’s why I’ve kept her so clean and low miles.
Im getting ready to have to do the front end on my SD. It’s got some wobble and the tie rod ends look pretty worn. I’ve already done both hubs and ball joints . I’m thinking about going ahead and changing out the steering box while I’m at it. So the track bar gave you a hard time?
Im getting ready to have to do the front end on my SD. It’s got some wobble and the tie rod ends look pretty worn. I’ve already done both hubs and ball joints . I’m thinking about going ahead and changing out the steering box while I’m at it. So the track bar gave you a hard time?
one of those tie rods will be really expensive... lol Steering box go with Redheads... theyre great got one on Lil Dually real smooth... they fix the drawbacks in the factory units and beef them up.. https://redheadsteeringgears.com/... just make sure you do the bleeding procedures... i did the first half then let it sit over night before turning the engine over... youll need new o-rings too
trouble?? somewhat... axle moved a little when the trackbar was out so it didnt line up when trying to put the bolts back in... but the bolts themselfs are the "fun" part... youll want some 3/4" tools... especially for the Tq wrench... both the bolts that hold the track bar in are torqued to 406 ft-lbs.. in that pic i had a 3/4" breaker bar that had 24" handle with a 3 foot pipe on the end of its handle and a 6 foot pipe on the end of the 3 foot pipe to get the torque...
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,153
Likes: 0
From: Concord NC
Jezebel has a 1 year run engine and was the last of the pushrods before both lines went to OHC.. V8's went OHC in 96... v6's went OHC in 05... but for 04 they were the only year to get the 3.9 v6.. before you had the 3.8 and after you had 4.0... shes also the 40th anniversary year but didnt get the 40th anniversary package... the only upgrade she really has in her is the radio.. rest was all standard equipment.. but ive played with her a little to make her my own... shes peppy enough to tick off a few v8 owners with how well i keep up with them even though shes not boosted with turbos/supercharges/NOS or any tuners... lol
one of those tie rods will be really expensive... lol Steering box go with Redheads... theyre great got one on Lil Dually real smooth... they fix the drawbacks in the factory units and beef them up.. https://redheadsteeringgears.com/... just make sure you do the bleeding procedures... i did the first half then let it sit over night before turning the engine over... youll need new o-rings too
trouble?? somewhat... axle moved a little when the trackbar was out so it didnt line up when trying to put the bolts back in... but the bolts themselfs are the "fun" part... youll want some 3/4" tools... especially for the Tq wrench... both the bolts that hold the track bar in are torqued to 406 ft-lbs.. in that pic i had a 3/4" breaker bar that had 24" handle with a 3 foot pipe on the end of its handle and a 6 foot pipe on the end of the 3 foot pipe to get the torque...
one of those tie rods will be really expensive... lol Steering box go with Redheads... theyre great got one on Lil Dually real smooth... they fix the drawbacks in the factory units and beef them up.. https://redheadsteeringgears.com/... just make sure you do the bleeding procedures... i did the first half then let it sit over night before turning the engine over... youll need new o-rings too
trouble?? somewhat... axle moved a little when the trackbar was out so it didnt line up when trying to put the bolts back in... but the bolts themselfs are the "fun" part... youll want some 3/4" tools... especially for the Tq wrench... both the bolts that hold the track bar in are torqued to 406 ft-lbs.. in that pic i had a 3/4" breaker bar that had 24" handle with a 3 foot pipe on the end of its handle and a 6 foot pipe on the end of the 3 foot pipe to get the torque...
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,535
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
i couldnt get a gun on mine... ive got a 3/4" impact thats supposed to have 1000ft/lbs of torque behind it... but couldnt get it in there to do it... but did try with my 1/2" impact and universals to bust them loose when i started... its got 700ft/lbs of nut busting torque... it wouldnt even budge them bolts when they were tight... but did fine for zipping them in and out...
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,153
Likes: 0
From: Concord NC
I learned from doing all the engine work on my old super duty that these trucks were made for the cab to be lifted off to perform major work. It’s actually quite simple and makes motor and trans work a breeze, as long as you have a way to lift off the cab which we do in the shop. I’ll use this same lift to get the dually up where I can get to it without wallowing around under the truck.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,535
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
i didnt have access to a lift to take the body off when i did the head gaskets... nor did i pull the cab... that was a fun job... not because it was "difficult" i actually found it pretty easy... but the whole time i was doing it the temps were in the triple digits.. humidity pushed it even higher... wish i had a shop to work on things in... i miss when i worked at the chevy dealership... well mostly i miss the lifts.. lol im tired of rolling around on the ground... hope to someday have a lift again...
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,153
Likes: 0
From: Concord NC
Yeah lifts are nice. My partner and I leased a big shop in kannapolis NC for our trucking business and it was an old heavy duty mechanics shop so it has a lift and I must say it’s the bomb. The shop has heat but unfortunately no A/C.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,535
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
thats one thing i will have when i get a shop built is both heat and AC... lol my friends are always like "just build a pit bay... then you dont have to buy an expensive lift" but they dont realize how limited and tight those pit bays can be under cars and what they classify as "light duty" trucks.. (anything 350 and under... 450-650 medium duty with the 750 being heavy duty)
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,535
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
easy to fall into them is why... but this is more a personal garage not a commercial one... makes a difference with the insurance companies...
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,153
Likes: 0
From: Concord NC
Yeah I’d never be able to deal with a pit, man I’d tear som crap apart trying to get out. I can’t handle being all confined. I about blew a head gasket while having a MRI scan done a few years ago. lol
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,535
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
i wouldnt have a problem with a pit if it was just for oil changes... theres some other things i wouldnt mind it for... but over head lifts are better... in ground lifts have their own issues.. the hydraulic fluid gets easily contaminated...
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,045
Likes: 21
From: The Ole' North State.
Decent heat in the shop would be nice. I tried getting out there on Sunday morning. I started the two electric heaters about an hour before I tried to get out there. Then started up the Kerosene once I was out there to work. Don't think it really got much over 40 though in the shop. Couldn't get my fingers warm enough to get the wires connected, so gave up, and moved onto other things for the day. Once I get the big truck out, I guess insulating the second half of the shop is on the to do list. Then maybe get a wood stove out there. I think that would really warm it up nice. I'm not big on propane, and don't really want to put a furnace in there.
A lift would also be nice. But I can't justify spending that kind of dough to fix my own vehicles. two grand for a cheap lift or another project. It's not really a difficult choice for me.
A lift would also be nice. But I can't justify spending that kind of dough to fix my own vehicles. two grand for a cheap lift or another project. It's not really a difficult choice for me.