Parts are slowly trickling in. I am hoping to get this done next weekend. We are headed to Chicago and would like to take the truck to see what highway mileage I can get out of it.

 

While I am waiting for the last few parts to trickle in I was thinking. I have a pretty solid compliment of tools. But are there any speciality tools I need to worry about when tearing into the front end replacing all these parts?

 

I know you said your parts are on the way, but the guys at Autonation Ford (formerly Tousley Ford), have by far the best prices on OEM parts that I have found. They shipped all of my stuff for $30 and it was a massive heavy box. I highly recommend them. Call and ask for Patrick

 

Thank you for the heads up. I did price them out. Normally Rockauto has them beat by quite a bit. But I have ordered from them before.

 

yes the thing i usually run into is shipping gets out of hand if you order a lot of big stuff from Rock auto. i usually get a lot of stuff from them too but they were a lot higher in the end with shipping

 

Ordered the new body bushing today as well. Went with the standard Daystar kit. Was happy to find out that all my bolts are accessible from the bottom. So hopefully I don’t have to pull the seat or anything.

 

use a tourch to heat up the bolt heads to break the lock tight

do not use an impact gun as that will push the nut plate retainers open and nut plates will spin. Use a long breaker bar and slowly apply continuous torque on the bolt heads .

if you spin a nut plate, tack weld the nut plate to the frame with a mig or stick welder.

 

Thanks for the tips. Do most reuse the bolts and nuts I am guessing?

 

So just a few quick question in preparation for Wednesday.

For the thermostat housing and the water pump do you guys use a quality rtv along with the gasket or just the rubber gasket?

 

Just the gasket. You don’t need RTV on a modern motor.

 

If done right...yes. Though the toughest ones will be the front 2. They're a bit hard to get to as well. I can tell you that 4 Wheel Parts just broke them and put in new ones...and didn't charge me any extra. I was all over them like a hawk for breaking bolts/mounting brackets already. I think it's just the easiest thing for them to do since they aren't lifting the cab completely off to do the work.

 

Well I am hoping with doing the radiator and all today I can get a better view of the bolt and get it done.

 

Let the work begin!!!

 

Awww SHH!!!!TTT....Here we go boys and girls! Good luck man!

 

Well to keep an accurate measure of time I just came in finishing the job. By my calculation probably 10 hrs total. I did run into a couple issues so it went a little long. Pictures and dialogue to come tomorrow. I am beat. I only have 3 1/2 hrs before work alarm