Hi guys, been going down various rabbit holes trying to figure out all the things I need to do immediately / in the near future to start making the lil monster as reliable as possible (if anyone has a good cheat sheet...thanks), and I ran into this thread on FSB on starting issues. Mine usually starts up on 1st or 2nd attempt, but the other morning when I went out to move it for street cleaning I got no response at all (no clicking, no buzzing, no electrical response at all). Went into the bay, wiggled all the wires to see if there was anything glaringly wrong, couldn't see anything, went back & it fired up immediately. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So, I suppose I have 2 questions:
1. What sort of battery terminals/cables do people run (mine look like figure F in this thread: https://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum...72-post15.html )
2. What are some must-have tools? (If people have specific recommendations for multimeters, voltmeters, etc - again, thank you)

Apologies if these are silly Qs - this is a vastly different vehicle from my (modern) Honda, so it's a learning process. Appreciate it!

 

Hello, and welcome to FTE, please share some info on your truck so we can point you in the proper direction. From the avatar you use I can tell it's a bullnose, with some sort of carburated Windsor engine in it, but that's about everything I can make out of it.

 

Far as I can tell, the only thing that's been upgraded is the alternator & distributor cap. Otherwise its an 81, 5.0/302 with a 4 speed & granny gear, which I think is the Borg-Warner? Dash trim says Ranger XLT, but one of the POs definitely slapped a bunch of ***** from various pick n pulls, so unsure of exact trim.

usual problem w tailgate, glass stuck 3" from top. No cylinder in the outer tailgate, dash switch produces noise but no action, could just be off its track. Haven't taken that apart yet. Key stuck in ignition, PO wired a push-button start. Also no extra key, so no locking the doors, and the lock mechanism doesn't seem to work from inside, so... that's high on the list.

My plan is to do spark plugs & wires, maybe ignition coil, belt & fluids, since I have no idea when that was done last. This'll be first time getting into this, so it's an adventure. All tios & tricks welcome.

 

Use crimp terminals, I use a 16 ton hydraulic hand swage and terminals with 3m marine glue lined heat shrink.

 

 

get a battery terminal cleaning tool. keep the contact surfaces clean. some spray on terminal stuff or grease for protecting the terminals from getting nasty.

 

Thanks guys - NAPA here I come!