thank you for the suggestion! Are they still <$200 for small chains and a rubber sleeve? I'm see what I can find!

 

Tailgate chains
Is this what you are looking for? They are original , just don't rememer what year truck I boght them for.

Email me at markereizen@charter.net and I'll take better pictures if you need them.

Regards, Mark

 

It's been a while since I've posted during the "winter wait" on car projects, but happy new year to everyone and I hope it's going well on purpose for everyone! Here are the plates...kind of a dual meaning with the FE...I also needed to swap the taillight brackets to roll upwards to clear the license plate frame..I hope it isn't cumbersome while driving or a hand hold for non-owners... I'll dress up and re-powdercoat the brackets this spring. I'm still acquiring parts, some for maintenance and some for updating, like weather seals, etc. I'm looking forward to driving this and working on it soon!

 

Well, the winter wasn't nearly as bad as I planned on it being, but that doesn't mean I did anything to get the truck ready for the road...I started her up yesterday and popped the hood and noticed the carburetor had a steady drip coming out, hitting the exhaust manifold and than dripping below on the floor...I figured I'd start by examining the carburetor...well, that didn't last long as I'm mildly embarrassed, as I could not figure out how to remove the air filter setup on this thing...seems easy enough to unthread the top wingnut and "walla," the filter assembly slides off the support stud...but this has a lever on it on the bottom and when moving it towards the rear firewall, it seems to loosen the filter assembly but it still seems "stuck." I have a tendency to break things so I stopped and figured I'd look into this online...well, again, I'm not sure what to look for as this doesn't seem to be the filter assembly that came with the truck originally...can anyone shed a little light on my ignorance? Or should I just get dirty and start ripping things apart and learn about it the hard way?

Complete assembly

Paper filter and top removed

lever shifted back towards firewall

I tried twisting this but it does not move...I assumed this was the culprit...is it?

 

The thing with the triangle is a bolt on a clamp. Rotate it counterclockwise until the clamp is loose enough to slip off the carburetor.



Example

Some carbs have a flange on the throat. You may have to loosen the bolt quite a bit to get the filter housing to slip off.


Not the same carb as yours, but shown as an example

 

That bottom lever is a bolt with a captured nut that clamps the air cleaner to the top of the carb. Unthread it until the body comes off the carb top.

 

Thank you guys! I knew it wasn't supposed to be complicated! ha!

 

I think the thing you are calling a lever is actually a threaded rod with a triangle grip formed on the end. This threads into a clamp. It should be oriented as in the first picture. Loosen it (turn the triangle part counter-clockwise) a few turns as if it were a screw head and that should free the whole air cleaner assembly. I'm slightly concerned with how it looks in the second picture where it is not in position. If it is bent, that can make it hard to unscrew.

 

Well I finally had time to realize the "lever," although bent from my own doing, was able to be straightened some to enable me to unthread air filter housing...I found my carburetor bowl was leaking due to rtv and the gasket looking cut. I removed it and am waiting on new gaskets...I feel I could just make my own buy I'll treat it to new ones this time... I'm about two weeks from driving it to work and picking up the kiddos from school!

 

...I had leaking in the exhaust manifold...nothing would ever fall on the floor so I could only smell fuel, but not see it until the hood was opened while running. I sanded it down on a massive slab of milled granite and threw some anabolic sealant on it with a new Felpro gasket and man oh man, she drives SO much better and runs like a top!! I love how simple thing thing is!

I ordered some new bed strips and bolts and figuring out what I'll do for the wood side of the bed. Truck is running great and it's been a fun experience so far!!

I also brought some old steel scrap to the recycling place and weighed the Ole girl...with me in it, she topped out at 3420lbs...

 

Holy smokes...this was WAY easier than my slow brain had figured...but I finally got the taillights swapped out for some new ones...I also tightened up the turn signal lever and have everything ready for driving. Life i





s good!

 

Looks great lieblaw.

If a LEO pulls you over for an obstructed plate, tell him it's a factory stock bumper, a factory stock license plate holder, located in the correct stock place.

 

Thanks! That's a great idea on "why" if a LEO ever makes a fuss...luckily, they do nothing but throw thumbs up here still...these lights, though still halogen bulbs, throw so much more light then what was on there...it has to be at least 300% more visible then they were! I am huge fan of the simplicity of these trucks!

 

What do you guys recommend for an "attractive " whip antenna? My current 18" plastic whip is shoddy looking, and though functional, looks very unbecoming on such a classic truck... would you go full size metal or look for a metallic smaller version?

 

I would only get an original reproduction. They collapse nicely.
Classic Industries, Dennis Carpenter, CJ Pony parts;they all sell them.
Regards, Mark