Hey Matt,

Thanks for the input. I had one of my Lambo techs look at the linkage. The linkage was fine, it was just 20 years of sitting there that resulted in some buildup of dirt and grime. We completely cleaned the linkage and lubricated it well and now it shifts like a dream. The only lingering problems are the brakes. I need to convert them to disc but I really need to just get the drums working for now.

I'll update you all soon on the progress.

Dan

 

Here's some helpful info on the drums... Napa carries the front drum itself under the 440-1133 part #. It was never sold as a seperate item only drum/hub assembly by Ford. You will only pull your hair out or beat the crap out of the idiot who gives you the wrong drum for the 12th time at another chain. They also need to be pressed onto the hub by a machine shop. Sometimes the wheel studs break in the process but you can still get them. Brake lines are still available for $20 per if you do a little shopping around from the chain stores. Or you can buy NOS from greensales and get it right the first time. With the wheel cylinders you'll find it to be hit or miss with the replacements. The remain companies that sell the parts to most chain stores sometimes mispackage them. There are some slight differences that will prevent it from properly seating on the back plate. Again you'll have to be patient with some of the parts. If you don't have a dual master cylinder I would highly encourage that upgrade. With a single res master if you develope a leak you'll have no brakes.

Just some info to keep your tribe intact...

 

I have a classic car mechanic doing the brakes day after tomorrow. I will ask him if he can do the dual masters for me. Thanks for telling me about that. I didn't think about it and it makes mega sense.

Has anyone installed seatbelt in their trucks? My boys love to ride but I need boosters for them so I need seatbelts. If you have done this mod, can you tell me where you got the hardware?

Thanks again,

Dan

 

FWIW- because of the age of the truck you may wanna think about getting ahold of a repair manual that will give you the breakdown of the stearing column an do a repair job on it. most of the time it's just the tapered bushings and worn out parts in the column itself. if you pay close attn. to what you're doing when you take it apart so yo u can get it back together it's not that big of a job. although it may take you a whole weekend to getter done. MURPHY"S law will come into effect here. there are a coupla threads on this site that'll give you a real insite on how to. good luck. glad you like your truck. i own five of them and i think they're the best lookin truck ford ever built. Dutch

 

I agree, Dutch, that it is the best looking truck Ford ever built. If I could get the brakes fixed I would love it even more. It's a blast to drive and with the loud color it gets a lot of looks. Some girl was taking pictures of it at the redlight this morning. My dad, may he rest in peace, would say the truck has "some eyballs". God I miss him.

 

Hate to disagree with you airharley, but I didn't have a machine shop do my drums/hubs. All I did was pound around the inside edge of the old drum evenly with the BFH until it finally popped off the hub. For one of them I had to use a little heat, but also had to be more careful, as excessive heat can weaken/distort parts. Some good old WD-40 in liberal amounts helps too!

To install the new drums I just slid them on over the studs, banged it tight, installed a wheel and lugnuts, drawed it up evenly and real tight, and called it a day.

I bought all my brakes stuff from LMC (frowned upon, I know, but that was before I knew any better!) and everything worked perfect. The wheel cylinders bolted right up, and I bought the $200 stainless steel pre-bent brake line kit - in my opinion that was the right way to go.

 

Mmm, why do you say that you need to convert, as if it were a urgency?

I would get the drum brakes up to snuff first; you may be surprised at how decently they can do their job. I know I was. I mean, you do have to step on the pedal with some muscle to get them to really grab (especially without a power booster), but I could lock the brakes up any day if I had to, and I'm not worried about it.

 

Well, my wife is chomping at the bit to drive the truck and since I'm 6'-6" tall and weigh in at 270lbs, I have no problem with drum brakes but she's 5'-4" and 125lbs so she might have some problems.

You are right, though. I was told by another classic truck owner that properly done drum brakes will stop the truck great.

Thanks again, Y'all, for the great advice. Keep it coming.

Dan

 

Ahh, I understand now. Sounds like your wife is also keenly interested in the truck as you are, if not more!!

Just watch your gas mileage, that's all I can say...

 

Yeah...that 6 banger isn't as fuel efficient as I thought it would be.

 

38 yrs old, 6-6, 270 hmm...

Just wait till you age a few years and "Arthur" arrives, then try fittin' your frame behind that 17" wheel in that cramped cab.

I bought my '65 F100 new in March 1965.

1965: 20 yrs old, 6-6 235, it wasn't a problem fittin' in it then.

2008: 63 yrs old, 6-5 335, and Arthur is here to stay, so it is a problem fittin' in it today.

 

Yeah...depending on whether I drive it before or after supper, my stomach rubs the wheel a little bit.

 

Matt the reason I say to take them to a machine shop is that the likelyhood of cracking the hub is pretty good. You may be able to swing a BFH straight but what about the guy who glances off the intended hit and damages the wheel stud and hole? Now you know why its cheaper to have it pressed then take a chance damaging the already hard to find questionable hubs.

The hoses and wheel cylinders are hit and miss. I've gone through a bunch of different ones trying to get it to bolt together as have a few others on the site. Does the front brake drum thread ring a bell? Luckily you were able to do it in one shot. I've been fortunate enough to have that happen a few times but the last time was a bear to get the right parts.

 

I agree with you; I was just sharing another side of the story.