'78 F350 Dually Project

[RivennHewn]

Thanks Woods/ Strouty for responding.

This is actually the 3rd one to come off. I thought I fixed the 1st one, but it's running rough. Acts like it's only hitting on 7. It's got a strange low bass drum sound from the exhaust (not the cool type sound) and it smells of fuel.

After the 1st one, I thought it might be me being careless. After 3 pulled loose, I'm ready to change them all out. Haven't had any problems with the distributor ends that I terminated

Been lurking on this thread for a minute, truck came out real nice man.

It's a work in progress, but it's coming along.

 

[Lwel9226]

On my 460s I always used dielectric grease on the boots, and made sure to twist them first to get them free before pulling...... Still didn't always work....

LynnW

 

[kbs2244]

It could be the cap.
So, while you are at it, switch the cap to a marine one
NAPA should have it
It will be brass vs AL
It will not crust over as fast and when it does the crust is conductive,

 

[RivennHewn]

On my 460s I always used dielectric grease on the boots, and made sure to twist them first to get them free before pulling...... Still didn't always work....

LynnW

I did have dielectric grease on them. I usually give them a bit of a twist prior to pulling on them.

I've never pulled a plug wire apart in my life. Then to have 3 come apart so easily???

It could be the cap.
So, while you are at it, switch the cap to a marine one
NAPA should have it
It will be brass vs AL
It will not crust over as fast and when it does the crust is conductive,

Cap is new. Both cap and rotor look clean

 

[C_F]

I remember having issues with wires like yours, with that extra snap thing on the connector. I assume it's to make sure it won't pop off the plug, but once they are pushed onto the plug, they are practically welded there! I got into the habit of sliding the boot up the wire first, then grabbing the metal connector with needle nose pliers.

 

[RivennHewn]

I got into the habit of sliding the boot up the wire first, then grabbing the metal connector with needle nose pliers.

That just might have saved me a bunch of time and hassle.

 

[RivennHewn]

I hope I don't curse us all, but I'm thinking that most of the dark, cold, wet days are behind us. Time to get the truck out of hibernation.

Had a load to deliver at work today. Hadn't started it up in weeks. Ran a bit rough at first, but a nice long run on the freeway seemed to do it some good.

Spent some time on CL at lunch, and found some NOS West Coast Jr. mirrors in unopened packages. Not a bad price

Not a bad day!

 

[C_F]

Cool! Those mirrors will look great on the truck.

 

[RivennHewn]

Cool! Those mirrors will look great on the truck.

I’m thinking so.

I bought some others awhile back, but the were too big, and didn’t quite have all the mounting hardware.

I guess I’ll put those back on Ebay

 

[RivennHewn]

As if I don't have enough **** of my own, and too much to do.......

My dad asked me to start helping him clear out his garage.

Seems I'm going to be doing a lot of sorting and hauling stuff to the dump.

Probably putting up with a bunch of CL flakes as well.

Bright side, I might get a full look at my '51 chevy PU for the 1st time in years. And get to spend some time with my dad.

 

[HOTFR8]

That 51 should be the next project.

 

[RivennHewn]

That 51 should be the next project.

Should have been the 1st project, but I needed a parts runner before I start on it!

That and an extra 20K

 

[Rock knocker]

Let us locals know what's for sale before you put it up on CL. That jointer and that big old cabinet saw look cherry

 

[HOTFR8]

Should have been the 1st project, but I needed a parts runner before I start on it!

That and an extra 20K

You have to have priorities.

 

[RivennHewn]

Let us locals know what's for sale before you put it up on CL. That jointer and that big old cabinet saw look cherry

Jointer is mine.

The Unisaw and shaper are most likely going to be sold.

I'll post them up when the time comes.

 

[1Garageman]

His garage is loaded with some good stuff!!!
I am a woodworker, and that garage looks like it is loaded!

 

[RivennHewn]

Pops was a cabinet maker as his side job.
He was pretty well set up for back in the day.

Built cabinets for houses around the Santa Cruz board walk area.

 

[Toolfool]

Looks like he has a Rousseau portable table saw setup like the one I've been using for over 25 years.

 

[RivennHewn]

My dad, me and my brothers used to trim houses.
That was a workhorse, but it has seen better days.
Still one of the better setups for a larger saw that’s still portable.

 

[NORDFORD]

What a great thread. I just read all of it over the last couple days. I love these old fords and your writing/sense of humor are great too!

 

[1Garageman]

If you get a chance could you please put some pictures on here of the woodworking tools.
"Classic" tools are build so much better than today's plastic toys!

 

[RivennHewn]

What a great thread. I just read all of it over the last couple days. I love these old fords and your writing/sense of humor are great too!

Thanks for taking the time to read through my thread!

I’ve been told my sense of humor isn’t for everyone

But, you have to take whatever humor you can find when working on old trucks

 

[RivennHewn]

Who remembers installing their first Sun tach more fondly than their first girlfriend?

I was 16, and all the colored wires confused me. I had to ask for help. Still, I felt pretty accomplished when it worked the first time I fired it up

Still pretty pleased with myself after seeing it work the first time, this time

 

[Toolfool]

Sweet ! I'll call you for help when I get around to adding a tach.
--- I was pretty fond of first girlfriend.

 

[RivennHewn]

Sweet --- I was pretty fond of first girlfriend.

OK, I guess I was too. Just can't remember her name.........

I found a guy on Ebay that has vintage tachs. They come with a new wiring harness, termination clips, and a reprint of the original instructions for a reasonable price. Crazy what some of the older units go for these days.

 

[RivennHewn]

With summer coming, and thinking about warmer weather......

I have an AC truck, but when the PO swapped the 460 in the compressor/hoses/brackets were left out. I don't have them.

I don't know the condition of the parts that are still there.

Worth the effort to track parts down?

I'd love to get rid of the 'big box under the hood', but that's a pain in the *** too.

Any thoughts?

 

[Toolfool]

I was also thinking about going digital dash that would give me tach too .
https://www.ebay.com/itm/372270556803?ViewItem=&vxp=mtr&item=372270556803

 

[RivennHewn]

I was also thinking about going digital dash that would give me tach too .
https://www.ebay.com/itm/372270556803?ViewItem=&vxp=mtr&item=372270556803

I've seen those. I'd think about going that route, but it's not in the budget

 

[bluebolt]

With summer coming, and thinking about warmer weather......

I have an AC truck, but when the PO swapped the 460 in the compressor/hoses/brackets were left out. I don't have them.

I don't know the condition of the parts that are still there.

Worth the effort to track parts down?

I'd love to get rid of the 'big box under the hood', but that's a pain in the *** too.

Any thoughts?

What year is the 460? Any good under hood pictures?

Getting rid of the big box under the hood is easy, the price is not.

 

[larry_g]

I was 16, and all the colored wires confused me. I had to ask for help. Still, I felt pretty accomplished when it worked the first time I fired it up


Still pretty pleased with myself after seeing it work the first time, this time

My good buddy got a 47 ford pickup at age 15. We were a couple of hotrod wannabe's. He got a hold of an old sun tach. We were trying to figure out how to make it work. He was sitting on the fender with feet inside the engine compartment. We were trying different things while he held the tach and I was inside starting the motor. I suggested that he hook one lead to the sparkplug. He did and I hit the starter. I can still see him flipping backwards off the fender as the shock hit him.

Good times. No we did not get the tach to work....

lg
no neat sig line

 

[WoodsTruck]

Yeah, but old school is too cool.

 

[RivennHewn]

What year is the 460? Any good under hood pictures?

Getting rid of the big box under the hood is easy, the price is not.

I'm not sure what year the 460 is, I haven't bothered looking up any #'s as of yet.

I've been reading up a bit on the amount of work it takes to convert to a non-ac type set up. Too much time, effort and money to change out all the under dash stuff. I'll learn to live with the ugly box.

Maybe someday I'll have the resources and inclination to get the AC going again.


Larry G,
Funny stuff. Reminds me of a lot of mis-adventures under the hood while trying to figure out this kind of stuff. If only we had the interwebs back then......

WoodsTruck,

"Period correct" is my main goal with this truck.

70's cheese is where it's at, man. Dig?

 

[Toolfool]

I think we need a '70's Ford support group.

 

[RivennHewn]

I think we need a '70's Ford support group.

Still got your platform shoes, polyester pants and gold chains?

Hard to believe I used to know people that dressed like this

 

[RivennHewn]

Kinda feeling like I'm in over my head today.

Finally getting around to tackling the door I brought home awhile ago.

There is actually a lot that goes into these. I'm not buying into the "Those old trucks are easy to work on" Thing today. Maybe tomorrow. All the little parts are still in the parts washer.

Any door experts want to give me a little advice?

Also giving the glove box door and ashtray a little attention.

 

[danski0224]

With summer coming, and thinking about warmer weather......

I have an AC truck, but when the PO swapped the 460 in the compressor/hoses/brackets were left out. I don't have them.

I don't know the condition of the parts that are still there.

Worth the effort to track parts down?

I'd love to get rid of the 'big box under the hood', but that's a pain in the *** too.

Any thoughts?

Try going to a junkyard and look for any big Mercury or Lincoln with a 460.

The brackets will swap over for the long cylindrical AC compressor.

It's probably a good idea to look at swapping over a newer (or new) Sanden AC compressor and custom hoses and switch over to 134A, unless you have some R12. Last time I looked, the AC retrofit places had bracket kits.

Those Frigidaire compressors frequently leak at the shaft seal, and the so-called remanufactured ones never seem to have a new seal installed.

 

[C_F]

Who remembers installing their first Sun tach more fondly than their first girlfriend?

I was 16, and all the colored wires confused me. I had to ask for help. Still, I felt pretty accomplished when it worked the first time I fired it up

Still pretty pleased with myself after seeing it work the first time, this time

Cool! I have one of those Sun tach's in my '66 F100. I installed it when I as 16 & it's still there. One of these days I need to get that truck back to being in one piece.

For my '76 F250, since my truck is non-A/C, I decided to put a small tach in the blank spot on the dash cover, to leave the column uncluttered. This was taken before I hooked up the wires. (Please ignore the nasty carpet)
Oh, and the gauge on the lower right is a vacuum gauge left there by a previous owner, showing the "sweet spot" for best mileage. It's sort of a fun conversation piece.

This small soup can was the perfect thing to hold the back of the gauge to the cover. (Sorry for the blurry photo)

 

[RivennHewn]

Try going to a junkyard and look for any big Mercury or Lincoln with a 460.

The brackets will swap over for the long cylindrical AC compressor.

It's probably a good idea to look at swapping over a newer (or new) Sanden AC compressor and custom hoses and switch over to 134A, unless you have some R12. Last time I looked, the AC retrofit places had bracket kits.

Those Frigidaire compressors frequently leak at the shaft seal, and the so-called remanufactured ones never seem to have a new seal installed.

Thank you.

Me being a total heat whimp, I should really just get the AC going again.

Time to rethink the budget.


C_F,

I love the color of your truck. One of my favorite.

One question on the vacuum gauge- Do these trucks even have a 'sweet spot" for gas mileage? All mine ever wants is more gas.........

If the soup can fits, go with it!

 

[danski0224]

Thank you.

Me being a total heat whimp, I should really just get the AC going again.

Time to rethink the budget.


C_F,

I love the color of your truck. One of my favorite.

One question on the vacuum gauge- Do these trucks even have a 'sweet spot" for gas mileage? All mine ever wants is more gas.........

If the soup can fits, go with it!

Be sure to evaluate your whole existing system, especially if it has been open for any significant amount of time. At a minimum, you will need a new receiver/drier.

I'd suggest figuring out a way to pressure test what is there- the evaporator and condenser.

In the long run, it may be less expensive to retrofit an underdash system (either all new or known working used) than to repair/restore your existing AC components in unknown condition- more so if you cannot do the work yourself. You are already looking at a compressor, receiver/drier, brackets and new/custom hoses and an STV/POA valve if yours has been left open to debris. I bet you are 2/3 of the way there to a new underdash system in old parts $$$ alone... and much of this is now long obsolete, almost 40 year old parts. "Reman" Frigidaire A6 compressors were questionable 20 years ago... I'd only buy new, if available, due to the cost of refrigerant.

If you stick with the old system, I'd keep it R12.

The firewall and dash stuff comes out relatively easily, and it is possible to retrofit the OEM heat only setup- but the firewall hole needs to be patched. I have a whole AC dash setup sitting in storage.

As far as a "sweet spot" for "gas mileage" with a 460? Ha Ha Ha.

Maybe find a 2V 429 manifold... or stick an Edelbrock carb on yours. Find out what vacuum spring is in your carb, and stay away from that value when mashing the loud pedal

 

[RivennHewn]

Danski,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I'm thinking I've got some homework to do before I make a decision. Sure would be a lot more enjoyable this summer if it was working.

I'm not really stuck on keeping the old, and will be reading up on the replacement units.

Thanks again,