'78 F350 Dually Project

[HOTFR8]

And buying parts is the “fix”

Thanks guys, as long as I’m not buying meth, I’m doing OK

The fix.

 

[Strouty]

When Rivenn starts robbing stores to cover the cost of his habit, then we may have to have an intervention.

 

[RivennHewn]

When Rivenn starts robbing stores to cover the cost of his habit, then we may have to have an intervention.

I'd be more concerned about losing my sugar momma.

Having said that, my truck hasn't cost me as much as the ring on her finger........

I don't bring that up much with her, but it has worked in the past.

 

[Toolfool]

Bought mine a $$$ ring for our 30th last year. You know I call that up when needed.

 

[drivesitfar]

Riv: I've been watching and sorry I don't have a lot to say in the way of helping, but looks like you are getting stuff done so keep up the good work.

also I bought my wife a nice stone to put in her own setting she had from her last marriage and she and i agreed it was the last piece of jewelry I'd buy her. i'm sure she didn't expect me to honor that statement, but 31 years later and I've kept good to my word. she's been mentioning she'd like a ring for her other hand so maybe some day I might have to do something about that.

carry on and i'm still thinking about that old truck in your dad's garage which i'm sure you'd look pretty good in driving down the road.

also if you might know an honest roofer in your area for a 600 sq ft garage please PM or email me cause a widow I know needs a new roof before next winter.

thanks

 

[RivennHewn]

Honestly? An honest roofer?
I can ask around and see if anybody is available

 

[McBrownie]

And buying parts is the “fix”

Thanks guys, as long as I’m not buying meth, I’m doing OK

And then some.

 

[RivennHewn]

And then some.

None of that **** for me. Too many sad stories with that stuff.

Instead, I'll stick spending too much time and money on my truck.

Like today. I think I'm going for a record on how much time you can spend on one door.

The kick panel on the interior side of the door was probably the roughest part of the door.

Time to go after it.

 

[RivennHewn]

It has to be amazing to ya all, what I don't know about some things.

I'm a 12 Volt system noob.

So, I have some rear facing work lights. The kind that could cause a car following me a real problem at night.

I'd like to go with a covered switch with an indicator light, something like the one pictured, only mine are old, vintage, period correct and patina'd.

They don't come with a wiring diagram.

How do I wire them?

Power from the battery, to the switch, to the indicator light and the lights? Or into the indicator light, then out to the lights?

Or is one power, and one ground?

 

[Lwel9226]

The original work light was wired to the headlight switch..... turn the knob to turn on the interior light and the work light also comes on.....

LynnW

 

[cz_699]

12v in one side of the switch, the red lead from the indicator and your load (either to your light or relay, depending on needs) to the other side and the black wire from the indicator to ground. Electrically it would also work in series, but the indicator wiring and bulb probably wouldn't like carrying full current for your work light.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Riven, following right along..

 

[RivennHewn]

The original work light was wired to the headlight switch..... turn the knob to turn on the interior light and the work light also comes on.....

LynnW

Lynn,
Nothing original to the truck, all add-ons.

CZ,

Thank you. That makes sense to me.

1/2 cup,
Comic relief? Good for a little chuckle?

 

[RivennHewn]

While waiting on parts, I thought I'd make good use of the afternoon to use up some free heavy gauge expanded metal I brought home from work.

Don't really care much for the look of it, but I don't need any headaches.

 

[Toolfool]

That should keep the hard things off your noggin.

 

[RivennHewn]

That should keep the hard things off your noggin.

Let's hope so. Have to protect my new rear slider window!

Planning on adding some tie-down points. Can't be losing any cargo

 

[drivesitfar]

Riv: what is the dimensions of your headache rack? I don't think i have a piece of diamond plate 1/8 or 1/4 that size, but maybe I have two if you really don't like just the wire.

have you already changed the window or is that the one you want to replace behind the headache rack?

did you find an HONEST ROOFER YET or are they still like finding a steel penny from WWII?

keep up the great work and best of luck with the wiring.

 

[RivennHewn]

Drives,

I'd prefer to leave the headache rack open, but then it would't serve as much of a headache rack. I'd hate to close it all off with plate. The expanded metal should work out fine.

My son will be home this week, and I'm hoping to do the rear window swap with his help.

As far as roofers, everybody I know is busy. Life in a boom town makes for a sub-contractor's market.
Subs have more work than they can handle right now. If they aren't busy now, you probably don't want them on your roof.

 

[RivennHewn]

I received the new gauge cluster parts, and got all the gauges switched over to the new backplate and the flexible circuit board installed.

All gauges and dash lights work. And I'm pretty happy about that.

I also figured out that the indicator light I was trying to use for my rear facing work lights was bad. I put a continuity tester on it and got nothing between the infeed wire and the inside of the bulb holder. Luckily, I found another and got it all wired and it works too.

Then I cleaned up the wiring that will feed all the switches, and even labeled them.

Now, nothing to do but get it all back together.

 

[RivennHewn]

All's good.

Except now my blinkers are on the blink.

While the dash indicator lights work and the right turn indicator works as it should, the left indicator turns both right and left blinkers on.

And my hazard lights went away.

Easy, right? Just replace the flasher unit.

Well that was $17 bucks out the window. Replacement of the flasher unit didn't change anything.

Bad ground somewhere?

 

[RivennHewn]

Wiring makes my brain hurt.

Decided I needed to some brain dead work instead.

Time to clean up and prep the hood.

Found that a drywall/ panel cart is a great way to work on it, and move it around.

 

[Strouty]

All's good.

Except now my blinkers are on the blink.

While the dash indicator lights work and the right turn indicator works as it should, the left indicator turns both right and left blinkers on.

And my hazard lights went away.


Bad ground somewhere?

Did you maybe combine two wires by accident? Did they work properly before you "fixed" it?

 

[RivennHewn]

Did you maybe combine two wires by accident? Did they work properly before you "fixed" it?

Unplugged the wire connector from the socket, then plugged it back in.

Maybe I should have disconnected the battery first........

 

[Strouty]

I would clean up the terminals and try it again, just seems like something dumb.

 

[RivennHewn]

I would clean up the terminals and try it again, just seems like something dumb.

Maybe it's kind of like my computer - Sometimes I just need to unplug it, wait 10 seconds and restart it.

 

[HOTFR8]

Sounds like a bad earth. I wish I was closer as I would have a look but then I am not always good with Electrical.

 

[RivennHewn]

Sounds like a bad earth. I wish I was closer as I would have a look but then I am not always good with Electrical.

I'm thinking it's a ground (Earth) issue too.
It'd be pretty cool if you were closer, then I could hitch a ride in that awesome truck of yours

Not being of a mindset today to chase electrical problems, I continued on with the hood.

There was some panel adhesive that holds the skin to the frame that had failed.
I used Sikabond construction adhesive. Great stuff.

Also, a couple spots that never had any adhesive. So I hit those too.

The only rust on the hood was just starting at the rear of the hood were the outer skin is folded with the under frame.

I wire brushed it all, then flooded POR-15 into the joint.

Once everything dries, I plan on spraying the whole underside with some sound deadening material.

 

[zkdiesel]

My project was out this weekend. Needs trip to paint shop this fall but running and driving well. All gauges work and nothings leaking!

 

[XJSuperman]

That first pic is so full of awesomeness.

 

[RivennHewn]

That first pic is so full of awesomeness.

X2!

ZK,
Nice looking ride! Sits right.
I picked up a visor similar to yours. Still trying to decide whether or not to install it.
Does it block your vision at all?

I kinda hate to drill more holes in my roof

 

[zkdiesel]

X2!

ZK,
Nice looking ride! Sits right.
I picked up a visor similar to yours. Still trying to decide whether or not to install it.
Does it block your vision at all?

I kinda hate to drill more holes in my roof

When driving it I don’t notice it at all, but I’m not super tall though
Both the tractor and truck emit about the same amount of black diesel spot though when running them hard

 

[C_F]

I have a visor like that (made by Lund) on my '89 Suburban. It doesn't block view, unless you're trying to do some bird watching while driving. The only part that ***** is if you need to replace the windshield, in which case you pretty much have to remove it to get the windshield swapped. At least that was the experience with my Suburban.

 

[RivennHewn]

I have a visor like that (made by Lund) on my '89 Suburban. It doesn't block view, unless you're trying to do some bird watching while driving. The only part that ***** is if you need to replace the windshield, in which case you pretty much have to remove it to get the windshield swapped. At least that was the experience with my Suburban.

Maybe I'll temp mine on, and start a poll.

I wonder if VHB tape will hold it on going down the freeway

 

[RivennHewn]

I wasted a few cans of sound deadening material on the under side of the hood.

As you can see in the pics, the clamps are holding a couple areas that were never bonded with panel adhesive.

There are also some stress cracks in the sheet metal.

Decided I could do something about that.

I riveted the panels together with 3/16" flush rivets.

I then broke out the Tweco and gave a try at Tig welding.
Not exactly pretty, but seem structurally sound.

My back yard is starting to look like a fun place to hang out and drink beer

 

[HOTFR8]

I'm thinking it's a ground (Earth) issue too.
It'd be pretty cool if you were closer, then I could hitch a ride in that awesome truck of yours

Not being of a mindset today to chase electrical problems, I continued on with the hood.

A simple circuit tester may help you. As for a ride

 

[Toolfool]

My back yard is starting to look like a fun place to hang out and drink beer

I'll be right over.

 

[RivennHewn]

My back yard is starting to look like a fun place to hang out and drink beer

I'll be right over.

Careful, I’ll put you to work

 

[RivennHewn]

My electrical woes continue.

I found a couple questionable grounds, and cleaned them up.

I re-did a number of connections with waterproof shrink wrap type connectors.

All exterior lights come on with the headlight switch. My hazard lights work as they should.

My right turn indicators work on the front and back, but the two side lamps don't blink.

When I use the left turn indicator, all (left and right) turn signal lamps still blink.

Shoot me now.

 

[HOTFR8]

My electrical woes continue.

I found a couple questionable grounds, and cleaned them up.

I re-did a number of connections with waterproof shrink wrap type connectors.

All exterior lights come on with the headlight switch. My hazard lights work as they should.

My right turn indicators work on the front and back, but the two side lamps don't blink.

When I use the left turn indicator, all (left and right) turn signal lamps still blink.

Shoot me now.

When you find it I am sure it will be something simple. Could be a bad connection with the hazzard lights.

 

[1/2 Cup]

When you find it I am sure it will be something simple. Could be a bad connection with the hazzard lights.

Agree.