'78 F350 Dually Project

[Strouty]

My Brother always says that he can fix any rattle in his truck by simply turning the radio up.

I am contemplating a dog, I have always been a cat person, but my shop is really a drag without any company and the cats are not a fan of driving. One of the main reasons I have not pulled the trigger is the cats, they are both very skittish and I really don't want to make matters worse. I have had cats all my life with very few breaks, the last time was probably the longest at 6 months, but we had too much going on to get some kittens.

 

[RivennHewn]

I’m not much of a cat person, but I’d take one of those Maine *****.

 

[Strouty]

They get fairly big, I really want a bengal, but they are really expensive. I went with a couple shelter cats and one is skittish as can be, while the other is a total ***** to me. Never had cats like these, ever. I was out of town for a while when they were kittens and my GF had a very hands off approach, so I am guessing that is why, not letting that happen again. It makes for a poor experience and I may have to wait 15 to 20 years for an upgrade. Last ones were 16 and 17, I miss those two dearly.

 

[RivennHewn]

I have a clear fuel filter between my mechanical pump and my carb.

If I let the truck sit for a couple of days, the filter is empty, and it takes some cranking to get it started again.

Runs fine after it's going. No cutting out at freeway speeds/ accelerating.

Is my pump going out(it's new) or would installing a back flow preventer be an option.

Where would I install the BFP? Before the pump, or between the pump and the carb?

Asking elementary questions is just my way of reminding ya'll that I'm not a mechanic.

Thanks

 

[RivennHewn]

Everybody needs a clock, right?

The air vent on the far driver's side is AC only. Since I don't have AC, I deleted the air diffuser. I bent up a little metal plate to fit nice and snug. The clock is a cheapo off Ebay. Ticks a little louder than I'd like, but won't notice it much when driving.

Mailman still needs to bring me an hour meter, and the back flow check valve.

Coming up on the list is a bed up indictor light, and possibly a back up alarm.

I see where some of the newer vehicle at work have them that are not as loud as they used to be. I think 87 decibles is the quietest I've found. Maybe a little sound boot to quiet it down further if it's too obnoxious.

 

[RivennHewn]

Picked this up dirt cheap.

It's kinda stress'n me out. I'm a little scared to drill my A-pillar.

Don't want to F it up.

The wires for the courtesy and cab clearance lights go through the pillar.

The usable space is really small.

Anybody ever install one? Any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Strouty]

It will be a nice addition, but no experience on installation. If it makes you feel any better I would be just as nervous as you.

 

[1Garageman]

I'd get on youtube and do some searching. Good luck!

 

[RivennHewn]

The old Hobbs hour meter I bought off Ebay showed up today.

Where I wanted to put it, the sheet metal wasn't flat. It kind of rolls under.

This put the face pointing down, couldn't see the numbers.

I had to make a round, wedge shape to fill in the backside.

I took one look at the meter and thought, "that's about the size of a soup can".

My eye must have just been recalibrate. It was a perfect fit.

Not sure just what this meter came off of, but it had 20006.2 hours on it.

 

[Strouty]

Looks great, but 20k is a lot of hours! Now people will think you must do a lot of idling.

 

[Toothaker]

Thanks.

I've always liked this style. It's not the flimsy stamped steel type. It's 1/4" cast aluminum.

It's not marked, but if I remember correctly they were made by Offenhauser.
Maybe it's a copy, not that it matters much.

snip

Moon, perhaps? I liked them so much I decided that's what's going into my project car.
https://www.mooneyesusa.com/product-p/ghr612.htm

 

[RivennHewn]

Looks great, but 20k is a lot of hours! Now people will think you must do a lot of idling.

I usually only sit idle when I’m on GJ

Don't know that I've ever seen one with a roll over indicator

Toothaker,

Project car? Need more info/pics. Post ‘em up!

 

[HOTFR8]

I usually only sit idle when I’m on GJ

Surely not true.

 

[Toothaker]

I usually only sit idle when I’m on GJ

Toothaker,

Project car? Need more info/pics. Post ‘em up!

1970 Ford Thunderbird two door sportsroof. It needs a transmission, some electrical work and the passenger window replaced. And brakes, exhaust, upholstery, rear quarter panels, and...

I don't want to hijack your excellent thread. I've not started a thread on it, mainly because it would be so slow moving nobody would follow it.

 

[Toolfool]

Toothaker, I have one of those threads on my '75 Econoline. The only one who follows it is Riv.

 

[RivennHewn]

Surely not true.

Ya, I forgot about fishing.........

 

[RivennHewn]

1970 Ford Thunderbird two door sportsroof. It needs a transmission, some electrical work and the passenger window replaced. And brakes, exhaust, upholstery, rear quarter panels, and...

I don't want to hijack your excellent thread. I've not started a thread on it, mainly because it would be so slow moving nobody would follow it.

I like it! Whatcha got under the hood? Feel free to post anytime

Toothaker, I have one of those threads on my '75 Econoline. The only one who follows it is Riv.

Don't keep me waiting on more updates

 

[RivennHewn]

Dropping back to getting the dual battery isolator finished up.

Pretty much got everything figured out, except one wire.
It's the smaller wire to the ignition.

I'm not familiar with the term "True Ignition"

What would be an example of a true ignition?

Ignition wiring diagram doesn't help much here........

EDIT: Broke out the multi-meter and found a source that was off with the key, on at accessory, and didn't lose power while the starter was cranking. All wired up, and no blown fuses!!!

 

[RivennHewn]

Received and installed the fuel line back flow preventer/ check valve this afternoon.

Seemed like a good enough excuse to terrorize the neighborhood, so I ran it as hard as I could without getting the attention of any LEOs that might be lurking.

Will be interesting to see if it helps with the hard starts after sitting for a few days.

Also threw on a new fuel filter as well.

 

[HOTFR8]

Ya, I forgot about fishing.........

This place always keeps me busy with so much to see and read. Great reply.

 

[Strouty]

Not sure if this would apply or not, but the old Ford I have does not like to have the throttle pumped, it likes to have the pedal pushed to the floor and held there. If you pumped it, it would never start well.

 

[RivennHewn]

This place always keeps me busy with so much to see and read. Great reply.

It's amazing how much time you can find to be on GJ when you don't watch TV

Not sure if this would apply or not, but the old Ford I have does not like to have the throttle pumped, it likes to have the pedal pushed to the floor and held there. If you pumped it, it would never start well.

If it's been running recently, I don't touch the pedal at all.
If it's been a few days, I'll do the same. Hold it to the floor for a few seconds while turning it over.


Hoping the BFP will cure that

 

[Strouty]

My fingers are crossed.

 

[HOTFR8]

It's amazing how much time you can find to be on GJ when you don't watch TV

We have so many more channels and just so much more rubbish to choose not to watch. Either the forum or work on the truck. Now they sound like great options.

The dual battery system looks great. Well done on the install.

 

[RivennHewn]

We have so many more channels and just so much more rubbish to choose not to watch. Either the forum or work on the truck. Now they sound like great options.

The dual battery system looks great. Well done on the install.

I quit watching TV when I started trying to figure out what they were trying to sell me.

Almost everything on TV is really just an infomercial for someone’s agenda.
Most of which I ain’t buying. I’ll shut up now.

The dual battery setup will come in handy. We do some nighttime street work/utilities and leave the lights on for extended periods.

 

[HOTFR8]

I quit watching TV when I started trying to figure out what they were trying to sell me.

Almost everything on TV is really just an infomercial for someone’s agenda.
Most of which I ain’t buying. I’ll shut up now.

I just watched what I hoped was going to be a program on Camper Trailers. All it was doing was selling different brands and aftermarket add ons. They showed very little of the tour they had advertised they would show. So I know exactly what you are on about.

The dual battery setup will come in handy. We do some nighttime street work/utilities and leave the lights on for extended periods.

Would allow you to have a TV in the truck to watch see all those shows advertising things you do not need. Seriously a dual battery kit is fantastic for many things like two way radios, phones etc. I even know tradesmen that have a fridge to take food to work.

 

[RivennHewn]

So........
Instead of watching TV with my wife tonight, I went to the shop and tore into my Unity Manufacturing spot light.

The wiring was short, and poorly done. Of course, I had to find my soldering iron.

I took the opportunity to grease up all the gears and moving parts. Then put it all back together.

A little research told me I had the wrong idea of placement, and the wrong mounting bracket.

The light mounts in the cowl, not the A-pillar. It takes a completely different type of mount.

I may need a different length shaft as well.

I have an email into Unity Mfg. to confirm part #s before I place an order.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Neat work Riven

 

[HOTFR8]

Now how you fit up the light will be interesting. Will you run it on battery 2 ?

 

[Strouty]

Curious to see how the cowl mount works.

 

[RivennHewn]

Neat work Riven

Thanks,
The hard part is still to come. Drilling holes in my car, truck, or boat always stresses me out a bit.

HOTFR8,
I have all the accessory lights coming off battery 2.

Strouty,

heres a couple pics I ripped from the interwebs. (Ford Truck Enthusiast) Hoping the install kit comes with good instructions

 

[C_F]

Received and installed the fuel line back flow preventer/ check valve this afternoon.

Seemed like a good enough excuse to terrorize the neighborhood, so I ran it as hard as I could without getting the attention of any LEOs that might be lurking.

Will be interesting to see if it helps with the hard starts after sitting for a few days.

Also threw on a new fuel filter as well.

I'm interested too, in hearing if that back flow thing works for you. Pretty much any of my carbureted vehicles have the same problem, some are worse than others.

Good luck with your spot light!

 

[RivennHewn]

And now for something completely different

Edit: Seems I don’t know how to load a GIF



Long version:

 

[Strouty]

I forgot how the cowl is on those, I understand it now.

 

[HOTFR8]

A great idea having the accessory lights connected to battery two.

 

[RivennHewn]

I forgot how the cowl is on those, I understand it now.

Understanding it doesn't make drilling it any less intimidating.

HOTFR8,

I have a few other power draining ideas coming up. Someday.


Waiting on parts for different tasks, so I thought I'd play with this old visor.
It's an early one. Later, Lund, ******, and Harwood came out with cooler ones.

The price was right on this one, and it was close to my house.

Yay or Nay?

Install it now, and paint it with the truck? Paint it separate and then install it once the truck is painted? Paint the truck, keep it blue? Paint it another contrasting color? Throw it back on CL and possibly get my money out of it?

 

[PugetDude]

Understanding it doesn't make drilling it any less intimidating.

HOTFR8,

I have a few other power draining ideas coming up. Someday.


Waiting on parts for different tasks, so I thought I'd play with this old visor.
It's an early one. Later, Lund, ******, and Harwood came out with cooler ones.

The price was right on this one, and it was close to my house.

Yay or Nay?

Install it now, and paint it with the truck? Paint it separate and then install it once the truck is painted? Paint the truck, keep it blue? Paint it another contrasting color? Throw it back on CL and possibly get my money out of it?

Install it now, and paint it with the truck. It fits the late 70's vibe.

 

[Toolfool]

I like the visor. I might have to get one for the van.

 

[NORDFORD]

I had one on my 76 f250. Hated it. Seems weird, but it blocked my view. Plus, I never liked how they look on any vehicle. CL and get your money back.

 

[RivennHewn]

The visor is kinda growing on me.

If I do install it, I think I'll do it after I paint.

If it breaks/ cracks/ gets damaged, then the roof will still be painted.

I'm actually starting to like the blue fleck color too. Might have to figure out how to buff it back into it's original shine