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The Return of Rusty

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ClayJ

Re: The Return of Rusty

On a different note, my order from Ford Era finally came in. Awesome shirt and hoodie but sure did take a long time to come in. Ordered on May 6th.

Rusty 1981 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4 400 w/ RV cam, Edelbrock 1906 4bbl w/400 performer intake, C6 xmsn, NP 208 TC, 9" rear diff 3.50 gears, Proform HEI Distributor, Powermaster 1-wire alternator upgrade (75 Amp), Rough Country 2.5" Suspension Lift.

Gary Lewis

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

In reply to this post by ClayJ

I think you are probably right - Rusty hasn't been converted. And with a loose connection there's obviously no hope for it having a charge. But, it may also not have any contamination inside. So it is possible that pulling a vacuum and charging it with R134 will do the trick. I'd take it somewhere that does A/C work and see what they find.

I like the shirt & hoodie! I passed the link on to my family and we'll see what happens.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

1986F150Six

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

Gary Lewis wrote

I like the shirt & hoodie! I passed the link on to my family and we'll see what happens.

Gift time!

ClayJ

Re: The Return of Rusty

In reply to this post by ClayJ

Rusty finally has a new windshield! Time for a state inspection.

Gary Lewis

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

Well done! Looks like they put a borderless windshield on so you can see the VIN.

Good luck on the inspection.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ClayJ

Re: The Return of Rusty

Yep, had to be able to see the VIN. I've read some of the horror stories here related to non viewable VIN's. Inspection should go off without a hitch. Here in Texas a 1981 only requires a safety inspection.

ClayJ

Re: The Return of Rusty

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Good news, Rusty passed the state inspection. Bad news, I have another I repeat another cracked flexplate!! Rusty sounded like a dang rattlesnake once I pulled in for the inspection. There is something wrong internally either with the crank or the transmission. The transmission shop said all the run out measurements were within spec, so what the heck!!!! I'm at my wits end with this thing.

grumpin

Re: The Return of Rusty

I looked back through the posts and didn’t see. Did they do a run out on the engine crankshaft?

I don’t know if driveshaft vibrations would transmit through the tranny. May be something to check.

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

ClayJ

Re: The Return of Rusty

They did perform a crank runout check and said it was in spec. I even had them replace the harmonic balancer.

grumpin

Re: The Return of Rusty

Might find a shop to check the driveshaft balance.

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Gary Lewis

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

In reply to this post by ClayJ

No!!!!!! Say it isn’t so!!!

I’m so sorry. My wife just said “Did you sell him a faulty truck?” I told her I didn’t think so at the time, but.....

Would you consider changing to a manual tranny?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ClayJ

Re: The Return of Rusty

I'm afraid so. I would go to a manual transmission if it meant it didn't break every 100 miles. Just not sure what to do at the moment without a definitive cause of the flexplate continually breaking.

Gary Lewis

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

I have the NP435 that came out of that truck, and I do believe I have the bell housing. But I don't think I have a flywheel nor clutch. And I'm pretty sure I don't have the clutch linkage, which is mechanical and hard to find.

It could be done. Collectively we could surely scrounge up the parts. But it'll be a fair amount of work. And it just seems like there has to be something very obvious that's being missed.

Your pretty sure this flex plate is gone? If so, I'd talk to the tranny shop and see what they say.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

In reply to this post by ClayJ

I'm not sure what to think either

Two shops, three flexplates.....

And the last place checked everything is in spec, replaced the converter and balancer.
Your FIL shop didn't see anything wrong either...

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

ClayJ

Re: The Return of Rusty

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary, I guarantee the flexplate is about to break again. Fortunately this time I'm not trying to make a long haul on the highway. It hasn't broken completely like the 2 previous times yet but if I tried to make it home I know it would. I called the transmission shop earlier today and left a message so I'll see what they say on Monday morning. I'm not thinking the transmission is the issue. I think the engine may be the cause. Do you remember who the PO said did the engine rebuild? I'm wondering if a bearing cap on the crank has come loose causing the bad vibe and cracking the flexplate. Could possibly check that by dropping the oil pan.

Gary Lewis

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

That's really frustrating. But I doubt an engine vibration would do that. I say that because I had a an '82 that had a pretty serious vibration and it didn't cause a problem with the flex plate. However, I cannot say it won't do it.

Do you feel any vibration?

And, I don't think you can get the pan off w/o at least jacking the engine up quite a bit.

The engine was supposedly built by the PO's cousin. But, didn't I pull the main and rod caps and check clearances? I'd have to go look, but if so any problems are more likely to have been introduced by me than him. However, that engine has been to PA and back since, as well as many other places.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

The family tree of your Bullnose's looks like a bowl of spaghetti....

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

I think that's an apt description. Dad's truck ran Rusty's engine for a while. Rusty wound up with Dad's transmission and flexplate. Dad's truck also used the ZF5 that is now sitting in Big Blue. And I'm sure there were many other things that were shared.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ClayJ

Re: The Return of Rusty

Honestly I'm so frustrated with this predicament. Would it be feasible to just yank the engine/transmission combo and replace with different/new/reman units for the peace of mind? I need Rusty to be reliable and he surely has not been that.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: The Return of Rusty

Administrator

Um, any time you adopt a stray dog he might crap the rug once or twice.
I'd consider it a teething problem.

Do you have engine problems???
Do you have shifting problems??
Are you ok with leaving well enough alone, until this gets solved?

The truck is acting up, but none of the "experts" seem to know why.
I used to train dogs, but most of their 'problems' were caused by humans.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

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