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The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

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Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Will a smear of Vaseline do? I keep a little tub of it in my garage for just that purpose.

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

ArdWrknTrk

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

I don't think petroleum jelly has any high pressure additives.

Cough up the $3.99 and sleep well knowing that you have done what you can to prevent galling on startup.

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.

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

I guess I'll go visit Counter Girl one more time.

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

So...given that it's less than three weeks until the show and school has continued to be a time suck, I've decided to punt on the valve stem seal replacement effort for the time being. I'm going to finish cleaning and painting the valve cover since it's already off, but otherwise I'm just going to put everything back together - that'll give me a couple of weeks to drive the truck locally in an attempt to shake out any problems before I hit the road.

I had previously removed the rocker arms and pushrods from cylinder #1, so I put those back in last night, everything going back exactly where it came from. I torqued the nuts down to whatever Haynes told me to (23 ft-lbs? The book is upstairs), and everything is nice and snug. I tried wiggling the rocker arms and got very little side-to-side motion. This seems good...except that I then decided to wiggle some untouched-by-me arms on the other cylinders, and they seem looser. They're not flopping all over the place or anything, but they're noticeably freer than the ones I just put back on.

What's up with that? I checked the nuts on the other arms and they aren't loose. Is this a case where once I fire the truck up everything will re-seat on #1? Or was there some trick to making sure the fulcrums are perfectly positioned that I didn't do?

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

Gary Lewis

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

I think that's a wise decision, Matthew.

As for the others being loose, it depends on where they are in the cam cycle. At TDC on the compression stroke both rocker arms should be fairly loose. But when holding a valve open that rocker should be tight as the push rod will have the rocker holding the valve open against spring pressure.

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

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Duh...that one I should have figured out on my own.

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

Gary Lewis

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

Dorsai wrote

Duh...that one I should have figured out on my own.

Sometimes we are so close to it we wind up doing a

when it becomes obvious.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

After deciding to skip the valve stem seal replacement, putting the truck back together was a snap. That was an awful lot of work for nothing more than a repainted valve cover, but I suppose that's better than nothing:

I still think clean parts look weird - I suppose that means I just need to clean and paint the rest of the engine compartment to match.

After I got it back together and started up, I had a ticking noise from the front of the engine that was initially concerning. But maybe a mile into my test loop it had gone away, and it ran smoothly and quietly after that point. Assuming no leaks manifest themselves, all I have left to do is an oil change and I'm ready to hit the highway.

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

Gary Lewis

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

Looking good, Matthew! And only about 2 weeks to do the little things.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Gary Lewis wrote

Looking good, Matthew! And only about 2 weeks to do the little things.

And there aren't even that many little things to do:

Oil change
Check tire pressure
Check lights
Wash windows
Hang license plate collection
Um...???

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

Gary Lewis

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

How long has it been since the front wheel bearings were checked? Brakes & brake fluid? Lug nut torque?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Gary Lewis wrote

How long has it been since the front wheel bearings were checked? Brakes & brake fluid? Lug nut torque?

I replaced the front wheel bearings about a year (~2500 miles) ago when I did the front brakes, so they should be good. Lug nuts will be checked when I air up the tires. Brake fluid is a good call, I should at least make sure it's all still there. *makes note*

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

ArdWrknTrk

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

In reply to this post by Dorsai

Dorsai wrote

After I got it back together and started up, I had a ticking noise from the front of the engine that was initially concerning. But maybe a mile into my test loop it had gone away, and it ran smoothly and quietly after that point.

Most likely just the #1 lifter pumping back up.

Nothing to see here, move along.

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.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

In reply to this post by Dorsai

You should definitely change the blinker fluid before embarking on such a long journey.

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.

Rembrant

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

In reply to this post by Dorsai

Dorsai wrote

I still think clean parts look weird - I suppose that means I just need to clean and paint the rest of the engine compartment to match.

That sir is a slippery slope if there ever was one...lol. Once you start with just one part...

1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

I hear the condition can progress beyond paint as well...do you know, I was looking into pricing for powder coating rims last night?

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

Gary Lewis

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Rembrant wrote

That sir is a slippery slope if there ever was one...lol. Once you start with just one part...

Yep, you'll be powder coating the inside parts of the HVAC system next.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

1986F150Six

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Administrator

In reply to this post by ArdWrknTrk

ArdWrknTrk wrote

You should definitely change the blinker fluid before embarking on such a long journey.

And, the muffler bearings!

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

1986F150Six wrote

And, the muffler bearings!

I should have done that while I was doing the u-joints...d'oh!!

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

Dorsai

Re: The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

Today my truck turned 40!

I was afraid I would have to post a sad photo of it quarantined in the garage, but it turned out that I needed to go out and pick up dinner tonight. So:

Stay safe, everyone!

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

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