Walter is done.... For the moment

Weatherstripping, headliner, carpet dash cover, hubcaps, speakers.  The factory radio works!  I have new taillights ordered.  But I am done for a little bit.  Vacuumed out the floors and doors yesterday.

I'll try got some photos today while the sun is out.  

It is hugely satisfying to install new (and useful) parts! I'm a huge proponent of this! lol.

Photos - I havae taillight lenses ordered - waiting...

Looking good!  And I agree, installing those things is fun.

Thanks.   I think I overloaded myself - I'm tried of working on it every night!   So it's done for the moment. BUt......

I'm going to post my next inquiry after I do some searching - AC vents not blowing, even on vent position.   That's the next project - see if I can get AC working.  I'm looking at HVAC section here and looking on the net.  Would appear to be a vacuum issue for that set of doors - floor and defrost work correctly.  Just no air thru panel vents.  

On the dash vents try putting the control on max AC and see if you get anything then.
I have to put it to AC first before anything will come out the vents on the dash.
Dave. ----

Will try.  Also going looking for a white or beige vacuum line under hood, from what I've read.  IT looks like some of hte vac lines are plugged or non existent.   THe garage that did the engine work went to the truoble of putting the AC system back in and even a new belt so I like to think they had designs on it actually working someday.  PO said it wasn't charged.  I thought about getting a can of AC pro to see if that helps, gets enough in there to get hte compressor to start kicking in?.   Realistically, I could probably live with AC air from defore vents as small as the cab is.  

I haven't done anything under hood other than look around and replace dist cap and brake booster.   Time to start exploring more.

My HVAC controls feel very rubbery and there is not defined position for anything, but I can get floor or defrost.  I know now that defrost is no vac and engages compressor.  I can hear the controls hissing as it changes position, so that is supposed to happen according to something I read.  No continual hissing.  

I need to start a separate post on the HVAC, but I want to search first - make sure I'm not going over something already discussed.  

That's a good looking truck, Randy. I'm wondering if that paint might buff out?

Regarding the HVAC, be prepared to replace the blend door. It's not a matter of whether it will go or not, but when. Lots of info here on that.  

Thanks for the compliments.   I might try to buff the paint, but it's bad.  All over.   I can see the DA sanding swirls in places.  Not sure if they used spray bombs or what.   It was a nice two tone originally, from what I see on the back of the doors.   Like image below.   But if I go to buffing, I may buff through this paint and into something below.  That could be an interesting patina job maybe.    Now that I have the inside done, I can think on next steps.  

As for AC, I saw those door replacement posts.   Ugh.  Dang it.   I just want to get it to blow air if possible.  And if not, maybe just AC air through defroster vents...  I hate dismantling the truck.

Original color I think, but this is long bed.



My wife has a 202 Hyundai Santa Fe in "stormy sea" blue - that would be real similar to the upper color and might look nice someday

Went out this morning.  Walter had a flat tire.  They are bad anyway so today I bought new tires.   Also had to get brake pads after that and come home to install them.  I'm kinda tired of working on this thing.  Ready to do something else for a few days.  

Looking good!  The tires will not only improve the looks but also the handling.

It is better, but it has really drained me, financially, physically, and rebooting at this point.  I worked really hard to get it"done"and was going to rest a bit.  Truck keeps demanding more attention.  I may ignore it for a few days.  

I'm happy that I have tires that I'm not afraid will explode.  So that's good.  And I have new front brakes, so I'm just a touch safer.  

Just tried of messing with it right now.  

rcarlisle wrote

Thanks for the compliments.   I might try to buff the paint, but it's bad.  All over.   I can see the DA sanding swirls in places.  Not sure if they used spray bombs or what.   It was a nice two tone originally, from what I see on the back of the doors.   Like image below.   But if I go to buffing, I may buff through this paint and into something below.  That could be an interesting patina job maybe.    Now that I have the inside done, I can think on next steps.  

As for AC, I saw those door replacement posts.   Ugh.  Dang it.   I just want to get it to blow air if possible.  And if not, maybe just AC air through defroster vents...  I hate dismantling the truck.

Original color I think, but this is long bed.



My wife has a 202 Hyundai Santa Fe in "stormy sea" blue - that would be real similar to the upper color and might look nice someday

I wish my truck looked like that picture! I think that is my color too but mine is very worn and rusted.

rcarlisle wrote

Photos - I havae taillight lenses ordered - waiting...

Your interior looks great!  I wish mine looked half as good.

I'm pretty sure this is what yours looked like originally as well.    Here's the link to all the photos of that restored truck.   It was listed at $25900 and is sold.   Pics may disappear?

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1246197/1981-ford-f150-for-sale-in-north-royalton-ohio-44133

Just takes time and money.   Wife says the truck is becoming a money pit...  BUt it will be a reasonably good looking money pit.  

rcarlisle wrote

Just takes time and money.   Wife says the truck is becoming a money pit...  BUt it will be a reasonably good looking money pit.

My wife said the same thing about my $800 take the trash to the dump truck when I started to do some work to it.
Well a few days after I got it home I pulled it all apart as in a cab off frame rebuild!
Then it was a real MONEY PIT!


It was not till almost 4 years later when I got paint on the truck that she then started to like it a little LOL


I am afraid to go through all the paid bills I have in a bag to see just what I got into it.
I do love driving it over my 02 Durango 95% of the time.
Dave ----

That's a beauty!  Someday.  Today I had to do the rear brakes.  Thought it would be easy.  I used to my 71 dart all for drums in about 3 hours.  Took me about 9 hours to do these two.

I have NEVER seen drums so awful.  Rusty, junky.  But they better now.  Still need to bleed a little more.  The truck, not me.  I did my share today

So what if it took a little longer than you think it should as long as it was done right.
That looks good, nice job.

when I wen to look at my truck before buying it 1 side of the master was empty!
When I got to the rear brakes they were missing springs, leaking wheel cly. and ebrake cable were either frozen or broken, it was a mess.
Dave ----

The problem work it taking so long is we had other things planned today, that's all.  And tomorrow is busy.  Truck was dismantled under carport where we park the other cars.  Would been Monday before I got back to it and my mind would have been off subject.  That's my issue.  Be different if I had a garage to work in, maybe

So it bugged the heck out of me.  

I'm not sure how or if the brakes were working.  I guess they were some because it would have some randomness to it.  Parking brake was working.  

I tried to restore and paint and grease everything so it will be better from now on.