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"Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

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ArdWrknTrk

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Administrator

The only stupid question is the one not asked.

Let us know if you run into any difficulties.

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.

Ethobling

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

I thought the oil pan would come off by just unbolting it and lightly prying it off and then removing it. NOPE. Should have looked in the Haynes manual first.

Didn't know I had to remove the radiator and the other 20 steps.

Going to try to put in a new gasket with the oil pan off (even if I only have 2-4 inches of clearance).

Any tips?

Project/Soon-to-be Work Truck: "Baruch" 1983 F-100 4.9 L6
Daily Driver: "Charlotte" 1997 Taurus Wagon GL

ArdWrknTrk

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Administrator

That would be a difficulty.

I usually start with
Step one: Remove the engine from the vehicle....

You have the multi piece gasket, so you can do it as you are trying to.
It's just really difficult to do it right.

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: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Administrator

In reply to this post by Ethobling

I've not done one on the 300 six, but I remove the fan and the shroud, pull the mount bolts, and put a jack on the dampener on the front of the crank. Raise the engine gently while watching for things that bind. Sometimes the exhaust has to be loosened if not removed. Sometimes a valve cover hits the firewall.

But get it as high as you can and then figure out how to block it for safety. Sometimes 2x4 chunks between the mounts and the frame work.

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

Ethobling

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Question: I got a 30x9.50xR15 tire for free with lots of tread left. I looked it up and it is 3.8% wider than a 235, which is on Baruch now. The same website says to stick to within 3% of width of the original tires to "avoid brake failure." It's only another .8%, so it should work, right?

Also I have yet to continue past removing the radiator and starter on Baruch to put in the new gasket; I've been to busy with other cars/work. Next week I should get some time to work on it.

Project/Soon-to-be Work Truck: "Baruch" 1983 F-100 4.9 L6
Daily Driver: "Charlotte" 1997 Taurus Wagon GL

Gary Lewis

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Administrator

I've never heard of having brake failure due to a wider tire. So I don't see a problem brake-wise by going with the wider tire.

However, I have seen steering/tracking problems when using too wide of a tire on your original rim. Most of these trucks came with a 5.5" wide rim which is usually said to be 6" wide. And if you put too wide of a tire on it the tire won't flatten out the way it should at the correct pressure. In other words, you'll be running on just the center section of the tire if that's the case.

I don't think a 3.8% wider tire will cause a problem, but I would go to Tire Rack, find the tire you are thinking of, and look at the width of rim on which it is to be mounted.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Ethobling

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Since the sticker inside the door says the original rims run a 195-75-R15, I will just use the 30x9.5 as a spare. Just seems too wide.

Now, when I go to get new tires, I'll probably get 215s or 225s just to be on the safe side.

What do y'all think of the Wrangler Trailrunners? Decent price, good load index (~1850 lbs each), good treadwear rating of 580, good traction rating of "A"...

However those are numbers. Does anyone have experience with these in the world?

Project/Soon-to-be Work Truck: "Baruch" 1983 F-100 4.9 L6
Daily Driver: "Charlotte" 1997 Taurus Wagon GL

Gary Lewis

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Administrator

I've not run them, but I did check Tire Rack and they are highly rated.

The only issue I can see is that your speedo will probably be about 10% slow. But you can correct that by changing out the speedo gear on the transmission end of the speedometer cable. That's really very easily done.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Ethobling

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Went to the pick and pull 2 days ago to get hoses for my brother's 2001 Nissan Xterra (been working on it for over a week now :/) and checked out the trucks for a bed for Baruch in the future...

There are some REALLY nice beds there. 2 of them have practically no rust and are the 7ft beds. I guess that's an advantage of living in the south east.

I can't wait (even though I will have to

Project/Soon-to-be Work Truck: "Baruch" 1983 F-100 4.9 L6
Daily Driver: "Charlotte" 1997 Taurus Wagon GL

Gary Lewis

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

Administrator

Don't wait too long. Beds are in demand, so they might sell. And some salvages are closing as there isn't enough money in it to sustain them, and they are crushing their leftover vehicles. So don't assume they'll be there forever.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Ethobling

Re: "Baruch" - The 1983 F100 Soon-to-be Work Truck

I would love to jump on it, but I just can't financially and I know with almost 100% certainty I won't be able to until around May of next year. I'm going into the "expense" time of my plant nursery business and won't start raking in money until April or so.

If it's gone, it's gone. I cannot control it. I'll leave it in God's hands.

Project/Soon-to-be Work Truck: "Baruch" 1983 F-100 4.9 L6
Daily Driver: "Charlotte" 1997 Taurus Wagon GL