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Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

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chirkware

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Yeah, the scraper was used mostly on the steel parts, though I won't lie and say it didn't touch any aluminum.

In my defense, it was a fresh sharp blade.

I did use a small blunt screwdriver a good bit. Also used 0000 steel wool and 400 grit sandpaper trying to clean off this annoying gasket material on different surfaces. I did try to be particularly gentle on the aluminum.

The kit came with a new power valve, and I was VERY careful to make sure the gasket for it was properly aligned, unlike the old one.

Ole Blue -- 1970 F100 Custom, 240 and a C4 automatic
Larry the Lariat -- 1986 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4, 351w and a C6 automatic

Gary Lewis

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Administrator

The proof is in the pudding - does it run? How well?

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

chirkware

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Not sure yet how is gonna run. Carb is still sitting on my workbench.

I decided to order a carb cleaning kit with those little brushes to get down in the tubes better. All I've done so far is spray through them with carb cleaner but the more I thought about it, the more I realize there was dried out gas residue all over the places I could see, and I'm not convinced that just spraying the carb cleaner through all the passages was enough to ensure they were all adequately cleaned out. So... I'm gonna wait till the kit comes in and pull it back apart and give everything one more good cleaning.

Getting close to a year now and I've driven the truck maybe 30' so far. 🤣

Ole Blue -- 1970 F100 Custom, 240 and a C4 automatic
Larry the Lariat -- 1986 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4, 351w and a C6 automatic

Gary Lewis

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Administrator

That's probably a wise choice.

I put the little straw on the can of carb/brake cleaner and use it to blow through all of the passages in the carb. But I wear safety glasses when doing it as I will assure you that cleaner in your eye is very painful, and if you are spraying into a blind hole it'll come back at you in a heart beat.

Then I use a spray gun with a rubber tip and blow compressed air through those holes. Sometimes that cleans things out that the cleaner didn't.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

chirkware

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Well I put the carb on today, and then pulled it back off because it leaks.

Pulled it back off and finally realized it’s the fuel transfer tube. Looks like the o-rings just aren’t sealing good. I think the new gaskets are just thicker than the old, so the tube doesn’t press right on the o-rings.

I just ordered a new style transfer tube that uses grommets instead of o-rings. Looks like that’s a better design. But now another week to wait. Yippee!

This is what I ordered, hopefully it’s right. 5.5”. My current tube is 6”, but that seems right as the new style only goes to the depth where the o-ring on the old style was (if that made any sense!).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165483286998?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ycDuSlRzStW&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=iWs_h1CATYG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Ole Blue -- 1970 F100 Custom, 240 and a C4 automatic
Larry the Lariat -- 1986 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4, 351w and a C6 automatic

Gary Lewis

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Administrator

I've not used the new style transfer tube, but it is easy to get a leak with the old style. If the o-rings aren't well lubed they get pinched between the bowl's casting and the ridge on the tube and are easily cut. And even if you have lube on them they can get pinched. Or, if the gaskets are thicker then one end might not go fully into the bore.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

grumpin

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

In reply to this post by chirkware

I’ve rotated the transfer tube back and forth and got it to stop leaking. Seem touchy for some reason.

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

chirkware

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

The grommet setup looks so much more substantial than the o-rings.

Didn’t have time tonight to put it together, but no doubt this will solve the problem.

Looks like you could cut about 7/16” off one end of the line longer o-Ring style tube and use grommets on it just fine. The other end would still have the unneeded nub (that the o-ring would have sealed against) but the grommet is just the right length that the nub is not in the way.

Ole Blue -- 1970 F100 Custom, 240 and a C4 automatic
Larry the Lariat -- 1986 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4, 351w and a C6 automatic

Gary Lewis

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Administrator

I agree, the grommets look much better than the o-rings. (Another of the MANY Holley design problems solved.

)

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

chirkware

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Carb is installed. I filled the primary bowl through tht breather tube and it fired right up! I let it idle a few minutes and then finally tried the transmission. Moved back and forth fine. So it was time for Larry's first drive...(ok, just in the yard... I'll need to get fuel and brakes done before it can go on the road)

Ole Blue -- 1970 F100 Custom, 240 and a C4 automatic
Larry the Lariat -- 1986 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4, 351w and a C6 automatic

BigBrother-84

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Cool!

Leaves in the trees all year long in Tennessee? That's a chance!

I see that you have a km/h speedo. I suppose this is a Canadian born truck?

Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.

grumpin

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

In reply to this post by chirkware

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

mat in tn

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

In reply to this post by chirkware

it's not exactly "must see tv" but I'm one of those people who get it. I can completely understand first drive of nearly everything. I get excited about them. it a sign of progress and success. love it! I must say I'm one of those guys that yells keep it off the grass. you're messing up my lawn! I imagine clint Eastwood with the Garand saying, "get off my lawn."

Gary Lewis

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Administrator

In reply to this post by chirkware

Yippee!!!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

chirkware

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

In reply to this post by BigBrother-84

BigBrother-84 wrote

Cool!

Leaves in the trees all year long in Tennessee? That's a chance!

I see that you have a km/h speedo. I suppose this is a Canadian born truck?

Most of the trees shed their leaves months ago but we have some evergreen trees around. Got a HUGE live oak in our front yard that sheds leaves slowly for months but never goes completely bald. Most of what you saw in the video are just big bushes and some out of control privet hedge that I'd love to kill (very invasive!).

Not sure on exactly where Larry was built, but the sticker says USA.

Ole Blue -- 1970 F100 Custom, 240 and a C4 automatic
Larry the Lariat -- 1986 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4, 351w and a C6 automatic

chirkware

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Started into brakes this evening... Good thing I did.

I've never seen shiny brake shoes before! Think maybe that wheel cylinder was leaking? lol

Took me WAY too long, but the right rear is rebuilt, left rear is next. I'll swap the rear hose, then I'm gonna look over the fronts and see how they look. I may just bleed the four corners and see if the calipers are ok. I don't believe they are leaking as the fluid level for the front brakes hasn't gone down at all. So far, the master cylinder looks like it might be ok but time will tell.

Still have to check out the gas tank. Debating whether to drop it...I know I should, but I'm dreading that can of worms.

Ole Blue -- 1970 F100 Custom, 240 and a C4 automatic
Larry the Lariat -- 1986 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4, 351w and a C6 automatic

grumpin

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

In reply to this post by chirkware

If I’m reading the VIN decoding properly, Larry was built in Twin Cities.

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

BigBrother-84

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

This post was updated on .

In reply to this post by chirkware

chirkware wrote

Not sure on exactly where Larry was built, but the sticker says USA.

You're right, and for what I know, Canadian stickers are red and US ones are blue. Just curious that the speedo shows Km/h scale.

I didn't know that US trucks were showing the KM/h scale too.

Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.

chirkware

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

So today I learned that the spare tire holder is an evil joke. Wow! I spent an hour probably getting what I think might be the original spare or from under the truck.

Seems the spare mount made quite an impression on this tire...

Hopefully it'll hold air long enough for me to take the Western Wheels to get some tires. I borrowed the spare from my 70 for one side and put this on the other on the rear. I'll put the front on jackstands and probably just haul the four wheels to Walmart in my Subaru wagon. I don't want to drive Larry for tires on the 20 year old rotten rubber it has.

Ole Blue -- 1970 F100 Custom, 240 and a C4 automatic
Larry the Lariat -- 1986 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4, 351w and a C6 automatic

Gary Lewis

Re: Larry the Lariat - My 86 F150 4x4

Administrator

I had the same experience on one of the trucks, Dad's I think. Not only was the tire rotten and badly indented, but the center bolt holding the spare on was seized and it would have been almost impossible to have gotten it off on the side of the road.

Hope you can get all of them in the Subie.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

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