BigBrother-84

LOL! Not ready to install new electrical gadgets in Big Bro, have some other projects before going to fold myself again under the dash as an origami. Have ahead to install the bed rails, paint and install the new dash cover, same for front doors armrests, and couple of little jobs like that. Today, I flushed the coolant and installed new hoses and thermostat. About the thermostat, I didn't know that I needed some sealant for the new one (the old one was stuck in a sealant bed). Any suggestion about the good stuff to use? I'll go buy it and complete the job tomorrow.

Nice truck Mark, very impressive work, gorgeous, I love it. And love the cat memorial too. It is a very touching attention Sorry for your mom.

Changed the fuse panel. Big Brother's one was maintained with tie-wraps, since it has the small fuse box core beige plastic tabs broken, the black plastic brackets were useless. This was the last electrical item I did not restored. I did a nice wires cleanup behind the panel, re-did the trailer brake connection (why do these trailer garage guys do not pay attention for a clean connector job?). Had to "unclip" and clip in the new panel one wire at a time, to be sure to put each one at its place. Tedious (and very uncomfortable) job. Funny, I found that some fuses installed in Big Bro's panel were useless (the second side of the circuit wasn't there). Accessories, electrical windows, kind of. Maybe in some obscure past I filled up each fuse place with the good amp, regardless if there was or not a circuit behind. After that last electrical cleanup, I can confirm that Big Brother is a hard work boy, absolutely no fancy option, the fuse panel is half empty! Was interesting, made me learning how this thing is made.

I agree, if I sprayed anything between the roof layers it wouldnt be expanding foam it would be spray on thermal/acoustic barriers but that would be quite hard to do seeing as that stuff requires it to be sprayed 3 mil thick to function properly. Guys, not sure about the goal of filling space with foam. For thermal insulation? I wonder about the foam under a potentially VERY hot 🥵 metal roof. For sound insulation? Urethane has a VERY BAD sound transmission resistance. In all cases, I wouldn't fill this space using urethane foam.

This furnace is inhumane! I fully understand your impatience for a cooler season! I'm ready to face the cold if it can free you from this hell. International Bullnose solidarity! Let's come the snow! ❄️❄️❄️❄️

LOL! Gary, I can easily imagine! I am kind of Polar Bear, over 86ºF (30ºC), I simply die... Just reading at the Forum how much AC is a matter of concern for members south of the border. Although I can appreciate some warmer temps, as we have now. Leaves are already (!) beginning to tint bit of pale-yellowish-green, fall is sneaking up on us, we'll be in full colours in six weeks, then suddenly leafless trees. Summer here is never long. "Sigh"

For sure, it will be a pleasure! But please, before talking about snow, let me taste a little more of this summer, so short in these northern latitudes!

Here are these rectangular slots in Big Brother, for the passenger door and the rear window as well. I agree this is not "cute" if no mouldings.

I am planning to eventually make a kind of "story board" for Big Brother. When I'll find time... For now, just for fun, here is a picture of a 2001 off-road trip, and one of the restored boy. No more mud for him.

On a happier note, I came across this while picking here and there on the web (Facebook, yep ). This gentleman (Hugo Colton) published this in December 2020: «I have a small addiction to bullnose fords and I want them all. [...] The diesel pulled this set up 1400 miles one way weighting in at a grand total of 27000lbs. Average speed was 60mph.» I suggested him to join this Forum too. Maybe is he already a member?

I ordered mine from LMC. Had to drill a little hole at one extremity, it is not just stick holding on the door edge, one end needs to be clipped.

Stein, nice trip, thanks again for the pictures! Just for fun, at this time of the year, is there a complete sunset followed by a complete "black" night, or jut a kind of twilight? Or maybe no sunset at all? Last month, we had a family trip at James Bay (north extremity, at its junction with Hudson Bay). Two pictures below, one at sunset (midnight), the other just before 03:00 AM. I figure that the full black night is no longer than about one hour.

Thanks Gary, Probably crossing some web finds with this document https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1984-light-truck-data-book.html could help confirm if they are correct for a basic 1984 4x4 Crew Cab. Seems that there were not a lot of options these years, for that kind of monster.

Some of the Forum members already read elsewhere that I ordered a VCL replica at Marti Report. I thought that, using the VIN, Marti would find every original specs to create a faithful copy of my lost door jamb sticker. I am still continuously learning (a major reason why life is so interesting). Some info cannot be extracted from the VIN. Our friend Dane warned me that Marti asked him for complementary infos, for a similar replica request (https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/4x4-Front-Axle-identifying-tp122501p122524.html). Without these specs, the sticker will look like that: Here is their detailed demand: My door label is lost, so option #1 is a no go. And I'll go #3 if I have no other choice. So, I am trying hard to find all specs required for option#2. With the help from Jonathan, I am on the right track to confirm my front axle as a D50 4.10, and Marti indicates that the rear axle is a Conventional Dana 4.10: I examined my front and rear leaf spring suspension and found absolutely any stamps, no identification possible. SO... Will I be able to determine the missing specs as Marti requested? • GVWR (seems to me that 9300lbs is the right weight for Big Bro, accordingly to Marti W361 code and 1984 sales brochure) • GAWR Front • GAWR Rear • Reserve weights (F0000/R0000) • Spring codes (maybe measuring them?) • Tire, wheel and tire pressure information as they appear on original tag (Big Bro has its original wheels, so I suppose I can find the codes... but for tires and pressure, not sure) In another thread, Gary pointed to this 1985 document https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1985-body-builders.html, from which I extracted these tables: There is also some documentation about springs, not sure how to use it... Do we measure a spring unloaded, flat on a bench? Can it be measured directly under the truck? Any suggestions how to go about it? Can I use 1985 data for my 1984 Crew Cab?

Jonathan, thanks for the differential case dimension. The capacity is also very interesting for me. I feel as Indiana Jones decrypting an ancient scroll. 🧐 I'm outside for the weekend, I'll confirm this next week. But really looks like we're aligned for a D50 4.10 conclusion. Not really surprised, Big Brother acts as a M4 Sherman, nothing to stop him, I can even jump out and walk beside when set in 1rst-4low. 😜 Next step, I'll have to identify missing info to enable Marti duplicating a faithful copy of the door VCL. I'll start a separate thread about this "sticker journey".

Nice trip, thanks for the pictures! About the church slate siding, first time I see it installed on walls. Usually we find these as roof covering. Interesting. I am curious how they were able to cut so wide stone plates, they necessarily have to be thin. I agree with Gary that the walls structure behind has to be strong!

Ok, here are the results of my undertruck investigation: • The front axle aluminum tag still exists, but is almost unreadable. • Mesuring the external hub gives me +/- 4" • Accordingly to Marti Report, Big Brother is equipped with a 4.10 Dana Conventional Rear Axle. • Accordingly to some other information read on the forum, rear and front axles ratios must be the same. • I think that I can distinguish a «4 10» on upper left corner or the tag... Can I really see it? So, with these informations in hand, can we conclude that Big Brother's front axle is a 4.10 Dana 50? Oh, btw, maybe somebody would be better than me to decrypt the rest of the aluminum tag numbers? I can read couple of numbers, but not enough sure of what I see. Finally, there are other stamped numbers on the differential casing... can they be decoded? I did not find data about these kind of stamping. Thanks in advance for any kind of help!

Well, Bill, getting a new label is more complicated than I expected. Don't want to hijack this Jake's thread, so I will post a new thread about the VCL reproduction issue.

I am not! I really enjoy detailled threads, and I simply LOVE you way of writing! Consider me as a "follower". This thread is so interesting, the fuel cost is necessarily becoming more and more of a concern, for couple of us. Keeping reading at your unscientific observations!

Jake, Does this dealership PTS site gives the following original specs, from the VIN: •GVWR •GAWR Front •GAWR Rear •Reserve weights (F0000/R0000) •Spring codes (after the TRANS code) •Tire, wheel and tire pressure information Need these infos to enable Marti creating a replacement VCL door label for Big Brother.

You were... until now. Good observation!

Jonathan, you have found the solution to my torments: I was sure that the sticker was on the pillar! When restoring Big Brother, its two front doors were in so bad shape that I decided to buy brand new ones. So, the famous sticker isn't gone in a sandblast operation or similar painting job. It's gone with the door! OMG, I never realized that! Well, thanks again for this precious information!

Wow, good idea, love it! Would be nice that this little compartment could finally find its purpose, capable to retain its contents correctly. I want one!

Big Brother´s vault was dangling down on our heads. The fabric was delaminating from the rigid cardboard. I found a new fabric (with similar foamy layer behind) and replaced the fabric, keeping the original cardboard. I don't understand how your headliner was installed, only a fabric directly on the metal ceiling? I am curious if you have a picture about this installation.