Gary Lewis

I haven't seen that one before, but it is normal for boats to have water-cooled exhaust manifolds. However, that one channels #1 past #2 then #3, etc. Looks seriously restrictive compared to an EFI pair. And $1000???

Ok, I see what you are saying about the service bed. A full flatbed would be nice, but to get on the road maybe just a few 4x4's? Is this a CNC or a pickup?

Bob - I appreciate the input. But.... I'm hoping to drive this thing quite a bit before the EFI conversion, maybe even to Ouray, and just retarding the initial timing seems like it wouldn't optimize things. And running higher octane fuel will add to what is surely a fairly high fuel cost. And, I'd like to use this as a test. On the old engine I had planned to test the MPG of the 750 Eddy vs the 600, and then the 750 Street Demon, but I pulled it out before I got there. So I'm not at all afraid of swapping carbs once I've run a baseline. And that would give me a good comparison to EFI, which I'd like to do. Bill - Thanks. I've done some tuning on Ford dizzys, and was appalled at how hard it is vs doing it on a Chevy. But it is still doable. However, Scott will tune it for $110, and since he knows exactly what's in the engine, meaning pistons, cam, and heads, I'm considering having him do it. He would know exactly what curve to dial in, and if I do it I'll have to guess. And, he has the adapter to put the carb on the lower plenum, and that includes brass plugs for the injector ports, so I'm thinking of doing that as well. But I don't have a price on that yet.

Yes, Free Wheeling was long gone by 1986. But it is a nice truck. And there's just not enough of the tape code to tell.

I understand on the intake. It takes gathering up all my gumption to do something like that - for the second or third time. But, you did get some things done, and that has to feel good. Keep on keeping on - and get your EMT friend over.

Do you have any literature that says a Red/White two-tone truck was available with a black interior in 1981? I figured a truck with this combo would only be available with a red interior.... Yes, I think so. Look at the F-Series tab and then the Color & Trim tab here: http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1981-truck-facts-organizer.html

I hadn't heard it before either, but there are a ton of them here (many with LSU or Saints gear). I did here one saying that schools close for Fat Tuesday (Mardis Gras) and Ash Wednesday, and with those days off, generally take the whole week. So it's a good time to take a family vacation. That's probably the real reason, but I did here several say it was to escape Mardis Gras, so that is likely a factor as well. When we lived in Houston I had staff in and around New Orleans, and some of them were seriously involved in Mardis Gras. SERIOUSLY. They worked on floats seemingly year 'round, and when time got close that's all they talked about. So I can see that some would like to get away from what appears to be a very intense situation. And the chance to turn a few days off into a week off would be ideal.

Well, congrats? Or Congrats!!! Not sure which. But, your plan is to put the running gear from the truck that you bought recently in this one. Right? As for the tank, what kind of a cradle does it need? No chance the utility bed could serve as that, with a platform in the middle for the tank to sit on?

Yes, the Eddy is reasonably close. As for ignition, that's one reason I still have the 460 I pulled out of Big Blue. It has the distributor, coil, wires, etc. However, the curve in the dizzy is too aggressive as I had pinging under load. I'm assuming that it is set up for EGR, which I'm not going to run. I've emailed Scotty asking about curving the dizzy, so we shall see. But do you have a recommendation?

Ask them! We'd like to know.

Dane - I hope my response wasn't too derogatory on Holleys. A lot of people like them. But my experience hasn't been good. Bill - I've never worked on a VV, in spite of owning one. However, I've worked on plenty of carbs with the same design, so I know the design is sound. And I assume it is just the unfamiliarity that turned others off. Anyway, let me pose a question to y'all: Should I start Big Blue up for breaking in the cam on the Eddy that was on him, and then go to the Street Demon? Or just go for the Street Demon?

Thanks, Dane. But, of all the carbs in the world, a VV is at the bottom of my list and a Holley is the next notch up. The VV is at the bottom because the only thing I know about it is that they aren't "normal". Even back in their day they weren't understood. As for the Holleys, anything that holds fuel in with gaskets or fabric doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I've had Holleys and while they do great for full-throttle acceleration they aren't the easiest to maintain. Mine have leaked at the gaskets and accelerator pump, and suffered blown power valves. So things like the Q-Jet and carbs derived from Carters are my pick since they hold fuel in with metal. And Edelbrocks are basically Carters. But the Street Demon is a fairly new carb that follows in that vein. However, the one I have has a polymer bowl that is intended to keep the fuel cool. And that's derived from the Thermoquad.

I'm with David - I think it is a viable option. You have the drivetrain to put in. And you could probably sell the utility bed. But, will you have to then make a flat bed? Or?

Ok, that's a quorum, and all seem in favor. (Jim - I take your comments as in favor. Right?) Next, I need to think through the carburetion. Brandon/Bruno2 has the 750 Eddy on the shelf in a zip lock bag and I can borrow it, or maybe even buy it back. But I think he bought it for future use, and next fall/winter might be future enough for him. However, I have the 750 CFM Street Demon on the shelf. It was used to break in Dad's engine on Tim's dyno, and it worked well. In fact, Tim said there was only a very few HP diff between it and the 750 Holley they normally run on the dyno, and he liked the carb. I could borrow the Eddy and create a baseline with it, knowing it worked well on the previous engine. And then go for the Street Demon and see what difference it makes. Thoughts?

Too much enjoyment driving it that you won't want to take it down again? Perhaps! But it'll be fun either way.

Guys - As I'm sitting in Barnes & Noble thinking about things I've come to a conclusion I want to bounce off of you. And that conclusion is that I want to break Big Blue's Transformation into two phases: Phase 1: New carbureted 460, ZF5, D60 SAS, yada, yada, yada Phase 2: EFI for the engine, upgraded fuel system, etc The reasoning for this is to get Big Blue back on the road and to enjoy him a bit before launching into the next phase, which will be over the next winter. I think the downside is that there are a few things I'll do that will have to be undone, like installation of the seat and carpet - which may have to come out if I put the ECU under the seat. And the aux battery, which may have to be relocated when the EFI goes in due to all the things that will be lined up along the driver's fender. And, I'll have to buy a carb adapter for the EFI lower plenum. But, for the most part I don't think there will be all that much re-work. What are your thoughts? What am I missing that might be big gotchas?

1985 was a confusing year. But compare it to '86. There were many changes. And, they dropped the idiot lights in '86 and made the gauges standard, which really made things a lot more simple. Jonathan - You are welcome. I realized that all the harnii appear to have "Wiring Assy" in the title, which gave me a way to find them. But I had no idea there were so many kinds of harnii, nor so many within each kind.

And I have it installed and it still dims at idle but only when I first start it. It hardly spins before the motor starts, but just that little it pulls power from the (new) battery. I think because the ALT is not spinning fast enough and the battery just got power pulled from it is why it happens? Again with in 2 miles I am on the high way for 30+ miles so the battery has time to recharge and I don't see it happening after that. Dave ---- Yes, that's surely why the lights dim just after starting. The battery voltage is down a bit and the regulator is calling for that it to be topped up. But the alternator's output isn't much at idle, so the voltage stays down enough to notice in the lights.

WOW We know the 80 had different wire pin out but I wonder if you could use 81/84 (less the diesel's & hot fuel handling) for a swap or upgrade (aux tank or gauges)? For 83/84 the diesel & HFH did the trucks come with gauges only? Other wise you would have 8 different harnesses for them years if I count right. I guess I was lucky I had an almost match for my harness swap in the 81. Both had gauges and 1 with & 1 without aux tank, I used the aux tank harness. Dave ---- Yes, I think the diesels and 460's must have come with gauges, although I've not seen that in other documentation.

That's a very nice truck! Lot of truck for the money. Really clean.

Man, those pads look suspect. Mine were MUCH nicer than that. From all the tools and debris it looks like it was quite a battle getting the spring perches in. Glad you were on the winning side. But the fog light pattern looks nice. You got them shimmed just the way you want them?

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,.... You should be very joyful! Yes, maybe the friend that is an EMT. Hopefully they've been trained to be more careful?

I can't tell you the differences, but there were 18 different alternator to voltage regulator wiring harnesses. Source: Documentation/Electrical/Wiring Harnesses. (Yep, I added that harness.)

That appears to be a part number used by several vendors. Anyway, you have a good plan.

Jesse - You are now on the map. And, you obviously know where Falls Church is. I've spent a lot of time in that area since the company I worked for is headquartered there.