Gary Lewis

My daily driver is a VW Golf diesel with the 6 speed DSG auto transmission. I have been driving manuals for many years, but I bought this Golf with the DSG specifically because I wanted an automatic trans. The two reasons were that 1. So my wife could drive it on the rare occasion that she needs to...which I usually only twice per year when I take her car to the shop, and 2. because I was getting really tired of the stick shift in traffic. I don't spend a lot of time in traffic, but when I do, it was punishing in a manual trans car. I quite like this little auto, but it's nothing special...it's just an appliance, like a washing machine. Back in '72 I bought a new F250 w/a 390 and a C6. We put a 9 1/2' self-contained camper on it and drove it all over. Loved the 390, but not so the C6. Always wished I'd bought the 4-speed, which was probably the NP435. Now I have Big Blue and the manual in it makes it feel like a real truck. And driving it is a much more involved experience. In traffic you are always thinking about what gear you need to be in instead of letting the truck pick the gear. But I'll admit that towing with Blue is much more laid back than towing with Big Blue. Perhaps with the new engine and the ZF5 it'll be easier in Big Blue, but Blue makes it so easy. No muss, no fuss, just can do.

I'm sure that isn't normal. I've had two 81's and neither had that problem. In fact, my daughter drove Dad's truck and she is so short she has the seat way forward and was able to buckle up easily. And looking at the part numbers for the seat belts I don't see any obvious issues. So I'm at a loss unless your shoulder harness reel isn't working correctly and the belt isn't able to come fully out.

Welcome! Nice truck. (I posted it by clicking the "Big Size" option in the pop-up menu as your file is larger than the 1 Mb max.) You'll have to start a thread about it in the main section. So, what part of Louisiana are you in? We have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and I'd be happy to add you if I had a town.

Bill - I well remember the Terribleglide and the Dynaflush. Dad's Buicks had the latter, and a friend with a Tri-Power 348 in a '60 Chevy had the former. And he wouldn't even THINK about running my '58 348/WCFB w/a 3-speed out of a six cylinder. (Yes, young ones, in Chevroletland any tranny fits any engine.) The Terribleglide made his car SLOW off the line. But it would ROLL on top end. Didn't know about the Packard/Stupidbaker tranny. That's interesting. Wish others would have adopted the lock-up converter far earlier.

Thanks I am also happy it is adjustable as I was having night mares on it if it was not. Am I reading it right being my truck is a 12/80 F100 4x2 w/300 and M/T I can see the 1980 but the rest does not match? I see 4x2 as a F250 with 300 M/T? Then see 1980 F-U 150/250 -- F/W/D (4x4) It is what it is and it's working so it stays but just strange is all. Thanks again Dave ---- edit: still raining, pretty good since I got up at 6am, so have not taken the truck out for a test drive. Basically it says that dizzy came from one of these vehicles: Parts List #1: 1980 F250 - - 2/W/D-M/T exc, Calif. or 1980 F-U150/250 - - 4/W/D Parts List #5: 6 Cyl. 1980 300 C.I.D. (4.9L) or 1980 E250 - - M/T Parts List #49: 1980 6 Cyl. 300 C.I.D. (4.9L) or 1980 F250 - - 2/W/D-M/T exc. Calif. or 1980 F-U150/250 - - 4/W/D But the fact that it is working is the key. And it has an adjustable vacuum advance is a big boon. So what it came from doesn't really matter.

I did add the pics to the page @ Documentation/Accessories/CB Radio. They aren't great, but will suffice until we get better ones. And, I sent you an email about the literature. Looking forward to getting it to scan in and post. Thanks!

That's my experience with a C6. Exactly.

Before rebuilding the engine, assuming that a leak-down test suggests that's needed, I wonder about slipping in a DS-II dizzy and harness, coil, and box. That would bypass the ECU and determine if that's the problem. Or, maybe just run the initial timing up to as far advanced as it'll idle with, leave the timing locked w/the SPOUT, and take it for a drive.

Glad the can is adjustable. That should simplify things. Hope you get it dialed in easily. Found three hits in the MPC for that distributor:

Indeed it does! It's not a bad lookin' truck, but it might need a lot of work to rehab. I wish there were trucks at this price around here. I think it would clean up pretty well. Has some patina, but overall is a nice truck. However, since you can't start it and check it out my advice would be to buy it at part-out pricing. Although, those spot lights in the driver's floor might be pretty nice. And those wheels are the 8-lug variety. So there are some goodies there.

We need some writeups so those that come after y'all can learn from your experiences.

Guys - I'm 99.9999% sure I responded to your posts, but I guess not? Jim - Yes, I need to teach him to drive a stick. Bill - Yes, I may well PC the aluminum castings. But, the castings/brackets got me to thinking about the onboard air issue. That's because if I am going to go with a York/Tecumseh compressor then now will be the time to fabricate a bracket. So, I want to resurrect the discussion that we had starting back about here with Bob's post. It seems to me that there are essentially three ways to make this happen:York Compressor: This article on The Ranger Station has a good how-to for this approach. And I have the compressor. But I'd need a new pulley/clutch combo to use the ribbed belt on the 460, and I think those are over $100. And by the time I piece together all of the other stuff, like the coalescing filter to remove the oil, the cutoff switch, relay, air tank, fittings, etc I can see this easily running into several hundreds of dollars and a lot of time to make it happen. But, I'd have a system capable of a lot of air and a tank of maybe upwards of 10 gallons capacity. Electric Compressor: This would be essentially the same as #1, but I'd have to buy the compressor. Smittybilt makes one that supposedly does 5.65 CFM, although at what pressure it doesn't say. And the price of $107 makes it a swap for the pulley/clutch on the York. Plus it simplifies things since you don't have to have the coalescing filter as there's no oil. But you still have to get the tank, fittings, cutoff switch, etc. So it would perhaps come in a bit less expensive than the York and be a bit simplier, but have less CFM capacity. Onboard Air System: In this approach I'd buy a purpose-built system that comes with everything, including the electric compressor(s), cutoff switch, relay, tank, fittings, hose, etc. Viair's Heavy Duty 10005 system puts out 2.5 CFM, albeit at 0 PSI and with a 33% duty cycle, and cost $342. My guess is that I could probably have over $300 in either of the two build-your-own systems once all the bits and pieces are purchased. So that makes me think that a complete system is a good solution and one that will save me time during the fabrication/installation stage. But, that raises the question of how much air I really need to re-inflate the tires. Is the Viair Heavy Duty system adequate? They have others with lower CFM but higher duty cycle ratings for roughly the same money. Or even others with higher CFM and continuous duty ratings. Thoughts?

Jim - Hadn't thought about how the composites would feel in hot or cold weather, but that makes sense. And glad you got one good starter out of the two. See, saving junk pays off! Bob - Glad you stopped by. I'm going to be discussing onboard air systems on the Big Blue's Transformation thread soon, and would love to have your input.

Shaun - I've saved the pics for that mike and will use them on the new page - until I get better ones. And, speaking of that, I'd love to scan all of your lit and then return it to you.

That's something I could buy and drive. Already has the E4OD and EFI. Looks to even be SEFI and MAF. And with a 5.8L it would perform pretty well. Not a Bullnose, but driveable.

Definitely a worn starter gear. I'm going to swap with my 'core' starter. People ask why I keep "junk". Usually so I don't have to go back to the store for the core return. This time it paid off twofold. Yes, that gear is badly worn. Why do you think it did that? As for keeping "junk", ask the guys that have been here. I not only keep MY junk, but I have junk from many others.

On further consideration the starter motor contacts don't "make" until the solenoid fully pulls in, and the throwout is positively controlled by that solenoid in both directions. So... either the solenoid stud has pulled through the rocker arm, or the teeth are gone on one or the other.. It is engaging sometimes, and the motor always spins. I'm going to wait for more light under the truck, and maybe the frost to melt off. I had to use my air impact to pull the ball joints on Dad's truck, but didn't have to on Big Blue. So perhaps you won't need the extra oomph to get yours. But it still doesn't sound like fun. On the starter, it doesn't sound like just a lubrication problem. Frost? Yipes! Good luck!!!!

Thanks, Shaun. I added this to the page: The 1981 Dealer Facts Book says this of the C.B. radio: I can't find any pictures of it. It doesn't appear in the '81 Accessories catalog and I don't have an '80 Accessories catalog. Do you know of any pics? We could include them as well if we had them.

Yup, all those things. As shown below, and those illustrations will adorn the page as well as the part numbers. Shaun - What am I missing? Documentation/Accessories/CB Radio.

My HF ball joint press has done the job, although it is getting somewhat warped. But it still works. However, laying on the ground to do it will NOT be fun. In my case I have to use the air-powered impact to finally break them loose, so leave room for it to get in there. As for the starter, perhaps it needs the lube cleaned out and renewed?

Yes, it is interesting. Weird in some ways. F250? F1000? I like the turbo diesel, but not the upholstery.

Yup, all those things. As shown below, and those illustrations will adorn the page as well as the part numbers.

I do have slow days. Yesterday was one of those and I didn't do much on the forum and certainly nothing in the shop. Today I just carried the clutch kit, which was delivered by two young ladies from Amazon, out to the shop and then used the microfiche viewer. But most of the day was helping Janey get ready for her cousins to descend on us tomorrow. She did most of the work, although I helped some. As for the backups, I'm thrilled. And, by the way, the extension works on backing up the forum as well, so I'm doing that weekly. Oddly enough, the forum backup is now bigger than the Weebly/documentation backup.

Nor did I! Looked at the search results and thought "That's kinda the way I string words together." Then got in there and it was deja vu all over again.

Jim - Not sure if this guy knows what he is talking about, but he says the 300's dizzy rotates the opposite direction. Read a bit more in that thread and those yokels suggested that the screws may come in from the bottom. Dave - Glad you got the BlueTop on order.