Gary Lewis

White Knite - Thanks. I'll be doing that as well. As for what I did today with my truck, I'll let the pictures tell the tale:

Thanks, guys. I've invited Erik to join the forum as I think this would be the easiest way to communicate regarding any issues that arise.

That's the smaller of the two braces, as discussed in the TSB HIGH CLUTCH EFFORT/CLUTCH FLUID LEAK/CRACKED MOUNT. And it is the one that fits 1983 - 87 trucks.

Oh.

Maybe I'm not running enough pressure? But I don't get a lot of fine dust. However, I certainly do wear a mask with filters.

Reminds me, my vent hose is broken off at the brake splitter. I noticed it the other day, when I was into the spring hanger. I guess I was a little distracted. Those grade 8 bolts let go with a bang! That's not too unusual. Many of the trucks I've bought had the same thing. And that included Dad's. Then I realized that Dad's rear diff had a noise in "coast". So when I had the clutches in the diff replaced I wasn't surprised that the ring & pinion were pitted on the back side. I'm guessing that water got in through the vent, but never found it.

No. If there's a breeze, which is usually from the south here, it heads north where there aren't any houses for quite a ways. But it is heavy enough it settles pretty quickly.

So that's what a Gator is! Good to know. Janey and I just got back from a 1000 mile road trip and we saw plenty of them. Some complete circles, some just the tail or head. I'm guessing it doesn't have anything to do with tire pressure but with retreads. However, I'll see if I can scare Steve/FoxFord33 up. He's not been on of late, but they were out of town as well. However, I sat beside him at lunch yesterday, so they are back.

Why? I did this in jeans, long-sleeve shirt, & hood, and it wasn't too bad, even in Memphis heat & humidity of June: https://supermotors.net/getfile/524745/thumbnail/blastsetup.jpg Check the fine print... It says you don't have to worry about heat from blasting, but the force of water & sand at that speed will do at least as much warping to thin metal if you're not careful. My plan is simply to build an extension that I can hang on the side of my cabinet if I need more space. I've done it before temporarily using a cardboard box. But it wouldn't be expensive or difficult to get someone who makes A/C ductwork to build a custom extension that I could drop on any time. I wear a hood, filter mask, long gloves, long sleeves, and jeans. And it is still a very unpleasant experience. But sand is cheap here as Mohawk, one of the large suppliers, is taking it out of the Arkansas about 20 miles away. So I don't worry about recycling it and do my outside blasting in the middle of the yard so the sand goes into the soil. However, Mohawk's control on sizing isn't very good and I have to filter the stuff I get or it'll clog frequently. Which adds to the lack of fun.

Yep. And, you could use sand with no health problems. Maybe you should try it and report back?

Interesting! I'd not seen that, but I do have a pressure blaster. And, I have an Eastwood media blasting unit for outside and agree that using it is THE WORST! So this looks interesting. But, it also looks very slow.

But he didn't say "rotate the screen image". As a baby boomer I'd probably just rotate my laptop so I could read it! Bingo! As another Boomer I'd lay this tablet down and rotate it until the pic was right/ripe for viewing.

Is that a millennial joke? Not sure what a millennial joke is. Maybe it is a dad joke? Or a grandpa joke? Or, just a bad joke?

Bill - I just checked craigslist for this area. No dice. I assume you've checked via the salvage database?

Thanks, Jim. Saves me from heading to the shop. And I'm sure he'll figure out how to rotate the screen.

Hmmm, good point. The pump it is - and fortunately I just happen to have one. Meanwhile, I'm changing the U-joints out completely; I didn't like the look of one of the seals as I was pumping grease in, so out they come. I've been pleasantly surprised with how easy the process has been so far; I'm still scarred from the memory of helping my dad change the U-joints on my mom's '67 LeSabre when I was a kid. Maybe this will put those demons to rest. My folks had a '67 LeSabre as well, but I don't remember changing u-joints. I left for college in '65 so if that had to be done Dad would have done it. Anyway, glad it is going easily.

Dave - Yes, that bumper is really low. But perhaps that's the way they were designed as I think Ray's is that way as well. However, they look odd. Hope the flip helps. As for the heat, that's way too warm. Hopefully it'll cool off in a few days and you can get back to it. But you do have the bolts and screws to make good progress when that happens.

I had that first cruise control on a Chevy Citation. I installed it and was very pleased with the way it worked. It even had a way to adjust how quickly it tried to pick up speed.

I think that's what I'm going to do...in the meantime, hopefully someone will chime in on the following: I just got done looking at my rear axle...it's a standard Ford 9", 2.75 gearing. I had gotten the idea somewhere that the oil change procedure was to pump the oil out through the vent tube fitting, but the vent is on the axle tube...doesn't seem like I could get much out that way. Or do I pump it out of the fill hole on the side? My Haynes manual is curiously silent on the topic, and there are a thousand different theories on the internet. Or am I wasting my time here completely, and should just top it off through the fill hole and call it a day? Fill hole: Vent: You pump it out via the fill hole. And if you have a pump I'd do it rather than just top it off. That way you are likely to get any water out that might be in there as water can cause all kinds of problems.

Wow, for $1500 that's a buy. Doesn't say what engine, but it's had a camper on it so maybe the 460. Don't see any rust. But, it has the stick-on trim that was an early '85 option. Someone said that it was continued on F250's, and it looks like it was.

Jochen - That sounds like a show I'd have loved to have gone to. Do you have any pics of the other American vehicles? We were at Neuschwanstein Castle a few years ago and saw several in the car park as we were leaving. If I remember correctly that included a 1968 Dodge Charger. I'll try to dig that pic up. As for a pickup, they are ever so handy! And the later ones, like my 2015 Super Cab are good as a people mover as well as hauling or towing things. Shaun/Jim - Bill donated the '86 EVTM, but I do have an '87 and a '96 out in the shop. If you've not figured out the wiring for the later wiper motor when I get home around 6 I'll go look. Or tomorrow? Matthew - That sounds a little more involved that it appeared. I've not had to use PB Blaster on U-joint nuts, but I have had to use a pry bar to get things to move a bit.

Amen! I had an older cousin tell me that when I was still working and I wondered what he meant. Now I know, and it is so true.

Good plan. I retired at about 60.

Thanks for rubbing it in Gary.... Welcome. And, just to help you out, today is Sunday. And I'll be off to church in a bit. Then the luncheon after church, then the church visit to the retirement home this afternoon. See you later, gator.

Nope. Just Saturdays & one Sunday. However, to converse with those still working you do have to be able to translate.