Gary Lewis

Ahhh! Yes, the drum sander and grease should help. As for the timing case cover and bolts, no anti-seize? Yes, I do need to "get on" the bolts for Big Blue. But I need to order the Sky Offroad RSK & shocks as well. And I need to order the new wheel bearings, seals, & races. So there are lots and lots of things I need to get on. But BB will still not be in the same league, cost-wise, as some of the new trucks. However, doing it with something I've built instead of bought is more fun.

East enough to do.

The grease that comes with the poly bushings would make that job easier. And somewhere, by someone, I was told to put a bushing in hot water to soften them up before installing them. I think it was the tech at Energy Suspensions.

Bill - I think I got lost in all the swaps. But suffice to say you've been around "trucks". (Awa carbs, engines, ignitions, etc.) As for something north of $100K, I wonder where the Tremor will come in? (See my new post.) That's a nice truck, but do you really want to go off road with something that pricey?

Here's another: Motor Trend says 2020 FORD F-SERIES SUPER DUTY TREMOR FIRST LOOK: EARTH-MOVING OFF-ROAD PACKAGE? And another: Road & Track says The 2020 Ford Super Duty Tremor Is Your Ultimate Off-Road Tow Rig And by the way, Big Blue's "crawl ratio" will be 56. So, can I make BB into a Tremor?

Was perusing Expedition Portal, having given the link to Alan, and found this: Is the Ford Tremor the New Full-size Overland Benchmark? Interesting read. Interesting truck!

Glad you seem to have gotten the wiring/starting problem fixed. On the engine, what size rings will you go with? Stock? I'd guess you'll have to, and run the original pistons.

Alan - I don't have a tent, yet. But I sure hope I do. The reason is that I want to go "overlanding" with my son. (At least that's what we call it over here when you go to the back of beyond, drive as far as you can in one day, camp for the night, and drive on the next day.) And this is why I'm building up Big Blue. But I've not yet selected the tent nor the rack so cannot point you to one I'd recommend. However, I have had some thoughts along those lines. I've embedded an article that I scanned in from a magazine I bought a couple of months ago. In it you can see the tent he's using. And given the amount of use his truck has gotten I'd guess that he's happy with the tent. But you can also see that he didn't mount it "across the top of the bed". Instead it is on a rack, which gives you access to the bed and its contents. But the height of the rack is a big question. Some want the top of the tent, when the tent is folded closed, to be even with the top of the cab for less wind drag. But these trucks aren't the least bit aerodynamic so I'm not sure that's an issue. Instead, I want it up so there's better access to the bed. I'm a newbie at all of this. So one of my go-to places is Expedition Portal. My son introduced me to that site and I've read a lot on there about various things. They seem to know what they are talking about. Anyway, hope that helps.

Alan - Assuming you do it in the next several months, meaning before I get mine installed, I'll be happy to measure the rod for you. But I might have to draw it up in CAD for posterity.

All - Jim - You are making good progress, but I can feel the heat from here. While you don’t know “old” yet, please stay hydrated so you don’t know “dead” either. Cory - Are you saying the shop will put new dents in the fender? 😳 Shaun - That’s a good buy. Well done. 👌 All - I made it to LMC in the KC area this morn. Not much to see and nothing to tell. Hopefully I can get back when the corporate folk are in so I can talk with someone.

My hope/plan is to get the springs dialed down to where I get a decent ride and it'll handle most minor loads. Like when I'm overlanding. But when I need more capacity I'll use air bags.

Yes, if it is resized to 100 x 100 then you can load it and hit the crop button.

Wow!!! Looks like drag slicks, Cory. Tell us more about the engine! And the truck!

A quick trip to the Dennis Carpenter website shows no chrome option, only the unpainted version. I refuse to pay NOS pricing on a work truck. May just have to buy the unpainted one and deal with it. Well, the LMC visit has taken a different turn. Turns out all of the people I want to talk to leave in the morning for a much bigger show, and won't be back until Monday. So I'm going to the Ford counter. Apparently there are few things to look at there, but the only people I'll likely encounter are salesmen and not the corporate types.

LOL! Whose air compressor was it that was plastered with stickers in a recent pic? I don't know if any of those companies give freebies. But when I get through chasing LMC, Rock Auto, Jeff's Bronco Graveyard, and NPD I can turn to them. However, if you want to find me a link to where you ask them for help then I'll do the rest.

Since you are going back on with a Speedisleeve then it isn't the end of the world if you nick the crank. So I think I'd use the Dremel.

I haven't found an EFI-specific kit, but I haven't looked too hard. I need to do that, soon.

My oil fill caps have had a cork gasket. But I'd much rather have a "rubber" one. I powder coated one cap by driving the flat piece that serves as the retainer, replacing the gasket, and then driving it back in.

They told me we'll need to use 10" travel shocks on the front. On the rear, I already have Bilsteins. And I'm running new F250 springs and the standard blocks. But, I have to soften those springs, which is certain to drop the ride height some. That may make it a bit lower than the front, so I may need to make a change. If I remember correctly I have both 3" and 4" blocks.

They have the right Bilsteins for the lift we'll get. That's the ones I'm going to order.

That would explain it, Jim. I'm guessing the JB Weld is going on tonight? By the way, do you have a part number for the stainless bolt package? I need to order one.

It is all Dad's fault. Mom collected brick. (The plural of "brick" is "brick", according the International Brick Collectors Association, of which she was a founding member.) But I never thought they were very useful, although my brother made a small brick wall out of very small portion of her collection. Dad retired from the railroad and sat down, thinking he had nothing to do. So I vowed to have something in the works when I retired. And, Dad had this 1981 4wd F150. He wasn't the first owner, but he loved the truck and drove it everywhere. And when I drove it a few times I really liked it. So, I decided that I wanted into Ford trucks.

As you know, that's the same one I'm going to order, very soon. When are you ordering yours? And what shocks are you going with?

Here's what the MPC says for the part numbers. Unfortunately none of the Bullnose use any "D" prefixed boosters.

To this point I've contacted: LMC on 7/29/19: They are to supply gift certificates, although how many I don't know, and windshield/registration cards. And maybe catalogs Rock Auto on 7/29/19: They say they'll supply "promotional magnets and fliers to be used in goody bags, registration packets, or handed out to attendees. We will also send one gift certificate that can be used as a door or raffle prize! 4 Wheel Parts: Corey Marshall, the GM of the Tulsa store, said I should come in around 8th August and he'll have some goodies for me.