Gary Lewis

Our son really likes Beemers, and had a 3 Series for a while. And even though it was stock I was impressed with what that I6 could do, and do it so quietly and smoothly. I can imagine what the tuned ones, or even the M3, would be like.

Yep, and that head is one of a kind. Just think of what the 300 could have been.

The dual front shocks, called "quad shocks" by Ford, were available as part of the Handling Package, as shown in the excerpt below from the 1986 price list. But there is no mention in the 1986 price list of a shock or damper for steering. So I don't think there was any way to order one.

To make it easier to see them, I'll embed them here:

Um.... okay.I'll just drop this here: I guess I should have said "in its stock configuration".With 7 main bearings the 300 has a significant enough foundation to support a lot of power - and RPM. However, with the log intake and exhaust manifolds, not to mention that they are on the same side of the engine, it is difficult to get them to rev very high. Enter the Frenchtown Flyer with his cross-flow head and tubular intakes and exhausts. THEN the 300 can rev.

Ok, here's what I find in the catalog. But, I'm not ready to create a page for this info as I don't fully understand it. So, perhaps y'all can help me? First, here's the only illustration in the whole catalog that includes the numbers 3E651, which is the steering damper, and 3E652, which is the bracket. That would seem to suggest that only the 1988 and later stripped chassis trucks got the damper. However, here are the entries in the catalog's text section for those two numbers. Note that the kit first appeared in 1987, and only F350's and Super Duties got them. But wait! There's more! The 3E562 listing suggests that there was a steering shock absorber on the 1980 and later F350 4WD trucks that didn't require a bracket. However, there is no other mention of a shock absorber or damper for steering in the whole catalog. I'm confused. But at the least I think it is safe to say that nothing shy of an F350 had a factory-supplied steering damper.

Ray - The terminology is "Before 7/82" and "From 7/82". So, translating that says "before July" and "From July". But, it doesn't say July 1st, or even 31st. And, to complicate things, it doesn't say in what plant. As we've found with the slider door locks and clear turn signal lenses, while the catalog says those changed in March of '81 they didn't actually change then. In fact, we've found trucks that were built in June and July that still got the slide locks. But it looks like what they did with the locks and turn signal lenses was to consolidate the old items to a couple of plants. In other words, Ford threw nothing away. And I'd bet the same was the case for the bed floors. Cory - That's going to look really good in the bed. How many coats do you think you'll apply? And, at the end of this week you may have the truck back on the road!!!

I thought you were running pretty tall gears to cruise that fast with a 300. I'm not saying anything bad about that engine, but it isn't fond of high R's. So to cruise at that speed w/o effort means tall gears.

Guilty as charged. Let me count the times........ Anyway, that is quite the project! Three years isn't too long. In fact, that's about right. But you are getting things done now. And, the price on the engine is really good. Obviously you'll have a rebuild kit to buy, but the other work is cheap.

Ray - I remember you trying to speed-shift the ZF5 in Dad’s truck. It ain’t gonna happen. The ZF5 is a truck transmission which shifts slowly, and one of its weaknesses is the synchros. So if you want a quick-shifting tranny I’d recommend the M5OD. I haven’t had one, but from what others are saying it shifts faster/better than the ZF5.

I was looking at the catalog this morning and at first blush it looked like the only Bullnose trucks that got a steering damper from the factory were F350’s. But it came time to head out for a family reunion and I didn’t get to the bottom of that. Maybe I can when I get home tonight, and will post what I find as well as create a new page, or tab in an existing page, to document it.

When you get a chance check your build date, please. If July and you have individual boards that’s something we should capture, maybe on the Y2Y differences page.

She lives in BA? Sounds like she is having a really rough time. Glad you are helping. Looks like you are a good SiL. On the house, things are selling pretty well here, so I hope it sells quickly. That will be a big load lifted. You don't own Little Blue? Yipes. Hope you get that sorted quickly. As for the water pump, I hope the six cylinder engines don't have the bolt-breakage problem many of the others have. (Which reminds me, I need to get the stainless bolts for Big Blue's water pump.)

Gary, Yes, I should have clarified, when I said late in 1982, I meant late in the 1982 model year. I've seen a couple 1982 Flareside owners confirm that their trucks had the plywood floors, but they were late build trucks. Do we know when in the Bullnose era that Ford changed the model year production? August or September? If the floor switch was in July, there must have still be a month or two left of 1982 model year production, or else the parts list would have said 1980-1982, and then 1983-1987. By the way, on a side note about the plywood. I've been varnishing a test piece all week with Spar Marine Varnish. Three thick coats on it now, and I think it looks pretty good. It's darker for sure, but not too dark. That's a good question. And I don't have a good answer for when the model year production changed. But I've kind of assumed it was August. However, looking at the TSB Index I see that the 1981 initial specifications came out on Sept 15th, and the 1983 specifications came out on Sept 24th. Maybe someone knows? Anyway, post a pic of the plywood with varnish. I'll bet it is going to look beautiful when you are done.

Steve - With the right gearing the 300 can do about any job. Looks like you have the right gearing for driving fast. Jim - I think part of the issue is that I know the road well. I know how much to throttle up to maintain speed, where to let off to coast, how fast to take the curves, etc. And I believe that can be a big factor in achieving good MPG. So David's at a disadvantage no matter which vehicle he drives. But, if he were in the lead and if I was trying to mimic him, as you suggest, then my advantage would be nullified. However, I don't know that I could be relied upon to mimic him. I think I'd revert to driving the road the way I always drive it.

All good advice. You can see the ratio differences, and play around what-ifs in the calculator, here: Driveline/Calculators. And you can see that the SROD's ratios are a big compromise as it is a 3-speed with an OD tacked on. Compare the SROD to the M5OD, which is a nice, evenly-spaced 5-speed, and it is obvious. Then compare the M5OD to the ZF5. The ZF's creeper gear means it is really a 4-speed for most situation. And for a light truck and daily driving those situations don't happen often. So I'd recommend the M5 for your truck, Ray.

Ha! Well, a man has to know his limitations! There are some things that I could have done more with (and spent more on) but at the end of the day, you have to decide just how far you're going to go. You could spend $100k restoring one of these trucks if you wanted to...lol. I'm not that guy. I think many of us in the Bullnose world are enthusiasts working with a limited budget. Yes, on all points. Set a goal from the start and stick to it or the scope creep will get you, and he's an expensive creep to hang around with. And, you can sink $100K in anything by just throwing money at it. That's why I preach buying a truck that is close to what you want rather than pulling one from a field. You'll pay 1/2 the cost of the parts for someone else's "restoration", and the truck from the field will need everything.

It is a nice truck. And the rust doesn't look too bad from what I can see. Wonder what our trucks will be worth in another 10 years.

Depends on the year of the truck Oz. From 1980 to sometime late in 1982, the bed floors were individual boards (7 boards, and six metal strips). After that, until 1987 it was plywood with five metal strips. The plywood was in 3 pieces, and the 5 metals strips made it look like it was individual boards. I'm already getting some flak from a few buddies for installing plywood in there...lol. I know oak is the defacto standard for classic truck beds, but I'm not spending the money on it...not this year at least. Good explaination, Cory. I looked it up and it was July of '82 when the change was made, as shown here:

Here is an idea, Gary. In the past, you and I drove the "loop" for gas mileage. You commented, at that time, that my truck was at a disadvantage due to me following and having to catch up with the lead truck. This year, let's you and I take my truck and fill up at Mr. Bass's and you drive the whole way [i'll enjoy the scenery]. Back to the "fillin" station and see what the mileage is? It will only take a little over an hour and I can arrive early. That's a good idea, David. But maybe you should drive Blue. Just swap trucks for the same drive and see what happens.

I don't know about the SROD, but I know that a ZF5 can swap in to replace a C6 w/o changing the driveshaft. At least on a something with a 460 pattern. Let's see what the others say. But don't do the C6.

Good points. And thanks. I want it to be "right", and I think that takes planning. Don't have much time with the g-twins here, but when I do get time it is nice to see things come together.

And, I did use brake fluid today to assemble the calipers. But I was suprised how much force it took to put the pistons in. Not a huge amount, but just more than I could do by hand. So I used a c-clamp and pushed them in. I also discovered the the boots shouldn't be lubed with brake fluid when installing them. That's 'cause the first one I installed uninstalled itself. So I had to clean it with alcohol and re-install it. Then I tried to install the pads along with the clips into the calipers. But I didn't get it figured out, so I guess I'll wait until it is time to install them on the truck. Anyway, here's what they look like. Like the Ford Blue pads? And, I got the hubs powder coated and then mated with the rotors. Oddly enough, one rotor is painted black in some areas and the other isn't, but both are the same brand, Rabestos, and same model number.

More layers of the onion? Certainly. Gonna have a Bloomin' Onion soon. I hope.

You are half the way there, Gary! Yep. And, it would counter someone else installing a French engine in a Ford.