Gary Lewis

I really do like the black! The faded-out grilles that most of these trucks have are just wimpy. Has been. But the black really makes things pop. However, there are glues that can probably make those tabs stay on the grille. I'll have to look, but Jim/ArdWrknTrk could tell us off the top of his head. So, if you decide to fix that one, let us know.

Ford went to plastic in '85 if I remember correctly, so you could probably get one from a salvage. I have. But, there are heater-only ones, Hi-Lo Vent/Air Conditioning ones, and High Output ones. I think. Anyway, well done! Trifocals? Must be time for cataract surgery. I sure like the results from mine.

I suspect your ignition module is the altitude-compensating one. So it may not be an EEC-III system, but an odd-ball EEC-II system. I'd trace out the wiring in the engine harness and see what you really have as it is remotely possible what you have will work with a DS-II blue-grommeted box. However, the oil pressure and coolant temp senders are in the wrong place on a Windsor to use the 300's harness, so at least they will have to be shortened or lengthened.

To help me get my head around what the "system" is that I'm working on, I created the block diagram below. The dashed lines indicate things that aren't always there. In other words, the EEC-V system will always be there, as will the Innovate wide-band AFR meter - until I move it to Dad's truck for tuning. But the Windows computer won't always be there. In fact, once the tuning is done and I'm happy with the way it runs then the it'll probably not be used again, unless I want to tweak something. However, not shown is the Arduino computer I plan to use to convert the later fuel level sending unit's output to match the Bullnose gauge's input. And, it turns out that there's plenty of ways to interface an Arduino to an OBD-II port. For instance, this guy has a kit and says the Arduino can get and display the following info: So, that might be a way to get the additional info I was planning on having the Arduino display - potentially in a display housed in a F600ish radio bezel. And, I could have switches in the switch openings for things like the air compressor, PTO input to the EEC to up the idle, parallel the batteries, etc.

Welcome to the forum! Where's home? I ask for two reasons. First, we have a member's map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and I'd be happy to add you if I had a city. Second, I know where a cassette/AM/FM radio is in a Bullnose truck in a salvage. I have no idea if it is any good and don't know what they'd want for it, but can ask. And, if you are close to me in Okiehoma that would make it easy. But not all trucks had a center speaker. In fact, I don't believe any of the stereo systems had a center speaker. On the clock, it is a plug and play - if you have the harness that was used with the clock. It plugs into the clock's pig tail and then it plugs into the dash harness. Did you get it?

Belts were LMC 48-2352-BL, $200 for a set. Of all the stuff I bought from them, this is the only item that I was disappointed with. The other thing about these was that the L-shaped mounting tab for the floor on the outside mounts was bent the wrong way. In my truck, the bolt hole is against the door pillar, so the tab where the belt mounts is toward the center of the truck. When they were mounted this way, there is a half-twist in the belt. It is not noticeable in use, but it doesn't match the original in that manner. That is certainly disappointing. Thanks for telling us.

You are on the map.

Ned - You are on the right track. That ignition module is not a DS-II unit, which would have a blue grommet and no cylinder sticking out the front. And your distributor probably doesn't have a vacuum advance - right? If that's true then you would need to replace the distributor, ignition module, and engine harness with DS-II units. I did that on a 351W and it was plug and play. But the harnesses aren't all that easy to find any more, although Painless has one. And, you might be able to find one at a salvage. On the other hand, the distributors and modules are not expensive. Another option is a one-wire distributor. Lots of cheap Chinese units available. Or you could go with Tim Meyer's Ready To Run (RTR) dizzy, which looks like a Ford unit but has the HEI module built in. But, unless you have emissions testing I'd not go with the EEC-III system. And, you might want to read this thread: http://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/351w-2bbl-to-4bbl-amp-intake-swap-td20103.html#a20174. Plus here's how he did the HEI conversion: http://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Goodbye-2-barrel-emissions-and-computer-tp27184p27295.html. However, as Jim/ArdWrknTrk said, you could use a DS-II box and put an HEI module in it. Stealth.

Big Blue's engine cross member has been sawz-all'd. It is toast and has to be replaced. So, while I'm doing that the guys have suggested that I replace the F250 teeth-jarring suspension with the F350's. Given that, if I can find a truck with everything it shouldn't be terribly expensive. Still have to find the cross member even if I can't find the front axle and suspension.

He will learn. And glad you got it sorted. By the way, have you seen that I'm looking for an '86 - '97 4wd F350 w/a 460 or diesel? I need the cross member, which only the 460/diesel trucks had, and would like the D60 front axle and suspension. Know of any wrecked ones or w/o an engine?

DNS can take quite a while to propagate. Clear your cache?

Well done! So do you have the final pump on Kris' truck?

Well done! But what brand were the seat belts? I want to steer clear of them. On the other hand, the hood release was perfect. Isn't it amazing how much better the truck is starting to feel? What's next? You're gonna mow it down.

I'm capturing this so Core Tuning can know what issues their customers may run into, as well as the work-around I found. I just tried to install Binary Editor. The first thing the documents say to do is to install Microsoft's .NET package but that was already on the shop computer. However, when I then tried to install BE I got this error message: So I tried installing Microsoft's 2007 Office System data connectivity components - to no avail because Microsoft said that I don't have any 2007 Office System applications on the PC. True, mine are all Office 365. So, with quite a bit of Googling and several other attemps I did find a writeup that explains that installing Microsoft's 2007 Access database engine should work as it doesn't look to see what applications you have loaded. That installed nicely and then Binary Editor installed. Having said that, I don't know that it will work with Office 365. But at least BE installed. Meanwhile I texted with Adam and have a 9:00 call with him set up on Monday. However, I won't have the dongle that is coming in the mail, and that's needed in order to make BE fully functional. So we may have to reschedule. We shall see. And, I now have a test harness, thanks to Bill and a bit of solder, heat shrink, tape, and convolute.

Makes sense. Thanks. But, it would be helpful if the Core Tuning web site or documentation, and preferably both, would explain that. I sent Clint, and cc'd Ben and Adam, an email this morning explaining who I am and what I'm doing - both using their kit to do Big Blue and Dad's truck as well as documenting it as I go. And I asked why there are two versions of the documentation on Binary Editor, both authored by Clint but 10 years apart, and why their web site only links to the old one. Further, why neither document says that Binary Editor supports the cable they just sold me. And, I gave them a link to this thread as well as the forum/web site. Perhaps from my experience they can understand what is missing in their documentation and upgrade it. And, I hope that by thoroughly documenting what I/we do on Big Blue, whomever comes behind can do it much more easily.

But when reading the Getting Started document on Binary Editor it says "Supports multiple hardware types ie Moates, TwEECer, EEC Tuner, Drew Technologies, ELM 327, ELM 320." There's no mention of "Pro Direct Flash Cable". What am I missing? Then in Section 2.2 of the document it says "plug in the hardware device". I'm assuming that is the Pro Direct Flash Cable - right? If so, again there's no mention of that cable in the 2.2.1 table, and therefore no URL from which to get the drivers. Am I looking at old documentation? What cable do you have? Update: While the file linked to above, Binary Editor Getting Started, is what is available via the Core Tuning web site, it is dated 12 Aug 2009 and is Revision A. However, by doing a Google search I found a file called Binary Editor Help that is dated April 1 2019 and is Revision 5.166. The latter file contains the 17 pages of the first file and adds 69 more pages! And both were written by Clint Garrity, the 3rd person in Core Tuning. I haven't, yet, fully read the larger of the two, but will do ASAP. Perhaps it answers some of my questions, but is sure to raise several more.......

Probably not. Most vacuum gauges also double as fuel pressure gauges, but only up to about 10 psi. Compression gauges are usually up to 200 psi. Vacuum gauges are cheap, so you should get one. But when you go poking around watch to see how much vacuum the "ported" connection has above idle. As said, David's has none at idle. But above idle it only gets to something like 13", in spite of the manifold vacuum going to around 20". So we wound up using manifold vacuum for his vacuum advance.

Bill - I'd like to pick your brain on various things about Core Tuning as what I read on their site is very confusing. For instance, I ordered the Direct Flash package as that's what Adam recommended. In fact, after reading further on their site I was concerned that it is the wrong package and called him back. But he checked what I'd ordered and assured me it is the right thing. The package includes: But when reading the Getting Started document on Binary Editor it says "Supports multiple hardware types ie Moates, TwEECer, EEC Tuner, Drew Technologies, ELM 327, ELM 320." There's no mention of "Pro Direct Flash Cable". What am I missing? Then in Section 2.2 of the document it says "plug in the hardware device". I'm assuming that is the Pro Direct Flash Cable - right? If so, again there's no mention of that cable in the 2.2.1 table, and therefore no URL from which to get the drivers. Am I looking at old documentation? What cable do you have?

Yes, sometimes these trucks are frustrating, to say the least. And wiring issues can be the worst. As for driving you to drinking, that reminds me of Commander Cody and the Hot Rod Lincoln, and part of the lyrics go: Anyway, you are now on the map.

Jim - I'm sure there are trucks sitting around here as well. But it is just finding them that is the issue. I'm hoping that posting on social media will do the trick - when I know exactly which trucks have the right cross member. However, the young man I sent the message to yesterday at lunch time hasn't read it yet, so maybe social media won't do the trick. We shall see.

I don't know about the dizzy gear for sure, but I think the issue comes with roller cams and the cams those distributors are for are flat-tappet. So, you should be fine using the gear that came on the dizzy. On the vacuum, I like ported vacuum. I could go into a long explanation, but let's just say that ported works much better in my experience. However, I don't know which port on your carb to use. Some of the YFA didn't have a port that had no vacuum at idle and full vacuum with the throttle opening. David's carb is that way. So you'll have to put a vacuum gauge on and figure out what you have.

If you put the engine in w/o the gear box won't it be sorta wobbly? Will you have to prop one end or the other up?

I was thinking that the solid Dana 60 first came in '86, but it wouldn't shock me if it actually started part way through '85. So yes, the last of the bullnose F-350s would have it. And "monobeam" is Ford-speak for a solid axle. Which in this range of years could only be a Dana 60. So it's what you are looking for. edit: I guess we were writing at the same time. And for what it's worth, "TTB" stands for "Twin Traction Beam", not "Twin Torsion Beam". The "Traction" describes it as the 4WD version of the older "Twin I Beam" 2WD front suspension. Ok, I got it! I think. Mono beam = single axle = D60. And 10/85 would be a 1986 truck, and it looks like that is the only Bullnose that will work for me. I talked with the folks at the local salvage today and when I finally figure out for sure what years have the right cross member they'll see what they can find in other salvages. Also, I talked with a friend at the local parts store, who is also a member on here - DeWayne/93F3507.3. He told me about another place close that used to be a salvage but closed up shop. He's pretty sure they'd have something like I'm looking for and gave me a suggestion on how to contact them. I've tried and we'll see if they get back with me. So thanks a bunch for helping me figure out what to look for.

Welcome! Where is home? We have a member's map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map on the menu) and I'd be happy to add you if you just give me a city. So, what is the therapy you are entertaining enjoying? Many of us may need to partake as well.

Now that you mention it, I think you did. Well, this one will be either the one I wire in for Big Blue or Dad's truck.