Gary Lewis

I'll bet it will work out very nicely. You'll be proud.

I get right at 1/2 that 21.5 MPG out of Big Blue w/o a load on him, and put that trailer on and it is more like 9 MPG, again about 1/2. In other words, that 6.9L is doing a superb job! WOW!

Mostly what I did was website-related, but I did a bit of measuring on Big Blue. And I found that Big Blue's Lift Height (LH), the height of the rear of the bed above the ground, is supposed to be 36.04" when unloaded. However, with the large tool box on the front of the bed loaded and the large spare tire in the bed the measurement was 36.25". Part of the problem seems to be the springs. According to the 1984 specifications the rear should have 5 leafs and be 2.01" thick at the pad. Instead they have 7 leafs and they measure 2.625". I've been saying I need to remove some leafs, but I'm even more convinced that I'll be doing that next year.

I also added a page on dimensions and weights (Specifications/Dimensions and Weights). This was in order to try to answer the multiple questions about ride height.

Jan - I can't find an easy answer to your question. But, one can be derived, sort of. On the Alignment page you will find a range of ride heights and how/where to measure them. Note that you are supposed to have the truck on level ground and you must measure the angle of the frame with the ground at a spot just ahead of the rear wheels, as shown on Page 6. And, on the Dimensions and Weights page you will find the Lift Heights of the trucks. You can measure your LH at the rear of the bed and compare that with the table. And if you have a deviation then you need to consider why.

I've added two Technical Service Bulletins to the website today: Brake Ride Height Proportioning Valve Brake Noise The first one discusses the rear proportioning valve and issues that can occur with changes to the suspension, but it may not help you, Jan. There's another, earlier, TSB that deals with that valve, but I can't find it. And, I added a portion of the section from the 1985 factory shop manual that deals with alignment. It includes the alignment specs: Suspension & Steering/Alignment.

I'm going with a 1990's F450 master cylinder, which is one of the plastic units with an aluminum cylinder, to replace the cast unit on Big Blue when I do the hydroboost upgrade. Anyway, I've added two Technical Service Bulletins to the website today: Brake Ride Height Proportioning Valve Brake Noise The first one discusses the rear proportioning valve and issues that can occur with changes to the suspension, but it may not help you, Jan.

18 MPG towing? Wow! That's great! And, 85 MPH is "moving on", especially at only 2500 RPM.

How long do you have to store it before you can use it? I'm sure that varies by the type of wood though.

That '88 is nice, but I'm not fond of that styling. So that makes the price way too high for me.

Assuming it isn't badly rusted, like many things "up there", it would be a good starting point.

Without a title you need to add maybe $150 - 200 to go through that process. And w/o pics I don't know how many could get interested. So, the price may come down.

That's not a good situation, and is very unlike the situation I have on Big Blue. I wonder if someone has "worked on" the ride height sensing valve at the rear. I've found a couple of TSB's on it and will put them on the website and let you know when they are on.

It is a nice truck, but the price seems a bit high. Still, for a clean truck.....

Refresh me - what are the plans for the engine? Stock? More compression? I remember the days of working in a single-car garage, but not half of one. That's gotta be tight!

Jan - It looks like you have the truck working! And I'll bet that Sidewinder turbo really helps that diesel. Cool!

Pete - It looks like they were used 1978 - 88. As you can see below, the illustration says the "bucket", as opposed to the captain's chair, was used from 1980 through 88. But, as you'll see, the prefix for the part numbers for 61694 range from D8 to E4, and the difference was the color. For instance, D8ZZ 6961694-F was black, and it was used up through '83. And D9ZZ-B was Sand and it was used in '80 and surely '79, although my catalog doesn't go back that far. I don't have any, but thought this info might help you find some.

Nor did I. It is an E6TZ prefix, so came out in '86. I don't have an '86 accessories catalog. In fact, the only one I do have is the '81, and it doesn't include that step. Perhaps the '86 dealer's fact book does.

I've found pages in the 1985 factory shop manual similar, if not the same, as what Steve83 has linked to. And having studied them a bit I find that in that manual there is no set "ride height". Instead there is a range of ride heights and associated camber and caster angles for each of those angles. Tomorrow I'll look in other books to see if there is a recommended ride height. And, I'll try to figure out how to put the pages with the info on the website.

Today I added info on how to properly adjust the brake master cylinder push rod to the Brakes page (Driveline/Brakes). Go to the Master Cyl's & Boosters tab and then the Push Rod Adjustment tab.

I've added the info to the Brakes page (Driveline/Brakes). Go to the Master Cyl's & Boosters tab and then the Push Rod Adjustment tab. Hope that helps.

That fits 83-on R's, 84-on B's, 80-on F's and U's, and 88-on Superduties.

Dave - I thought I'd replied to this, but apparently haven't. Anyway, glad you found the leaks now. Otherwise you could have had serious on the road that could have been expensive. Not cheap now, but more so than later. Bill - Good catch. I'm debating what to do for Dad's truck as I put it back together. The bearings look good, but I'm wondering if I should replace them anyway. However, I will have the rotors turned.

No disappointment on my part. I think the truck will ride better on the rubber bushings. I've wondered about using them on Big Blue since he rides so poorly, but I think the real problem is the rear springs. Anyway, you have a lot of work to do! Have fun, but I'm sure it will be.

Welcome! Most, if not all, of these trucks are a work in progress. Some of us, like me, move at a snail’s pace and others are really fast. But it is rare to be “done”. However, take it easy on the “old” bit. I’m 71 and there’s at least on other that is older than I. 😉