Gary Lewis

Several companies made aftermarket seating that was used on these trucks. But most had a unique base that the seats bolted to. Can you show us some pics of the base and how it bolts onto both the floor and the seat?

Wow! What a steal! Teamwork. Well done. 👍

Oh, PDC - got it. 👍 On the senders, keeping the NOS gauges is a must. As for the injectors, it looks like that will work. And the plenum may as well, although I haven’t figured out how it attaches - does it have a 4bbl flange?

I actually like the red on the gauges for these trucks, but the NOS gauges I have as well as most of the documentation I’ve seen says they were originally orange. I’ve shown several of my NOS gauges as well as three different paints here: Interior/Painting Gauge Needles.

Good plan. 👍 I keep one in the glove box and one in the shop.

As long as you leave the incandescent bulbs in for the exterior lights the LED’s inside for the indicators will work fine. But it takes a significant current load to make most flashers work, so if you replace the exterior bulbs with LED’s you’ll have to go to the electronic or HD flasher.

Wow! Pay dirt! I would think the porting job will be much easier without the bumps. You’ll remember the D8 small-block heads I ported, and those bumps were a huge pain. HUGE. Lots and lots of grinding, and I never really got them out completely for fear of hitting water. And then there was the question of what to do with the cross-drilled passages. But you won’t have to deal with any of that. 👍

Good info. Thanks! I could add a fitting to the Saginaw for Dad’s truck and re-powder coat it pretty easily. That would be cleaner than a tee as you point out, and that’s one of the goals for that truck. As for Big Blue, I think I should file that for when I run out of things to do. The list of possible projects seems to grow exponentially. And, as I’ve told others recently, when I look forward in time I keep seeing a pop up that says “Objects are closer than they appear”. 🙈

I’ve contacted Core Tuning, although it wasn’t Ben so I sent him an email to see about going down to OKC to talk to him. That’s because after perusing their website I’m even more confused and have lots of questions. And, to prove I don’t understand, let me outline my limited understanding and hope I will be corrected. Needed Parts: EEC-V module: Bill sent me a file that provides the details, but I think I remember that one from a 351W or 302 provides the right firing order. However, Core Tuning asked if I want knock sensors, which some modules support. Ignition: Core Tuning asked if I want a dizzy or coil-on-plug ignition. I’m thinking dizzy as a 460’s will drop right in and should plug into the harness. Harness: Bill said I’ll need to find a “1996/7 OBS truck with an EEC-V system for the front harness (which gives you the nice PDC I have) in order to get the OBD-II port and 104 pin EEC connector.” But I don’t know what a PDC is. 😳 Intake: Bill mentioned getting the upper plenum and throttle body off a 460. But how does that interface with a standard intake on the 400? Fuel Tank & Pump: Do I use the tanks and pumps from an EFI’d truck? If so, how do I get the fuel gauge to work? Can I put an EFI pump on an 85/86 sending unit? Injectors: Tim said the injectors he used on Dan’s engine just pushed down into the machined holes in the adapters, and the fuel rail pushed down over them, with standoffs supporting the ends of the fuel rails. But that doesn’t appear to be how the 460’s injectors are attached - from what I can see in pictures. So, how are the 460’s injectors attached? I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture - I need educated. 😬

Yep. Sure does. You posted while I was posting. 😉

You can get everything you need from the connector: Electrical/EVTM/1981 EVTM/Fuel Tank Selector and Gauges: Shows the wires where you can find what you need Electrical/EVTM/1981 EVTM/Instrument Illumination: Has the pin-out of the connectors

It is amazing what new parts and paint will do! It even relocated the brake caliper and shock absorber. 😈 Seriously though, it looks great. You are going to love the truck when done. 👍

Yes, well done! So, I should do hydroboost on Dad’s or Big Blue? I have a Saginaw for Dad’s, but didn’t use one with two output fittings. Does yours have two fittings?

But, won’t the connector in the harness be the smaller one? Meaning not the one that fits the tach circuit?

The FORD one is cool. Hmmmm.... 😜

Oh, ok. I actually have most of that stuff for Big Blue. 😉

Ken - Thanks for the info. That makes sense. 👍

That’s a well-documented truck. I got basically the same stuff with Big Blue, but no folder to put it in. So, I’m interested in the answer to this question. 😉

I don’t remember what engine you have, but if you have an 8 cylinder the tach is going to show the wrong RPM. That’s because there’s a terminal on the tach, called GND-8 on some of the tachs, that needs to be grounded to tell the tach to expect 8 pulses/rev. Otherwise it counts 6/rev. You can read about it here: Electrical/Tachs (http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/tachometers.html)

Pete - The gauges look great! 👍 On the wiring, it should be plug and play as the wiring should be in the harness. The only issue might be if your harness was from a six cylinder as the 8's have angeound wire that tells the tach to count differently.

Yes! Some will have to be reversed.

I did that as well on Dad’s truck and it really did help.

I think the 1985 EFI system was the same as the 1986 system. The 1986 EGR electrical connections are shown in Section 9 of the 1986 EVTM here: Electrical/1986 EVTM/Electronic Engine Control. And, at the bottom of that section there is an explanation of how the system works. But, you probably need to pull the codes on the system before troubleshooting to find out what the computer thinks the problem is. Unfortunately I don’t have a how-to for that on my site yet, but maybe one of the others knows where one is?

Bummer! Are those brass?

David - Glad you got it going. But I don’t know what that valve does. Some online suggest it keeps the accelerator pump from working Whalen vacuum is supplied, but I haven’t found a definitive answer. Perhaps Bill/1985LebaronT2 knows?