Gary Lewis

Jonathan - You don't believe the Axle Ratios page? The one with info from Ford's Master Parts Catalog? You'd rather put your faith in some random post on the "other" forum? (Where's the ROTFL emoticon?) Kristopher - Yes, go find a 4wd ZF5 for the small-block bolt pattern, meaning from a 300 six, 302, or 351W. And any of the transfer cases will work as the transfer case bolt pattern is one of the few things Ford kept standard. So you can repair the one you have and it'll work with the new tranny. Also, you'll need to get the shift lever for the ZF as well as the floor cover as the ZF is much taller and won't fit under the cover you have. But the floor pans stayed the same until the mid 90's so one off of a later truck will work. And, the ZF is rugged but many of the older ones are well and truly worn. So you may have to have one rebuilt and that takes special tools and has a price tag to it. I paid $500 for mine several years ago and put another $1000 in parts and labor in it.

Here are some shots from Big Blue, which originally had a headliner but it was so gross I took it out.

You, sir, are correct. Here's the catalog entry for the EEC-III computer. And, I added the bit about the Lariat coming out in '85 to the FAQ's page.

Ok, got it. But watch those fingers! As for what I did today to or with my truck today. But, I got this link in from Tim and I've cranked up the sound on the shop computer a few times.

Ok, I added that the 4.9L got the feedback carb in '84, fixed the TFI to be thick, and added the A to the 2150. Right? Is that all ya got?

Good point - I forgot that it was repainted all maroon. But they didn't paint the door jambs. There wasn't any tape in the jambs, but you are probably asking about outside where the two colors met just below the nameplate in this picture. You might be able to find it in the tape stripe info on page Specifications/Tape Stripe Codes/F-Series Tape Stripe Codes. Those images aren't the best, so if you see you that you need cleared up I may be able to do a better job getting it out of the catalog.

Dad's had a candy apple red roof on a maroon base from the factory. You can see a pic of it on this page: About Me/Trucks I Have Known/Dad's Truck - Overview.

So, since the format is what changed when, I should say that the feedback carb was introduced on the 4.9L in '84 on the 49-states version?

What years?

2 stickies - that'll work. Thanks. As for things on my plate, I can't even find the plate!

I added a number of front suspension illustrations a couple of days ago, and then finished out today by adding the bushing info Jim wanted: Suspension & Steering/Front Suspension. I know it isn't nearly complete, but it turns out to be a ginormous task to add all of the part numbers due to the number of tables involved - see the discussion here in WHYDTYTT? In fact, I think I'll add that verbiage to that page to 'splain why all of the part numbers aren't there. Plus, I upgraded the Bullnose FAQ's page thanks to some input from Rick/Fonzie. I'd appreciate your review and further upgrade of that info as well. And today I added a page on ignition modules: Electrical/Ignition Modules. It shows which module (grommet color) was used with which truck.

Thanks, Rick. Please see if you agree with the changes I made: Bullnose FAQ's. Also, because of your meddling/upgrade () I added a page: Electrical/Ignition Modules. I wanted to see if I could figure out the EEC-III and EEC-IV system introduction dates, but didn't really do so.

David - Thanks! I knew that you'd have better info than I do. Ok, you said the ideal rear axle ratio with your .71:1 OD would be 3.25, so you are saying the ideal effective ratio would be .71 x 3.25 = 2.31:1. So, the ZF5's .76 OD ratio x 3.08 axle ratio = 2.34:1 and that, too, would be essentially ideal - for your driving style?

Yes, I did. Was looking at the pic to see if it was an auto or manual tranny, and couldn't find a shift lever on the column. So, looked at the floor and decided it was an auto.

I don't see a signature that tells me anything about your truck, but an 18 had either 3.00 or 3.08 gears. I would put both rear wheels on jack stands so neither touches and turn the driveshaft 10.0 turns, counting the rear wheel rotations. That will tell you for sure, but the ratio has probably not been changed. But, assuming the 3.0 is correct, with the ZF's .76 OD you'd only be turning about 1600 RPM at 65 MPH. Let's see what David/1986F150six says his RPM is at 65 MPH. Perhaps the six will pull that.

Jim - See if this page answers your questions: Suspension & Steering/Front Suspension. Note that I don't have much on the Parts # tab. Turns out that is a very complex issue as most of the info requires you to find your parts list number for your specific axle out of a 7-page table that starts like the one shown below. Note that I've highlighted axle E0TA-EF, and that it has parts list number 30.3B. Then, and only then, you can turn to the parts lists that look like the one below, where you go to Parts List # 30.3 and then down Column B, for 30.3B. But those tables go on for 54 pages for the Dana 44 axles alone, and then there are the other axles. Each range of codes, like A thru M, takes up about 6 pages, and there must be 8 ranges for the 54 pages. So posting that info is going to take some time, and I'm not sure of the need for it. Thoughts?

Thanks. Yes, staggering the trucks also gives room to take pics, and I hadn't thought of that. Good point. I understand the hopes and plans of bringing a truck to a show. I had planned to take Dad's to the show in my/its home town this year. But, there's always next year. And, while I may have your attention, I've been planning on using the 3x3" self-stick pads, like Post-It Notes, to write the registration number on for the truck so people will know what # to write down for the voting. But, will that give the people enough room to write anything else they want the people to know about their truck? Or, will they come with info boards already? Or should I supply something? I'm a newbie at this!

If you have the certification label on the driver's door post you can decode it on the page in the menu of Specifications/Certification Label. At the bottom right of the one on that page you'll see "38", and if you click on that it'll take you to the page in the menu of Specifications/Axle Ratios where you can decode the axle number from your certification label and/or decode the tag that may be on the axles. The reason you want to know that is the OD ratio of the ZF is .76:1. And the AOD's OD ratio is .67:1. So, if you have the ubiquitous 3.50 or 3.55 axles then the ZF5 would give you the equivalent of 2.66:1. That worked well on Dad's truck with a warmed-up 351M, dropping the RPM at 65 MPH to about 1800, and it pulled any hill we saw at 65 MPH on the highway on cruise. And that should work well on a 300 six as that's close to its peak torque. But, if you have 3.0 axles, which are uncommon - especially in 4wd trucks - your effective ratio would be 2.28 with the ZF and 2.01 with an AOD. That's too high and very few engines would like that.

One popular upgrade on these trucks is to go to a tranny with an OD, as you mentioned. That drops the RPM and the noise, and makes a world of difference. But, these trucks were made when overdrive transmissions were just coming in, so the pickings from this era of trucks is slim, and not too good. In fact, none of the OD transmissions from this era none were really strong enough to tow very much in stock form. But not long afterwards Ford came out with the ZF5 manual and it is stout, a serious truck transmission. I discuss the one that was intended for Dad's truck here: http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/transmission.html. But, since you have the small-block bolt pattern on the 300 six you won't have any problems mating a ZF5 to your engine. And the transfer case will bolt right to the back of it - but you have to find a 4wd version. If you want to go with an auto you have two choices - the AOD or the E4OD. The AOD was originally not very strong, but can be built with aftermarket parts into something that has plenty of strength. And the E4OD had some early problems but later versions from the factory were quite strong. However, it takes an outboard computer/controller and you are looking at $800 in addition to the price of the tranny. I'd recommend the ZF5. First gear is a granny gear and you can move mountains w/o going into 4lo. And the 5th gear is a good OD ratio that will drop your noise and RPM down dramatically. But, what rear gears do you have now?

Ok, more HELP is needed on the show planning. Here's a possible layout for the "paddock". I've drawn in where I think the trucks will go, with the point of the arrows being the front of the trucks. I think I like the alternating style on the right so the bumpers can actually be into the stall in front of them. That way people can easily walk between the front of the trucks to see the engines. And, that leaves more room for the tailgates to be down and we could leave the swap meet stuff in the beds if we wanted to. But, if someone is bringing so much stuff that it won't easily be seen in the bed, then we could put up some of the church tables beside the truck to hold the overflow. By using every other stall, but using the lines to keep some order, that gives room between the trucks to open the doors, walk around them to view them, etc. And, it still gives us room for 47 trucks as shown, and we could surely squeeze a few more in. I doubt we will have that many, but at least we have some room. Oh, and Big Blue is shown where he is as that is the furthest south that I captured in the picture. But in reality he will be closer to the street in order to block the driveway as we don't want people driving in there. The entrance will be in the upper left of the picture, as shown, and registration will be there as well. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Right on both counts.

Christian - Does your truck have the certification label, as shown here? http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/certification-label.html. And you can see the paint codes here: http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/exterior-paint-codes.html.

Thanks, Jonathan. I haven't, yet, marked prices but I have declared the non-working things, like the air impact and the alternator. And I keep finding things.....

Thank you for the invitation. And let me do the same. In fact, please come here on Sept 15th, 2018. That's what I'm billing as the "International Ford Truck Show & Swap Meet". This year's show/meet/get-together is this weekend here in Skiatook, OK, and several on this forum are headed this way from as far as California on the west to Alabama on the east. But I already have folks from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Poland saying they are coming next year, so why not Mexico? 😉

You are right, that thing is clean I don't see any rust or dents. And it is a York or Techumseh compressor, so it probably has factory A/C. Nice wheels as well.