Gary Lewis

LET THE BUYER BEWARE! No part numbers that I see, so I can't check what Bullnose trucks they fit. However, those aren't "radiator supports", even though the listing says they are. In actuality they are: Support (radiator grille) Note that there is a different part for the 1983 - 86 trucks on the left hand side than for the 1980 - 82 trucks: BRACE (HOOD LATCH SUPPORT) 16864: Two different parts, one for the gas engines and standard cooling, and one for those with extra cooling or with a diesel. Bottom Line: No way to know what those parts fit. If someone is interested ask the seller to give you the ID # that is on the part and I can cross ref to the part number.

But, you do have to change fittings IIRC.

I used a Holley 12-881 as shown here on Summit.

I think I have the vapor separator I took off Big Blue. I replaced it with a return-style pressure regulator, and that worked quite well, so should be an option for you. But if you'd like to have the spare vapor separator it is yours for the shipping - assuming I still have it.

When the kids were little, we drove around Idaho looking for land. No motel? No problem. Leave the 7.3 idling and doze off in a rest stop. So much room in there. But now that our boys are tall men, the back seat in a crew cab SD is actually bigger. The girls fit in either.... I parked the two side by side last night and gazed upon them. The art of achieving it would lie in custom hood and fenders. A wider Bully grill could be 3D printed. Our printer right now isn't that big ! Interesting concept, but it would be a lot of work. And "custom" work as you said. But I'll follow along if you do it.

Wow! That really is a LOT of work! And good work at that. Your ability to weld is amazing. And your "can do" attitude is serving you well. Glad you repaired the wiring correctly. And the mounting bracket is ingenious. As for the t-case linkage, it looks like you have the later linkage that comes through the floor. But you can adapt the Bullnose linkage to that t-case and bring the linkage through the transmission floor cover. And the load of stuff in the bed is a huge windfall. However, I'm not sure what the use of the cutoff crossmember is. And are you installing the captain's chairs? Anyway, that is a whole lot of progress, and progress is good.

Looks neat. You do good work. You are installing seat heaters in the stock bench seat? How much current do they pull?

No, I haven't seen one of those. But they are interesting. Would sure be handy - if I didn't have a cover. Please let us know if you get it and what you think.

Thanks, Cory. I'm going to do some more sleuthing to see if I can figure out what the kicker is supposed to do for every engine.

They have this van horn pad: https://www.ebay.com/itm/304279743243?hash=item46d87c6b0b:g:KIwAAOSwMbZgwmV3 Looks nice. Shame it doesn't have the speed control switches.

It would work there, but is shown on the front bumper.

Interesting. But why do they say "1980 - 83"? Maybe they were made in '83 and the manufacturer didn't know what the '84 and later trucks would be like?

Interesting! I've never seen one of those. I assume it is for those of us that don't have to have a front license tag - right?

The gauges look great! Well, all save the voltmeter. And the throttle obviously works. Engine sounds sweet. Can't wait to see the incremental updates.

Cool!

Nice! And cheap!

Interesting that there are reproductions of those things. I'd not have thought that there would be enough demand to warrant it. But I'm glad there are. Maybe they'll be making more things?

I'll bet he doesn't have very many more questions for a while.

That may help me! Big Blue’s temp control acts the same way - thunks when going cold, but not hot. In fact, going towards hot it seems to stop prematurely. And the heat output has been less than spectacular. So I’ll check that adjustment out. Thanks!

Yes, I'm not into that either. Makes me cringe thinking about what my grandkids might do.

Sorry that I'm late to the party - our kids have been here. But this thread's been moved to the main section. As for the throttle kicker, Big Blue doesn't have one either and, according to the 1985 EVTM, have when new as they were used on the 5.8L only. It is interesting how things changed from year to year. Cory - What does the '84 EVTM say about what the thing does? I ask because there are several different kinds, some with just electrical power and some with vacuum as well.

I should have stated that with the ZF5 conversion we added a solid flywheel and new clutch. It's a chinese brand from RockAuto but works fine. And the family is well trained not to slip clutches. All the kids and wife learned to drive in yurrup on manual tranny diesels. However it follows logically that as a clutch disk wears, the pedal will get lower. We also have a LUK in a Bricky and it chatters a bit. So for the last Bricky ZF5 conversion, we went with a Sachs clutch and it seems superior to the LUK. FYI I have a Luk in Big Blue and it does exactly what you said - chatters a bit. Will try a Sachs next time then. Thanks for the tip.

Bill - Yes, thanks. That may help others. Scott - On the center belts on the captain's chairs, are the mounting points on the chair's base? Or in the floor pan? I'll have to check the adapter pan that I have to see if it has mounting points for those belts if they aren't on the chair itself.

First, you are now on the map. Second, you can confirm the brakes from our page at Documentation/Driveline/Brakes. But I do think 2wd and 4wd take the same parts, although I'm not sure of that. And you are wise to use ethanol-free gas when you can.

Welcome! Nice truck. Should be a good project. Good plan on the tranny, which should be a C6 as Ford didn't put the AOD behind the 351W. And soaking the cylinders is good as well. I think an '84 will still have rubber fuel lines, so check them over. The rubber used then doesn't like ethanol and the lines go bad and leak, which kills the ability to pump fuel some times. And don't miss that there are hoses from the tank to the hard lines. Where's home? I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and we can add you with a city/state or a zip.