Gary Lewis

I think you've found it.

Well done! Man, that old 'gate looks bad! I forgot where you are - in the rust belt. The buckle thereof? But it seems like you'll be able to meld the two gates to make one that does everything right. Makes the detour well worth it.

Or, know of one for sale? I'm thinking Mr Find It (David) might find it for you.

Looking forward to the pics. Hope it all goes together easily.

Ok, time for some before and after pics. Below are the step bracket pairs, with the rear brackets on the left and the front brackets on the right. And you can see how the original brackets are made of one piece of metal that has been folded and welded. I've added a second side plate and a piece of angle. The original brackets just bolted to the 3" square tubing, which is attached to the frame, by one bolt through the hole in the top. But that allowed the top plate to bend when the step bar was pulled outward by Mike's winch. The additional side plate gives it more strength. But the piece of angle that goes between the two sides has a hole in it and it also now bolts into the bottom of the 3" square tubing, preventing the bracket from pivoting on the top bolt. Saying it another way, previously the top plate could bend with outward or upward force on the step bar. The addition of the second side plate added strength to the top plate by boxing it in. But adding the piece of angle means that to move the bracket outward or upward now you'll have to shear a 1/2" G8 bolt - in addition to bending the top plate. And these shots show how the bracket bolts through the top, on the left, and the bottom through the new angle.

Remember this is a straight six not the old mighty v8 Don't think I am going to get any deep sound from it Dave ---- The 300 has roughly the same bore and stroke as the 400. So should have a nice, deep sound with the right muff.

Pretty. As you know, those were used in 1980 & '81.

There's a can in the way! But did it change the sheen a lot?

Pictures - of what was painted, not the can - or it didn't happen.

Ok. Still no experience with that carb. However, it is a Holley and rich conditions are normal with a blown power valve. That will do about the same as too much fuel pressure. And Holley's are supposed to handle more than 6 psi. It is Edelbrocks or Carters that don't like that much pressure.

I've used two of those regulators with no problems. One was on Dad's truck when I had Rusty's engine in it, and it was feeding an Edelbrock 1406. And I'm currently running one on Big Blue, but it is in series with with a return-style regulator in front of it as I'm running EFI pumps and need to drop the pressure down a bunch for an Eddy carb. No experience with the Holley 2500. But, too much fuel pressure doesn't usually give a high idle. In fact, just the opposite. Usually a high idle is due to a vacuum leak.

I've not had a bad torque converter so I really can't help. But I wouldn't think a bad torque converter would make the fluid smell burned. That's typically due to the clutches slipping, causing serious heat and the burned smell.

I like Magnaflow mufflers. Deep but not too loud if you go with the longer ones.

I guess the heads "came together", but it sounds like the block is "coming apart". Whatever, it is all PROGRESS!

Yes 10 to 72 ohms.

Well, I did get some scanning work done - about 600 pages thereof. But today I got back to metalworking, although with a glove on at all times. With the Bandaid over the end of the finger and leather gloves on the finger was fairly well protected. And I got the LF step bar bracket done and trial fitted. The left side is much more solid than the right side. No pics yet as there's a bit more to do on the left, and then both right-side brackets to do. Then blast and powder coat all of them. Progress!!!!

There are two kinds: Covers: These are thin plastic and go over the existing pad. The Coverlay one I bought about a year for about $200 is better than those I've been around before as it covers better. But even the old ones did a good job. For anything short of a full-on restoration I think they are fine. Replacement Pads: These are complete replacements for the old pad and are really nice. I'll put one on Dad's truck when the time comes. Last I saw they were approaching $500.

Agree. That looks very suspicious.

You are now on the map. And that is beautiful country. Went through South Fork on the way from Durango to Estes Park last year. Had gone to Ouray and rented a Jeep one day while there. This year my brother and I took Big Blue to Ouray, but went the northern route through Gunnison.

Welcome! Glad you joined. You have a familiar problem - figuring out which Bullnose on which to work. So, post some pics? And, where's home? I ask because we have map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and we can add you if we know the city or a zip.

Wonder what the stripe is on the front of the bed. And it has two fuel fillers. Did short-beds come with two?

Sounds like a plan, Stan. You might show him some of the other pages. Maybe that will persuade him to have his truck & his place immortalized. And we don't need to tell where it is if he doesn't want to be "on the radar". As for joining, tell him I'm 74 and we have older people on here. It isn't to late.

He sounds like a character! See if you can get him to join. He'd be a hoot to talk to. And, I'd like to document his '82. In other words, put up a page with dozens of pictures of it as well as of him in the Documentation/Picture Gallery section. Show him the 1983 XLS Survivor. Or the 1981 F100 With 318 Miles. And maybe a page on his museum? Are you a good photographer? If not, do you know one? I'm serious, the truck and the museum need to be documented.