Gary Lewis

Yep, that's the only way it'll ever happen - access. I'll have to cut a panel out of the bad tailgate I have and then cut a smaller hole in Big Blue's 'gate. The panel will overlap the hole and be held in with fasteners of some kind. The handle/mechanism mounts to the front edge of the tailgates with three bolts, so it seems to make sense to cut out the part with the three bolt holes and install the handle with the lock connected to it to the panel. Then connect the rods to the handle and install the panel to the tailgate. Of course, that assumes there is enough room in there to get accept the lock, and that will take some measuring. But, maybe?

Here's my instrumentation. The gauge on the left is an air/fuel ratio meter. The one in the middle is a vacuum gauge, and on the right is a voltmeter for the aux battery, an oil pressure gauge, and a coolant temp gauge. And this is Mission Control. That's a medium-duty radio bezel, like from an F450, and Carling switches.

I agree that a hydraulic clutch swap is pretty easy. But I'd want to reinforce the firewall if I did it, although the small plate would be enough. Big Blue had the T-19 when I got him, and I've had other trucks with the NP435, and I'm here to tell you that I don't like a tranny w/o an overdrive. I highly recommend an OD.. However, the ZF5 is a truck transmission. I don't know that I'd like it in a lighter truck than my F250. Yes, I had it in Dad's F150 and it worked fine, but it was old and needed rebuilding, so the syncros were shot. So I had it rebuilt and put it in Big Blue, and it is still a truck transmission and is slow to shift. If you try to hurry it you are going to hurt something, and they aren't cheap to rebuild. I don't know for sure how an M5OD-R2 shifts, but what little I've heard is that it is a smooth tranny. And I believe they are up to pulling a small trailer. Plus, they may be less expensive to have rebuilt than a ZF5, which cost me $1000 several years ago.

It might well push $25K the way prices are going right now.

Yeah, I think the smoke really got out this time. But Bill/85lebaront2 has a jar of it, maybe you can put some back in?

Bruce - I responded to your post in the other thread. I think that might actually be the lock actuator that I have. Thanks.

No problem, Bruce. You were trying to help. The one you linked to looks a lot like the one I have. In fact, it may be the same one. Now to see if I can use it.

Bruce - The Jegs link works for me, but not the Summit. Still, that will give Cory a good idea. Thanks. And thanks on the compliment. Just figured out what I have in it, and it should look good.

Bruce - That link doesn't work. But since that might be a really good option, can you find another link?

I'm sorry, but the email I just sent you asked you to "go to the New Members Start Here folder where we ask you to start a new thread/topic in that folder about yourself and your truck." So before we discuss your question please do as asked. Why? Because that is where we keep the guidelines, and we hold everyone to them so we want to ensure that you've had a chance to read them. Plus, we are a community and we appreciate people introducing themselves so we can get to know you. Once you've done that we'll see if we can answer your questions.

Cory - I just checked and neither of those make covers with tracks. Melissa at Truxedo said they used to make them, but don't any more. Just chatted with RHR Swag, who said that the Pace Edwards Jackrabbit is the only cover with tracks that will fit my truck. That there is no other brand nor any other Pace Edwards cover that will fit. Strange since Tony @ Pace Edwards told me yesterday that they have several models to fit my truck, including the Jackrabbit and the Bed Locker. And I just called Thule. Turns out that some of the info Tony @ Pace Edwards gave me yesterday may be out of date as he said Thule makes the TH1069 rack for them. But Thule said they've discontinued that and now I want Kit 3101 plus the Rapid Podium Footpack 460R and their ProBar. That combo fits the Pace Edwards and is rated at 165 lbs dynamic, but they don't rate on or offroad. It is worst case. Their tents weigh ~130 lbs and the racks weigh 10 lbs, so you have ~25 lbs to play with for your bedding, etc. This combo is rated at 600 lbs of static weight, meaning when the vehicle is standing still, so you have plenty of capacity for people.

Love this truck (And I love rescue stories too!). The wheels and tires look great, and she sits up nice on the suspension too, perfect! Here's a picture of what I did with my window felts. I used little pieces of sheet metal as washers. I drilled the 1/8" holes in the sheet metal first obviously, and then cut them out in little squares. Worked great. Cory - That's a good idea. Probably have more surface area than the washers I used.

I have Odyssey Extremes in Big Blue. A 31M PC2150 for the starting battery & 34M-PC1500 for the aux battery.

Jim - Thanks, that makes sense. I know a WCFB is a Will Carter Four Barrel and an AFB is an Aluminum Four Barrel, so I should have twigged to what the A means in YFA. (Now I wonder what the YF means. )

If you figure out what is the right code please let me know so I can update the spreadsheet.

Good job! Glad you got it going. As for a replacement, several on here have had good luck with a replacement carb described here: New/Repro YF carburetor for the 300 six. But that is a YF and not a YFA, which should be what you have, and the main difference I believe is the feedback bit. However, they may have a YFA, so you should browse that thread and follow the links.

Well done! It is really looking good. With some cleaning and buffing it is going to shine. EDIT: On the window felts, I've tried to staple them in and wound up breaking the door panel. Now I pop rivet them in and use washers to spread the load on the backside.

Jim - I did miss "rivet". Bill - You are right that the tailgate is removable, so will need a connector. But while a cover for the handle would work, I don't think it would look good on the outside. And while secure storage inside would work I was hoping for just being able to drop our suitcases in and not have to worry about them. I did get a note back from Pop&Lock this morning and they have nothing for our trucks. No locks of any kind. So it is going to take some innovation. One approach would be a barrel bolt on each corner of the inside of the gate with the bolt going into the bed itself. That would work, but would be fiddly to lock as you'd have to open the cover, lock them, then close the cover. Having said that, I so rarely open the gate that I could leave them locked the vast majority of the time. The more involved idea is to adapt an electric lock meant for an 87 or later truck. I have an old tailgate I don't mind cutting up as it looks like someone put a giant bowling ball in the bed and took off rapidly, bowing the thing badly. So I could cut a patch panel out of it to use on BB, and could section it so I could see how to get the lock in there. Here are shots of the mechanism, closed on the left and open on the right. You can see how pulling out on the handle has pushed down on the arm. (It is hard to tell the handle has been pulled "out", but it has.) So what I'm thinking is something like this. With the arm of the electric lock out to the left under that pin the handle can't come up/out. It looks like there is enough room in the gate to house the motor, but I won't be able to tell w/o sectioning the gate that I have.

Clifton - Does this help? Any other views or measurements?

That's a great buy, Cory! Well done.

That is CRAZY!!! Yes, there is "buying locally" and then there is "needless expenditure".

Gary, you called it on March 1st! Mar 01, 2021; 6:19pmRe: 1k-Mile 1978 Ford F-150 Ranger 4×4 On BaT Gary Lewis Administrator 24182 posts That's a really nice truck! It is going to go for a bunch! David - $95K is a bunch more than the "bunch" I was thinking of.

Here's what they are talking about. This is from our page at Documentation/Emissions/Thermactor Systems.

I'm no body man, but I agree it is looking good. I think a pro will be able to smooth it nicely. Well done!

Yes, it is good to hear from you, Matthew! And tell your grandmother hello from me, please. I understand about being behind on projects, so sympathize with your brother's friend as well as your brother. But having your own shop is by far the way to go. As for the robotics and kids, I agree with Jim - they are fortunate to have such a caring mentor. Good luck!