Gary Lewis

Excellent! Prayers are being answered.

Vikek - Yes, the shop manuals and the parts catalog show the snap ring. I think those three screw holes are where the turn signal mechanism mounts. But, speaking of the shop manual, it says there's a flat on the shaft such that you can only mount the steering wheel in one position. But I have two shafts easily inspected and both have no flat spots in the serrations. So the wheel can go on any way you want. And the lower bearing does have three screws holding it in. Mat - Yes, you were right. But it isn't broken, just out of place. However, I am now wondering if it is the wrong snap ring and is too large to catch in the groove. We shall see in the morning.

So the snap ring has slid on the shaft, out of its groove? Yes. If you look closely that groove is shallow and tapered, apparently intended to allow the snap ring to come out under pressure. I can't say that I understand why, but if you look closely there's a snap ring on the other side of the bearing that sits in a tight groove. So the shallow groove was on purpose. Also, although Vivek posted a pic of a cover of some kind with three screws that held that bearing in, the Bullnose trucks don't have that cover. Instead it is held in with that snap ring, and you can see that in the illustrations shown on our page at Documentation/Interior/Steering Columns.

Here's the 1987 to at least 1989 F-Series exhaust system for the 300 six. The parts list pages on the site include these parts.

Paul - Go to our page on Documentation/Exhaust Systems and look at the Illustrations and then the 300 Six tabs. Find the base/group part number of the hanger you are looking for, then go to the Part Numbers tab and look that one up to get the whole part number.

I would think that an ATV would be quite handy where you are, and one with a plow even more so.

Progress! And having the bed off is by far the easiest way to make progress behind the cab.

Bob - I've been thinking about creating a list of tools and supplies I'm bringing, and to me the easiest way to do that is to create a Word document and embed it in a post. That's because then I can edit it and it'll show the edits next time anyone visits that post. I know some people don't like that, but this is essentially our thread, so is that ok with you? If so, I propose to put it in my first post in the thread since that will be the easiest to find. Does that work for you? Or would it be better to put it here in this discussion? As you'll see, I bring a LOT of tools and supplies. And since Janey & I won't have a motorhome with us it'll all be coming on the trail. That includes a DVM, a whole bunch of hand tools, a spare ECU, belts, recovery equipment, a hilift & a bottle jack, wood to jack against, the deflators you mentioned, and even an awning and chairs in case we need to get in the shade. So we could compare notes and make sure we have the waterfront covered. Does that work for you?

Well, two steps forward and one backward is still progress, right? The first step forward was that I got the lower/inner steering shaft back in the column, got the lower bearing on, and the Borgeson shaft on. And there is NO slack between the top u-joint of the Borgeson shaft and the lower bearing on the steering column, so there will be no movement nor noise there. The step backwards was that there was still up/down movement in the steering wheel of maybe 1/8". So I took the wheel off and found that I could move the shaft up and down at least 1/4" by hand. Given that I pulled the turn signal switch out and found the situation shown on the left, below, with the snap ring 1/4" up the shaft. The 2nd step forward is that I pulled the bearing and took the pic on the right - there is a groove for the snap ring. And the bearing is in excellent condition! So tomorrow I hope to re-install the bearing, snap ring, turn signal switch, and steering wheel.

I've used Energy Suspension bushings and mounts and like them - in black. Big Blue came with several of them in red and I really, really didn't like that.

Thanks Jim, from what I've found I have to remove the brackets, but I'll keep searchin'. Lookin' at purchasing these: https://www.energysuspensionparts.com/4.7109 Sway Bar Bushings - Style A - 22.22mm (7/8 Inch) Diameter - 2 Inch Tall Manufacturer: Energy Suspension Part Number:4.5119 https://www.energysuspensionparts.com/4.5119 You don't have to remove the brackets. I've done it, and others have as well, by using a come-along or ratchet strap attached to the bumper to pull the TTB forward far enough to get the radius arm out of the bracket.

Jonathan - That is REALLY a WORKOUT! But I'll bet the 300 shrugged it off. Chris - That is UGLY! You can see why when it comes loose things get plugged up. Right, David?

Yes, Bill, I understand the analogy. I'm getting calls suggesting I extend the warranty. Jim - I hope you ARE as healthy as a horse. Get well!

Progress!!

Progress! Hope the doctor's appointment went well.

Thanks, Jeff.

Well, our grandtwins and daughter went home today, so it was time to pull the steering column apart and see if I can get rid of the chuckle. The first thing I did was to record a video showing looseness between the bearing and the shaft. Turns out the ID of the bearing is .999" and the OD of the shaft is .988" so there was .011" slop. Then I brazed the shaft up and turned it down on the lathe, and got it to .995" which gave a pretty good fit. And since I knew I wanted a spacer between the top of the Borgeson shaft and the inner race of the bearing I found that the red retainer for the original bearing is a perfect fit. I hope to put it back together tomorrow and if there is still some slop I'll open up the top of the column by pulling the steering wheel.

Even with "only" 95% coverage the animals were confused. We saw a pair of rabbits that didn't know what to do, but knew something was different. And the birds got quiet. But, that last 5% probably would have made a huge difference as things here were odd, but not obviously strange. We felt "out of it" but could easily still see and if we'd not known there was an eclipse it would have been possible to think the sky was just very cloudy.

Jeff - Yes, I certainly DID have fun with the grandkids! Unfortunately they left this morning. And thanks for doing all of that research. Your question about Discourse is answered with these statements from this post: That means that we can't make it look like the forum is part of the website. So while you are posting you won't have access to the menu that has links to all of the documentation. Not acceptable. As for your questions in email: We are running version 3.3.11. Yes, that is certainly a possibility. That is something we will have to think about, for sure.

Well done, Jeff! Those are great! We had 95.3% coverage and used my auto-darkening welding helmet. But we had just a touch of clouds and the reduced light wasn’t quite enough to trip the helmet for the last 10 minutes.

Thanks, Bradley. If that was closer it would be an option, although I really wanted to upgrade to a 235 since they take a 12V starter and have a fully pressurized oiling system. Luckily I've found a 235 that was said to have been running when pulled, and it is with a guy that my nephew knows quite well in my home town. He's going to check it out this Saturday and let me know what condition it is in and whether it has a starter and/or generator. But at $300 and only 100 miles away I'll probably go with it. That will put us, Ian and I, in a position to pull the 216 and install the 235 when he comes back this summer. And we may have to rebuild the carb, probably install a new gas tank and sending unit, new radiator and heater hoses, etc. Plus check out the radiator to ensure it doesn't leak. Speaking of Ian, he's registered on here and has subscribed to this thread. That makes three generations, which I think is a first! Also, he and I took a bunch of pics yesterday and put up a new page at Documentation/Picture Galleries/Ugly Green, which is what he is calling the truck - at least for now.

Welcome, IAN!!! Glad you joined! This is a first, three generations on the forum. I won't ask where you live 'cause I know quite well. And, sadly enough, you are headed there tomorrow. But it sure has been fun working with you on the '50, which you've named Ugly Green.

Yikes! Glad I changed over to 96 tanks and units.

Bill - Did he mention a price? This thing has, as expected, a torque tube. In fact, I just pointed that out to Ian. But that complicates things as the Powerglide/torque tube combo is probably a different length than this 3-speed/torque tube. I think the torque tubes were specific to a wheelbase/transmission combination. So I'm not sure we could use that. Anyway, the mounts on that engine should be the same as this engine - right? Nice 'Vette!

Mat & Jim - I have a book on Restoring Your Chevy Pickup and he's already read the whole thing. He is gung ho, although the "leak in the block" took a bit of wind out of his sails - and mine too, for that matter. So when I asked him this morning if he was feeing better about it he said "Yes!". And today he's hoping we can take the stuff out of the bed to see what it is like. David - My brother and I were talking about the 8V batteries just the other day. Dad set one of our vehicles up that way and tweaked the regulator, but it wasn't to be taken out of town as it tended to boil the battery. My brother did.