Gary Lewis

Do you read lips?

It is Rob, and he's installing it on Eddy Myrtle. So Rob, can you provide us with more pics than this one? And answer a zillion questions? Like: How does a radio mount in the top? Is there a way through it to get an antenna lead to the rear where the bed light goes through the roof? I wondered about taking the antenna lead through there. Does it cover the factory dome light? What is the bump above the driver? Is it for switches? Or? How do the sun visors work? How do you like it?

I'm thinking that mounting the CB overhead, like the top unit here, would work. Perforate the ABS where the speaker is and just go with it. Which one of us is installing one of these?

I think this what you need, Dave: http://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Help-with-Top-Door-Seal-Weather-Stripping-tp12029p12047.html

Missed that. So that’s a speaker. Ok. It would work, but doesn’t the President Bill have it’s own speaker? Or was that another one I looked at? One with its ow. Would be good. As for the Bearcat being newer, I guess that shows what I know about CB’s.

That would work. But we need to find out how high a bike is. That’s because I plan to have a rack with tent on top, and we either need to be able to get the bike under the rack or lift the rack long enough to get the bike in. And, I’ll need to arrange the tools and parts so there’s a path down the middle. And, how long is your bike?

lol - Forgot the bike. That good looking, Ray. Should make the trip nicely. I’ve been wondering if I need to have a ramp to load a bike on the TAT. If we have a broken bike...

Ray - I forgot what speaker base you are talking about. Can you refresh memory? But an overhead mount with a speaker firing down would be cool. Rob - A Bearcat is OLD! From maybe the 70’s?

I was told to run two O2 sensors instead of placing one in the y-pipe. I don't remember who told me that, but I tend to think it was one of the guys from Core Tuning. Their thinking was that the two banks will be running differently and by mixing the signal you don't get good results.

I have the Cobra 75. It’s in a box with two other older radios. I would not recommend it. Doesn’t have good transmit or reception and hard to hear the little speaker. There maybe a external speaker plug, but I don’t like it. I’ve heard some do like it and its great for space. Had it in my old 4Runner and took it out. Gave it another chance in the Xterra and didn’t work out. Now that I think about it, there is an external speaker plug in the unit you put under a seat or under the dash. Technically not all in one IMO. I tried it in the Xterra. Thanks, Dave. Glad I asked. Guess I'll stay away from that. Maybe the President Bill is a better idea. But that brings up the question of where to mount it and what to do about speakers. May have to think about the overhead console.

I've always heard good things about Mike's. Glad the truck is running so well.

You are REALLY into this. I can't wait to see what it'll be like. I don't know what to say but "Keep up the good work!"

Are you using the 1982 ENGINE EMISSIONS DIAGNOSIS book?

Looking good! Well done. On the steering column, we have the instructions for it here: Documentation/Interior/Steering Columns.

Even if a motor mount was broken I cant see that a cause for the plate to strained as the locating dowels and bell housing bolts should keep the motor & transmission as 1 unit. Missing or dowels that don't fit tight can be an issue. Dave ---- Clay - I didn't replace the mounts, but did inspect them and they appeared to be fine. However, I agree with Dave - the engine and tranny are locked into a unit and whatever happens to the engine also happens to the tranny's case. So bad engine mounts could cause the engine/tranny combo to torque over, but they wouldn't cause internal damage. I can only think of three things that would cause cracking/breaking of a flexplate, and they are all internal: But supposedly they've been using the correct flexplate - after the incorrect one was used initially. So if the tranny is matching up to the engine correctly, and if the correct flexplate is now being used, something is wrong with some component. I can't imagine an engine's crankshaft being bent with the wrong flexplate being installed. But I can imagine something being bent or damaged in the transmission. I still think something was hurt when the wrong flexplate was used.

That’s the way I do it. I use studs to make sure the intake goes down straight, start all the bolts and snug them down. Come back the next and torque them down.

They look great! What paint did you use?

I've never seen anything like that on any of the Ford's I've worked on. But in this case with the breaks we've seen being at the point where the flat portion turns into a curve, you are limited in the size of reinforcement you can put on as it has to sit on the flat. But all that does is ensure any flex is at the transition point, and that doesn't seem very good.

Wonderful shot!

Yes, big trees we'll pull out of the way, and little ones we'll cut up. As for dents, I try to avoid them but they are inevitable. Some year I'll have Big Blue's bodywork done right, removing the body putty and rust and then repainted. But now I want to use him. On the antenna, I like the Wilson 1000 which can go on the roof. However, if I put a rack on with a tent on top I'll have a place to permanently mount an antenna. But I'm not sure that a mag-mount in the middle of the cab roof wouldn't have a better ground plane than a permanent mount on a rack. As for the unit itself, what do y'all think about the Cobra 75 WX ST? Or Uniden PRO520XL? I think I like the idea of an all-in-one rather than having another unit to mount under the dash.

That's good to know! Big Blue came with those seals, but if I remember correctly only the passenger's door has it now. I have a new seal set to put on as the old ones are toast, so will make sure to add the extra one on top of the door. Thanks!

Looks great, Rob! On the ground, since your ground wire also runs to the starter and your tail lights should be grounded back to the cab, there isn't anything else I can think of that grounds to the frame. Just make sure you have the engine/cab ground in place.

I don't know the purpose of that hole. And I've not seen a Windsor with a valley pan. M-Block and 460 yes, but not Windsor. Maybe I've missed them? As for thermostat temp, the listing from the Master Parts Catalog are on this page: Documentation/Cooling Systems/Thermostats. Out of twenty one listings there are two 197's and one 195, with all the rest being 192.

That will work, Ray. But my plan has been to take my battery powered reciprocating saw with a long blade. It does as well as a chain saw for one-off use. And, since Big Blue will have serious 110v power I'll be able to recharge the batteries. Which are also used for the impact.