Shorty

Dave, I have a 1989 F100 with the 300 and no radiator shroud. Truck has dealer installed AC. The lack of a shroud has bugged me since I bought the truck but if this was normal, I’ll cross it off my wish list. Just asking. Thanks.

Four days and $1250 got my baby home. First time my wife has seen it in person and she’s still talking to me 😁

Bill, I have to admit I am more familiar with Virginia Beach than Hampton. VB was fun when it was more rural and safer for motorcycle riding, but those days are gone. I imagine Hampton will become more of a big deal when the new Hampton Roads Bridge tunnel is finished. More commuter friendly. I first moved to Virginia over thirty years ago for marriage #1. On #2 now and I still love the place. I have some good friends there. I travel a lot for work but it is always home to me. My only experience with Exmore was an expensive speeding ticket there running and up down the coast a few years ago. Seemed to be a regular cottage industry there. Oh well, live and learn. My F100 arrives today and my wife will have her first opportunity to drive three on the column if the transporter doesn’t park it out of the way. I sent her a diagram, so…

My 1980 3 on the tree collar was broken when I bought the truck six years ago. JB Weld and hope we’re the only things holding it together for the 40 mile ride home. I could not find a 1980 shift collar to save myself and I didn’t want to do the floor shift conversion. So… I ordered the 1979 version and compared it to what I had. I carefully marked where I needed to trim with a scribe and promptly launched it across the room when I got greedy with the lathe cutoff tool. So… again I ordered a second 1979 collar, marked it for cutting on blue painters tape and used a fine tooth blade hacksaw to carefully work my way around the piece. I think I used a piece of 4x4 wood in a vice but may have slipped a pipe through the center. For God’s sake, take your time. It is only a one cup of coffee job. I dressed up the cut with light file and sanding. Quick coat of satin black paint and I’ve been happy with it for six years. I recall inserting the pivot pin for the shift lever gave me the most stress, because it was a tight fit and I did not want to crack the eggshell thin collar after modifying and installing it. If you have a small ream, that could be the way to go. I was committed by that point so just went for it. Sorry, no photos. Good luck.

Bill, Thanks for the encouragement. I live in one of the less dangerous parts of Hampton. 16 years in Virginia Beach, then the inevitable down-sizing when the kids grew up/out to a condo over by Surfrider Hampton. New house is only 1/2 mile away but it addresses all my complaints of condo life. I placed an Apple air tag in my truck before it left. According to it, my truck is headed east on i40 in Tennessee. I’ll be home in a couple of weeks for moving party and Xmas.

Just when I gave up on shipping my shorty F100 from CA to VA, one of the contractors I work with recommended his shipper. Night and day difference. Polite, punctual and at a fair price. Away she goes to Virginia for a semi-retired life. I’ll be replacing the bed wood and getting it painted, but that will wait a bit.

Welcome! Awesome beast you’ve got there. Can’t wait to see it fully kitted out. You came to the right forum.

Perfect, thank you. This is now on my list! Dennis

Hi, Sorry, no answers here but I have to ask- do you have a link to the source of the kit you used? Afraid I’ve got to this job myself one of these days. Thanks, Dennis

Installed my Ebay used but good ashtray to replace cracked original. A lot of money for something I'll never use but it has bugged me for a while.

Ordered a replacement grille for a hundred bucks. Current grille has a couple of cracks and I'm stockpiling shiny new bits to put on after I get this thing painted. Hope it arrives as depicted in the listing photo ('80-'81 style without oval).

Nope Mine is Pastel Sand. Maybe the hottest color of 1980!

Welcome!

Bump the timing up to 10* BTDC and I think you can go to 12* BTDC before any pinging and that bog may go away. If you have smog just remember to turn it back before the test. Dave ---- Dave, 10 degrees was better but 12 seems to be the winner. I drove it hard on level ground and it seemed way more drivable. Not sure I’ve got all 116 ponies pulling for me but I’m happy. Thanks, Dennis

Bump the timing up to 10* BTDC and I think you can go to 12* BTDC before any pinging and that bog may go away. If you have smog just remember to turn it back before the test. Dave ---- Thanks I’ll give that a shot.