Rembrant

I did much of the California coast in a couple different trips (in rental cars) but would love to do it in my truck! I would love to road trip my truck at some point...maybe out to Oklahoma if all goes well next year! Glad to hear the old Bull shorty started right up for ya. Mine was very much the same after sitting for 8 months...I didn't even charge the battery or anything. Vroom vroom, and away she went.

Oh man...I hate it when this happens, but I had a styleside filler neck kickin' around my garage for a year and I finally threw the thing away about three weeks ago. I would have gladly given it away. I assumed it was for the midship tank, but I guess it doesn't matter much now. If I come across another one I'll definitely grab it.

That's a good idea too. I thought about the removal issue while I was installing these, but I don't think they are all that bad. I had to drill a couple out the other day on something else. Got my vent window seals installed tonight, and sanded and painted the vent window frames and window channels. The Fairchild seals seem to fit pretty well. I had to cut and trim a couple little spots, but think that's to be expected with a molded rubber part. Vent windows seem to close nice and tight now, and all the sloppy blue paint and rust is gone! Now to drop them back off at the body shop in the morning. They were supposed to be painting the door jambs yesterday and hanging the doors (if all went well).

LOL, that's ridiculous! Install a set of headers and duals on a truck, and it works so poorly it ends up in the junkyard soon after???...lol. C'mon Steve83, you can come up with something better than that!

Today's project is to get these things all cleaned up and seals changed. There's quite a bit of rust in the corners and around the edges, so that is priority, but any tips or tricks for the seal installs? Do they just pop in place?...is it just that simple? Un-do the hinge on the top, the spring on the bottom, and lift the glass out?

Ok, cool. Good to know, thanks. I had been lusting after a chrome lid, but had kinda given up on them until coming across this one. I have one of the old chrome SVO lids that I paid way too much money for and can't really use, so I'm sorta interested in this one. We'll see I guess.

Steve, I think most car and truck enthusiasts would disagree with you regarding the driving pleasure part.

Dave are you doing red with white in the middle?

I'm running a set of BBK shorty headers, 2 1/4" full dual exhaust, and Magnaflow mufflers. I'm quite pleased with the sound of the truck. It has a bit of a rumble but not too loud.

That one doesn't look like an OEM unit, although it could be...I removed mine and I thought it was cast iron. It almost looks like one of the aftermarket units: https://shop.broncograveyard.com/1976-1986-Ford-Bronco-F-Series-Truck-Aftermarket-Pro-Valve/productinfo/22519/ Edit: I was typing while Gary was answering...NM...

Seeing as how the Haynes manual covers 17 model years, I don't know if reading it cover to cover is necessary.. I bought one of these myself and find it handy for the very basic stuff like fluid types and capacities, etc.

I saw that truck while surfing a few days ago. It's a bit on the spendy side I'd say.

Hey Lariat, I came across this air cleaner lid while looking for other Ford junk... https://www.ebay.com/itm/84-85-Saleen-Chrome-Air-Cleaner-Lid-1984-1985-Mustang-Cal-Custom-18-inch/163626178194?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 Do you know if it is the same dimensions as the factory 83-85 lids?

That's a good idea too. I thought about the removal issue while I was installing these, but I don't think they are all that bad. I had to drill a couple out the other day on something else.

I don't know about the 351 serial number, but if there is one it won't be on the cylinder head. Maybe in the lifter valley or on the side of the block somewhere. The Windsor engines are a bit tough to nail down sometimes...you'll be able to identify what era it's from, but not necessarily what vehicle it is from. Same thing with the heads...Ford made those small blocks for three decades or so...so there are a lot of options. You may very well have the original engine and somebody swapped a 2bbl intake on to it. The 302 in my '84 had part of the VIN stamped on the back of the block, but as I understand it, this is pretty rare. Most of the time Ford did not stamp engines to match up with the vehicles. Somebody changed the valve covers on yours obviously, but it looks pretty standard otherwise. If you pop a valve cover off and see the stamped pedestal rockers, you'll at least know then that they are 1980's smog era heads, likely D8. The heads will have ID castings.

Kinda hard to tell, but I'm assuming it's a 351w... One of the other guys on here might be able to eyeball it better...

So it was originally built with a 351 4bbl, has a C6 auto and has 3.50 open gears.

That's the coolant temp sender. Look at the lower bolt on the thermostat housing...is it behind the water pump or above it? I think that's an easy way to tell 302 from 351. On a 302 you need a wrench for that bolt, and on the 351 you can reach it with a socket. Ok, and if it's still readable, post a picture of the certification label on the driver's side door frame on the cab. Should be right next to the striker post for the driver's door.

That's the coolant temp sender. Look at the lower bolt on the thermostat housing...is it behind the water pump or above it? I think that's an easy way to tell 302 from 351. On a 302 you need a wrench for that bolt, and on the 351 you can reach it with a socket.

Ha! I scan the south all the time for trucks. I'm waiting until I see one that I absolutely must have (and of course I still need to finish the one I've got...lol). I'm really diggin' the Bumpside Fords these days. I'd love to have one that's relatively original with the southern sun patina;). Next truck I buy is not getting all the "pretty" treatment!...lol.

Yes, congrats. That is a beauty of a truck. I'd love to have it myself.

Welcome aboard! Nice truck...dents and all! I'd like to visit New Mexico one day. I know very little about the state, but it is one of only two that I have never stepped foot in (that, and Alaska). I bought a wrecked motorcycle one time in NH that had originally come from NM, so I still have the bright yellow NM plate hanging on the wall in my garage as a constant reminder that I need to visit;).

Gary, the pop rivets worked great. My first rivet pulled hard into the plastic so after that I made some little "washers" out of sheet metal to capture the ends a little better. The rivets I have on hand are stainless and are maybe a little harder than a regular rivet. I'm gettin' pretty stoked now. Truck is supposed to be finished at the body shop this week, and if all goes well I'll have it back on Thursday or Friday. There was an all-Ford car/truck show this weekend that I was missing obviously, but it ended up getting postponed until next Sunday. If I get the truck back by Friday or even on Saturday morning I'll pull some long hours to get it all reassembled and shined up for the show. Fingers crossed.

Regarding these particular pieces...they are the ones in the kit without the metal clips, right? I have the kit here, and the door cards here, but not the truck or doors. There are two with clips on them...I assume these are the ones that go on the doors? And the ones without clips are the ones I need to pop rivet to the door cards/panels?

Welcome aboard Alex.