Rembrant

With all the talk lately of Dealer AC installations, I was daydreaming about installing one of the aftermarket AC systems...(I get a lot of what I call "Windshield time" to ponder things...lol). Now, I realize some of you (or all of you) would never consider such a thing, but I was thinking why couldn't one just gut the existing Non-AC components and install one of those aftermarket compact heat/AC combo units? Then, while looking at other Bullnose junk on Ebay I came across this Bronco... https://www.ebay.com/itm/143335776045 Clearly, they gutted the original heater box and cable controls, blanked off the firewall, and installed a compact AC/Heat Combo-unit inside the cab. Note: If I was to ever do this, I'd make it a little prettier in the engine bay and use dash vents that looked a little closer to the factory originals, but whatever...obviously this is a function over form install...

Oh, and another clean low mile PNW F250... https://www.ebay.com/itm/133119876730 That's a NICE truck...

Love these PNW Bullnoses that keep popping up for sale... https://www.ebay.com/itm/264405752106 If this this is as original as the ad claims, it is very very clean looking. Check out that interior. Interesting that it is a No Reserve auction...curious to see what it goes for. Side note, the dash vents look like they were not integrated like the factory vents...are these indicative of a dealer AC install? The heater box in the engine bay looks the same as what is in my Non-AC truck.

Ha! I like this. I would agree on the 250. Everybody that installs one seems to be pretty darn happy with them. I'd be surprised if they didn't recommend the XE250H. I have a friend in IT, and says everything is PICNIC...."Problem In Chair, Not In Computer".

Yes sir, everything has to be considered in the complete package. My little Bullnose weighs in just a hair under 3400 lbs, which is quite light compared to a 8-lug 4x4 with a big block. Add bumpers and other accessories and it goes up from there. Earlier on I wondered why the truck guys were hating on the little 302 so much, but when I consider what my truck might feel like with another 2000 lbs added to it, I might not like my 302 either...lol. I agree with Gary on talking to the Cam manufacturers, and then you can take their recommendation and make a choice from there. I spoke to both Crane and Comp at the time, and they recommended similar but slightly different cams. I think the complete kits with lifters and timing chain are a good option too, and Summit and Jegs and everybody else sells them.

My bad. I remembered reading that when I was studying camshafts and timing and I thought that "straight-up" was referring to the cam being Zero degrees.

My truck is now only a summer cruiser, so cold winter starts were not much of a consideration. I will drive it in the cold, but only if the roads are dry, and if there's no salt on them. If it takes a little longer to warm up in this weather, I don't mind. (Side note, for what my truck lacks in air conditioning in the summer, it makes up for it in heating in the cold!). As for the "built-in" advance in the Comp Cam XE line, I don't know specifically, but I seem to recall there being 4 degrees over stock. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that the Comp Cam had 2 degrees built in, and the stock cam was 2 degrees retarded? Maybe it was only 2 degrees overall, and the Comp Cam was "zero". Not sure here... Camshaft selection is annoying...lol. I drove myself close to the brink of insanity trying to pick one. There are a lot of options for the SBF. One thing is certain...if you go looking, you'll find a lot of people running the Comp Cam XE line, and with the trucks specifically you'll often see the XE250H, and with it a lot of happy customers. If there is a "safe" choice to make, I think that would have to be it. Since my truck is just something for novelty use, I did want a little bit of that rumble that the 5.0's are so well known for, and that was what drove my choice towards the XE256H. As I mentioned above, I had originally planned on the XE250H, but the engine builder pushed me towards the XE256H, and since I originally wanted this cam, it was an easy choice once I had a builder suggesting it. Keep in mind this builder specializes in performance engines, so that is where their bias is. The thing I liked about the Edelbrock Performer intake was that everything fit right into place like my stock intake. My coil, throttle bracket, ground cable, temp sender, etc all went right back into place with stock hardware. It made for a clean and simple installation and assembly. Here is a video of my engine and you can see where the air cleaner assembly is sitting on top of the distributor (and coil). This is with a 1" spacer under the carb and another 1/2" or 3/4" spacer on top of the carb. Mind you it is a larger air cleaner...14" I think.

Another Comp Cam guy here. Not a 351w mind you, but I went with a Comp Cam XE256H in my 302 build. It moves the power range to the 1000-5200 RPM. I bought the complete kit that came with everything, part number K31-234-3, or for a 351w it would be K35-234-3. I used my stock pushrods and stamped rockers. I wanted some of that hotrod idle sound and feel, and the XE256H nailed it. My truck doesn't haul or tow anything, it's just strictly a cruiser. I had originally selected and purchased the XE250H, but the shop that built my engine pushed me towards the XE256H. Now that I have it, I wouldn't want anything any bigger, I can say that much. I find that Youtube videos don't transfer sound very well, but here she is in her partially finished glory... For the intake I went with the Edelbrock Performer Non-EGR intake. As noted above it is the lowest end 4bbl intake, but I was switching from the stock 2bbl to a Holley 4bbl, so it was an upgrade for me. I did however install a 1" thick plastic intake spacer, same as the one linked below: https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/15491/10002/-1 The guy that built and dyno'd my engine suggested this, and I needed it anyway since I'm running an open air cleaner. And, even with a flat bottomed open air cleaner, I still had to use a spacer on top of the carb to get the air cleaner to clear the stock DSII distributor. Everything else lined up perfectly with this spacer...stock Ford throttle bracket and cable, etc. The engine builder also blocked off the exhaust crossover ports. I was indifferent to this, but he recommended it and my engine runs well this way. Here she is on the dyno last year:

Guys, Do most of you pre-fill your new oil filters when doing an oil change? Can any harm be done starting up an engine with a dry/empty oil filter?

Yeah, too much bling for me too. I personally prefer the plain Bullnose look, but we all have our own tastes.

There was a car show close to where I live yesterday and the wife and I dropped by for a quick walk through. Only a couple of Ford trucks there, and only one Bullnose. I've seen this truck around before, and I remember seeing it for sale a few years ago back when the current owner bought it. It was 400+ miles away at the time and had already sold by the time I could even consider going to see it. If I recall correctly it's an '85 with 351w and auto trans.

Well that's interesting. I just checked my '84 and the three outer most louvers are shorter. That's on a Non-AC truck. Gary, You just brought something to my attention that I hadn't thought of...lol. So, starting in '87 they obsoleted the Bullnose cowl panels and substituted the 1987-1991 Bricknose cowl panel. If you bought a bricknose cowl to replace the cowl on a radio delete Bullnose, then you also had to buy that little plug to fill the empty antenna hole. I was going to go to the junkyard and grab a Bricknose cowl panel to swap on to my '84, but I forgot about the antenna. I have no intention of installing an antenna on my truck, and I don't feel like going through the hassle of filling the hole in a Bricknose panel, so I think I'll just stick with my original. I didn't really need the newer one anyway, it was just something to do...a minor update. Thanks Gary, you just saved me a trip to the Junkyard!

Gary, I'm glad that you always make that comment. I think about it ALL THE TIME when looking at used trucks. Knowing what I've spent so far on mine, it almost makes me ill when I see a beautiful truck for $10,000 lol. No joke. But,...and the big but is...I never see one that is exactly what I want, or what I would build given the opportunity....and the project IS the destination (Or at least it can be if you're into that). There is some pride in the old saying "Built, not bought".

I'd have no use for such an animal, but I'm surprised to see the price as high as it is. I'm sure it would be a lovely truck if somebody wanted a single axle F350 4x4. https://www.ebay.com/itm/133109460172

Pictures aren't the best... https://www.ebay.com/itm/273935972688

Well that's interesting. I didn't know such an option existed. When they had the dash vents/registers, then I just assumed that meant they had AC.

I hear ya Ray. Mine hasn't really been out in the sunlight since last fall, so it sure was nice to get it out for a decent drive. The cab is still covered in a layer of dust, and I have a bunch of little jobs to do on it, but nothing serious at the moment. I going to take it to work on Monday so I can talk to the shop about getting the cab done. Besides finishing the paint, I have a bunch of other little jobs waiting to be done. I still have to adjust the drum brakes a bit and I might still have a minor leak at the master cylinder. The system still needs to be bled again too. Needs an oil and filter change, and I need to check/adjust the front wheel bearings. I have a new RedHead steering gear and new (90's) steering shaft to install. Front sway bar is waiting to go on. Still needs a radio, and I have a delay wiper module to install...the list goes on and on and on. If I pull the trigger on Monday to get the cab done (in approximately two weeks) I have a growing list of bits I'm going to need from LMC.

Below is how one holds flat headed carriage bolts in place long enough to get the passenger rear fender mounted! So I finally got the passenger fender and step mounted, then wired in the new tail lights and took this baby for a spin! I don't care how many different colors it is...lol, it's running great and it feels great! I just drove around for an hour or so, maybe put 50 miles on the old truck, and I had a couple people compliment the truck, and a couple others in traffic honked their horns and gave me a thumbs up! Even a young guy working the cash at the gas station commented and said that he loved the "old stepsides"!

We've requested matched V-belt sets for industrial applications before. It does matter. They're cut like slices of bread from a loaf, and every loaf is going to be a little bit different. I don't believe I've ever had a vehicle with a double v-belt set up. Of all the vehicles I had that were old enough to have V-belts, they only ever had an alternator and a power steering pump that were belt driven. Gentlemen, While we're on the topic of dealer AC here....I was actually thinking about starting a thread on the topic after seeing the pictures of Emunders new truck with dealer AC... My truck is a factory non-AC truck, so let me get this straight... A factory AC truck had the evap core in the plastic housing inside the engine bay, and the heater core was inside the cab...do I have this correct? And, a dealer installed AC truck started with a non-AC truck like mine, and located the evap core inside the cab, and was basically a stand alone system (and not integrated like a factory AC truck)? So, factory AC had evap core in engine bay and heater core in the cab, and a dealer installed AC truck had the heater core in the engine bay and the evap core in the cab? Or do I have it wrong?>.. The pics of Emunders new truck that showed the location of the dealer AC components gave me some new ideas about installing AC in my non-AC truck, so I just wanted to clarify the above before I ask even more questions;)>

Dave, I came across this little Flareside for sale up here in Canada and if you scroll through the pics it looks like he did the Styleside bed floor just like yours. https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/ottawa/ford-truck/1448112500?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

We've requested matched V-belt sets for industrial applications before. It does matter. They're cut like slices of bread from a loaf, and every loaf is going to be a little bit different. I don't believe I've ever had a vehicle with a double v-belt set up. Of all the vehicles I had that were old enough to have V-belts, they only ever had an alternator and a power steering pump that were belt driven.

Gary, The lights I installed have the same old incandescent bulbs (1156/1157) as my original lights, but the big difference appears to be in the lenses. The 35 year old lenses do not let nearly as much light pass through...they're very dim/dull. The new lenses are glossy and bright. In any case, these lights were a cheap solution that are as close to the originals as one can buy (Not that I care about that really...but if one did care...)

New Bullnoses are in at Linnehan Ford....

Nice truck, and a a fairly late build date. This one may have been sitting on the dealer's lot with some Bricknoses.

I'm not familiar with these cars AT ALL, but it looks kind of odd with the snorkels being different lengths. I have two dual snorkel 5.0 GT air cleaners, and I haven't done much with them unfortunately. They're low on the priority list currently. Maybe a project for next winter. I'm hoping to have easy Bullnose jobs lined up...this might be one of them;).