blackdog Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 I was trying to get donor bumper w/ impact strips and bumper guards off of 84, but by trying to loosen the nuts all I did was spin the bolts. Any suggestions besides drilling the bolts out? I wouldn't mind getting new ones.. I have forgotten (read: pushed out my mind) the bumper and have been focusing on the interior of the donor vehicle. At first craigslist glance I thought I would have an inline six manual 2WD longbed, but as some of you may have seen in other threads, I have deemed this longbed unsuitable for a rebuild. I will be swapping the transmission from it for the aod that came with my DARLA. I will also be using the steering column and clutch assembly along with the instrument cluster. From the body of the longbed I will use the hood and driver's side door to replace that which is currently in place, as the hood on my truck has bondo repair from some sort of damage The grille upper moulding, along with radiator core support (maybe, as rad. Cor support in my truck isn't too mangled) will also be used on my flareside rebuild. Instead of rewiring the chassis wires, I hope to use the longbed harness (is that even called a harness?) on the flareside, if it isn't too much an ask to run longer wires a shorter length. As far as I can tell from my brief surveyance, the engine wiring is incompatible with my truck, as the donor has i6 and mine has a 5.0... and the donor isn't efi like mine. Sidenote: where in blast is the computer on these things? Donor vehicle is 84, my project is an 86, and the only thing I could have thought to be the computer on my 86 was tucked behind instr. cluster. Upon entirely removing dash and ac ducting and steering column support brackets and dash / radio bezels on the 84, I revealed what seems to me to be the computer, but I thought that anything before 85 didn't have one. Thanks for taking the time to read that borderline illiterate bull(nose)speak, any input is much appreciated! -blackdog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 I have forgotten (read: pushed out my mind) the bumper and have been focusing on the interior of the donor vehicle. At first craigslist glance I thought I would have an inline six manual 2WD longbed, but as some of you may have seen in other threads, I have deemed this longbed unsuitable for a rebuild. I will be swapping the transmission from it for the aod that came with my DARLA. I will also be using the steering column and clutch assembly along with the instrument cluster. From the body of the longbed I will use the hood and driver's side door to replace that which is currently in place, as the hood on my truck has bondo repair from some sort of damage The grille upper moulding, along with radiator core support (maybe, as rad. Cor support in my truck isn't too mangled) will also be used on my flareside rebuild. Instead of rewiring the chassis wires, I hope to use the longbed harness (is that even called a harness?) on the flareside, if it isn't too much an ask to run longer wires a shorter length. As far as I can tell from my brief surveyance, the engine wiring is incompatible with my truck, as the donor has i6 and mine has a 5.0... and the donor isn't efi like mine. Sidenote: where in blast is the computer on these things? Donor vehicle is 84, my project is an 86, and the only thing I could have thought to be the computer on my 86 was tucked behind instr. cluster. Upon entirely removing dash and ac ducting and steering column support brackets and dash / radio bezels on the 84, I revealed what seems to me to be the computer, but I thought that anything before 85 didn't have one. Thanks for taking the time to read that borderline illiterate bull(nose)speak, any input is much appreciated! -blackdog Both the 1985 and '86 EVTM's say the ECA, which is the computer, is located "under rear center of instrument panel". But the ECA started to be used in at least '82, and in that case it was under the driver's seat. On the plans, it seems like you have them thought out. And the wiring is called a harness, which is much easier to shorten than lengthen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdog Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 Both the 1985 and '86 EVTM's say the ECA, which is the computer, is located "under rear center of instrument panel". But the ECA started to be used in at least '82, and in that case it was under the driver's seat. On the plans, it seems like you have them thought out. And the wiring is called a harness, which is much easier to shorten than lengthen. good to know, thanks! im going to drop the trans and clutch assembly tomorrow, but i w as trying to remove the steering column today and couldnt quite get it. i removed all bolts i saw and a few clips, but my haynes manual doesnt have anything on column removal as far as i saw. anybody have experience doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 good to know, thanks! im going to drop the trans and clutch assembly tomorrow, but i w as trying to remove the steering column today and couldnt quite get it. i removed all bolts i saw and a few clips, but my haynes manual doesnt have anything on column removal as far as i saw. anybody have experience doing this? There are the bolts holding the column to the firewall as well as the ones to the mount on the bottom of the dash. Do you have them out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdog Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 There are the bolts holding the column to the firewall as well as the ones to the mount on the bottom of the dash. Do you have them out?sure do. as well as the bolt that holds the reatiner clip in front of the firewall "bracket" On Sat, Feb 9, 2019 at 7:18 PM Gary Lewis [via Bullnose Enthusiasts] <redacted_email_address> wrote: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdog Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 There are the bolts holding the column to the firewall as well as the ones to the mount on the bottom of the dash. Do you have them out?actually i think i might have missed a clip...on that firewall mount i removed four bolts, and got one clip out, i think maybe there is another clip. in the engine compartment, i removed the bolt connecting the column to the driveshaft (?) but couldnt get the "sleeve" off there. On Sat, Feb 9, 2019 at 7:18 PM Gary Lewis [via Bullnose Enthusiasts] <redacted_email_address> wrote: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I tend to remember that one bolt is hard to see. Maybe that's the one you missed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdog Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 I tend to remember that one bolt is hard to see. Maybe that's the one you missed?That was indeed the case! Got the steering column out but couldn't get the trans out today. That darn cross member is a pain to get out of the way, and we couldn't quite get it. I think we will be able to finish that up tomorrow. On Feb 9, 2019 10:07 PM, "Gary Lewis [via Bullnose Enthusiasts]" <redacted_email_address> wrote: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Sidenote: where in blast is the computer on these things? Donor vehicle is 84, my project is an 86, and the only thing I could have thought to be the computer on my 86 was tucked behind instr. cluster. Upon entirely removing dash and ac ducting and steering column support brackets and dash / radio bezels on the 84, I revealed what seems to me to be the computer, but I thought that anything before 85 didn't have one. I just removed the EFI computer from the '85 today, and man to you have to get upside down in the cab to reach that uppermost screw (I removed the whole ECM mounting bracket). My 302 EFI parts are going off to a fellow forum member for spare parts, so I was gathering all of that stuff up today. That steering column removal can be a bit of a pain. I really dislike anything that requires I climb under the dash...lol. I've had mine in and out several times now, so I'm as quick as a thief with that thing now! Did we discuss a firewall brace earlier in this thread? If you're swapping a manual trans into a non manual truck, now would be the time to do it...although it's not a big deal to install later (once you're a steering column expert, the job can be done much quicker!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdog Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 Sidenote: where in blast is the computer on these things? Donor vehicle is 84, my project is an 86, and the only thing I could have thought to be the computer on my 86 was tucked behind instr. cluster. Upon entirely removing dash and ac ducting and steering column support brackets and dash / radio bezels on the 84, I revealed what seems to me to be the computer, but I thought that anything before 85 didn't have one. I just removed the EFI computer from the '85 today, and man to you have to get upside down in the cab to reach that uppermost screw (I removed the whole ECM mounting bracket). My 302 EFI parts are going off to a fellow forum member for spare parts, so I was gathering all of that stuff up today. That steering column removal can be a bit of a pain. I really dislike anything that requires I climb under the dash...lol. I've had mine in and out several times now, so I'm as quick as a thief with that thing now! Did we discuss a firewall brace earlier in this thread? If you're swapping a manual trans into a non manual truck, now would be the time to do it...although it's not a big deal to install later (once you're a steering column expert, the job can be done much quicker!). the brace has not been discussed here yet, but i did stumble upon it elsewhere on this site. definitely worth looking into some more. i havent disassembled my 86 dash yet, just the 84, but i will definitely be able to break that down and get the steering column out much more quickly than i did with the 84. nothing like the first time doing something. i made a lot of progress this week, but grew frustrated that i couldnt get the trans out today. welp, win some lose some. we are never quite as acrobatic as when we need to reach that evasive screw, or reach into a tight space for a bolt head:nabble_smiley_happy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts