The Truck of Doom: An Occasional Build Thread

[Dorsai]

The problem did in fact appear to be that the floor mat just needed to move forward. I was able to fold it back and then slide it forward enough that I could see from the passenger side that the fit was much improved. It’s not perfect, but with the application of time, heat, and feet I think it will be fine:

I’ve got the dirtbags in there again (literal bags of dirt, not my friends or neighbors) to flatten it down, I think I’ll be ready for the final trimming tomorrow.

OK...I am declaring this one "Mission Accomplished!"

You can see there's still a little slack in the floor up near the front of the transmission hump, but it's really not as bad as it looks in the photo. I'm confident that with a little time and use, it will lay right down. All the trim is back in place, the seat and seat belt bolt holes are ready, all I need now is a seat.

As a bonus, the repainted kick panels look really good - SEM paints are the bee's knees. And as a bonus bonus, the kick panel vents should now work again; the passenger side was completely blocked with leaves and trash, which are now gone. The driver's side had bigger problems; it had its own share of trash, but it was also stuck closed. I discovered a blob of something like rubber cement or silicone caulking was gumming things up; that's gone and now the vent opens and closes like it should, probably for the first time in 39+ years.

 

[Gary Lewis]

OK...I am declaring this one "Mission Accomplished!"

You can see there's still a little slack in the floor up near the front of the transmission hump, but it's really not as bad as it looks in the photo. I'm confident that with a little time and use, it will lay right down. All the trim is back in place, the seat and seat belt bolt holes are ready, all I need now is a seat.

As a bonus, the repainted kick panels look really good - SEM paints are the bee's knees. And as a bonus bonus, the kick panel vents should now work again; the passenger side was completely blocked with leaves and trash, which are now gone. The driver's side had bigger problems; it had its own share of trash, but it was also stuck closed. I discovered a blob of something like rubber cement or silicone caulking was gumming things up; that's gone and now the vent opens and closes like it should, probably for the first time in 39+ years.

Cool! The seat should be done this week? Or is it next?

Anyway, it looks good. And, I'll bet it sounds much better than it has - ever.

[grumpin]

OK...I am declaring this one "Mission Accomplished!"

You can see there's still a little slack in the floor up near the front of the transmission hump, but it's really not as bad as it looks in the photo. I'm confident that with a little time and use, it will lay right down. All the trim is back in place, the seat and seat belt bolt holes are ready, all I need now is a seat.

As a bonus, the repainted kick panels look really good - SEM paints are the bee's knees. And as a bonus bonus, the kick panel vents should now work again; the passenger side was completely blocked with leaves and trash, which are now gone. The driver's side had bigger problems; it had its own share of trash, but it was also stuck closed. I discovered a blob of something like rubber cement or silicone caulking was gumming things up; that's gone and now the vent opens and closes like it should, probably for the first time in 39+ years.

Nice!

[Dorsai]

Cool! The seat should be done this week? Or is it next?

This week, I'm told. I'm guessing Thursday or Friday, but I didn't ask for a specific day.

Anyway, it looks good. And, I'll bet it sounds much better than it has - ever.

Thanks. And I'm really looking forward to getting it out on the highway for a listen.

[salans7]

Cool! The seat should be done this week? Or is it next?

This week, I'm told. I'm guessing Thursday or Friday, but I didn't ask for a specific day.

Anyway, it looks good. And, I'll bet it sounds much better than it has - ever.

Thanks. And I'm really looking forward to getting it out on the highway for a listen.

Floor looks good!

[Dorsai]

Floor looks good!

So with the seat unavailable until probably the end of this week, I've got time to work on other bits of the truck. One thing I want to do is replace the speedometer cable, which of course requires removing the dash pad:

This isn't my original pad; that one was completely shot when I got the truck and was replaced with one I bought from a guy online four years ago. The replacement pad came from an '81, so it is only barely newer than my original...and is starting to show its age with the dreaded speaker grille disintegration.

Otherwise the pad is pretty good, so for now I'm thinking of making a grille cover from leftover scraps of floor vinyl and seat vinyl. No idea whether this will work, but it will at least hide the damage. Long term, I don't know what to do...did I read somewhere that there was a 3D-printed repair for the grille? Something like that might be nifty, but that leaves the rest of the pad susceptible to damage. I expect in the long run I'll end up with a cover, but I don't really want to do that. But I do like that better than the idea of paying NPD $530 for a new pad.

If I'm going to replace the speedometer cable, I have to get my A/C ducting out of the way...which reminds me of another problem. The ducting in my truck (dealer air, remember) is some kind of fabric-covered wire-frame stuff that is beginning to dry rot. Has anyone had luck replacing this with something new, and if so what did you use? I see a number of vendors, including my local NAPA, sell this type of thing.

[1986F150Six]

So with the seat unavailable until probably the end of this week, I've got time to work on other bits of the truck. One thing I want to do is replace the speedometer cable, which of course requires removing the dash pad:

This isn't my original pad; that one was completely shot when I got the truck and was replaced with one I bought from a guy online four years ago. The replacement pad came from an '81, so it is only barely newer than my original...and is starting to show its age with the dreaded speaker grille disintegration.

Otherwise the pad is pretty good, so for now I'm thinking of making a grille cover from leftover scraps of floor vinyl and seat vinyl. No idea whether this will work, but it will at least hide the damage. Long term, I don't know what to do...did I read somewhere that there was a 3D-printed repair for the grille? Something like that might be nifty, but that leaves the rest of the pad susceptible to damage. I expect in the long run I'll end up with a cover, but I don't really want to do that. But I do like that better than the idea of paying NPD $530 for a new pad.

If I'm going to replace the speedometer cable, I have to get my A/C ducting out of the way...which reminds me of another problem. The ducting in my truck (dealer air, remember) is some kind of fabric-covered wire-frame stuff that is beginning to dry rot. Has anyone had luck replacing this with something new, and if so what did you use? I see a number of vendors, including my local NAPA, sell this type of thing.

I believe it is fellow member Reamer who manufactures the 3D grill covers. He and Gary Lewis designed the piece.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1359252-dash-speaker-hole-area-repair-plate-finished.html

 

[Dorsai]

I believe it is fellow member Reamer who manufactures the 3D grill covers. He and Gary Lewis designed the piece.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1359252-dash-speaker-hole-area-repair-plate-finished.html

That looks like a really slick solution - but I couldn't find it on Shapeways. Maybe our gracious host will swing by here in a bit with a link?

[1986F150Six]

That looks like a really slick solution - but I couldn't find it on Shapeways. Maybe our gracious host will swing by here in a bit with a link?

I just emailed Reamer notifying him of your quest for knowledge.

[grumpin]

So with the seat unavailable until probably the end of this week, I've got time to work on other bits of the truck. One thing I want to do is replace the speedometer cable, which of course requires removing the dash pad:

This isn't my original pad; that one was completely shot when I got the truck and was replaced with one I bought from a guy online four years ago. The replacement pad came from an '81, so it is only barely newer than my original...and is starting to show its age with the dreaded speaker grille disintegration.

Otherwise the pad is pretty good, so for now I'm thinking of making a grille cover from leftover scraps of floor vinyl and seat vinyl. No idea whether this will work, but it will at least hide the damage. Long term, I don't know what to do...did I read somewhere that there was a 3D-printed repair for the grille? Something like that might be nifty, but that leaves the rest of the pad susceptible to damage. I expect in the long run I'll end up with a cover, but I don't really want to do that. But I do like that better than the idea of paying NPD $530 for a new pad.

If I'm going to replace the speedometer cable, I have to get my A/C ducting out of the way...which reminds me of another problem. The ducting in my truck (dealer air, remember) is some kind of fabric-covered wire-frame stuff that is beginning to dry rot. Has anyone had luck replacing this with something new, and if so what did you use? I see a number of vendors, including my local NAPA, sell this type of thing.

I usually don’t like dash pads either, but ended up putting one on mine for now.

I’ll probably get one of these speaker grilles one day.