Hello from Arizona!

[ArdWrknTrk]

First, thanks to all for the warm welcome. I can tell this will be a friendly and educational place. As for AZ and MI, I grew up in Phoenix and love it, but there is little here for normal people in the Summer. Tomorrow, Sep 4, is supposed to be 110. Contrast that with Brimley which will be 63. Sadly, my wife is the one who gets to 'summer' up there as I only get a couple weeks and then it's back to work.

Anyway, once I hatched this plan my brother-in-law told me to find a truck that was halfway through a restoration. So that's what I tried to do. Below are the pertinent details from the ad. (At least I thought they sounded pertinent.) Some of this goes right over my head. I am sure most of the members here could deduce more in 5 minutes looking at a picture of under the hood than I could in half a day with a Haynes manual.

Engine has been fully rebuilt with new lunati cam, Edelbrock performer intake and summit carb and distributor, new fuel tank, new starter new radiator. Engine had new pistons and rings was bored to 40 over and heads where resurfaced and valves were reseated. Crank was polished and lunati cam with new lifter installed, camshaft bearing replaced. New oil pump, new rotors and pads on front. Rebuilt power steering pump, new pitman arm new tie rod ends inner and outer. Front suspension has been overhauled with new rubber bushings.

I do know she was originally an I6 and a prior owner replaced it with the 351 which the most recent owner rebuilt. It has a 4 speed manual transmission and was originally desert tan from what I can tell beneath the sloppy red/white paint job. (Actually, inside the bed, cab and under hood all remain desert tan.) Unfortunately, the certification label is missing to help me decipher other history/details.

I have been driving her around locally a bit despite the non-working A/C. There are too many things to list that may need to be fixed and/or I would like to do. Or, more likely, I may just need a little help prioritizing. I have been busy poking around and I've already made a handful of mistakes of one shape or another.

Shall I start a new post under Projects to share the challenges ahead and my (mis)adventures? Thanks, again, to all for the welcome.

 

Projects, if you want an ongoing thread about a total restoration or something.

The main forum if you are looking to solve problems one or two at a time.

Gary has his MAJOR projects (and 50 page microanalsis) in the main section.

110* and no AC?!?! 😡

I'd say get a thread on that started.

I've got a buddy who moved to Mesa decades ago, who says it's no fun ("Jim, it's like riding my motorcycle into a blast furnace")

But he wasn't born there...

[ArdWrknTrk]

First, thanks to all for the warm welcome. I can tell this will be a friendly and educational place. As for AZ and MI, I grew up in Phoenix and love it, but there is little here for normal people in the Summer. Tomorrow, Sep 4, is supposed to be 110. Contrast that with Brimley which will be 63. Sadly, my wife is the one who gets to 'summer' up there as I only get a couple weeks and then it's back to work.

Anyway, once I hatched this plan my brother-in-law told me to find a truck that was halfway through a restoration. So that's what I tried to do. Below are the pertinent details from the ad. (At least I thought they sounded pertinent.) Some of this goes right over my head. I am sure most of the members here could deduce more in 5 minutes looking at a picture of under the hood than I could in half a day with a Haynes manual.

Engine has been fully rebuilt with new lunati cam, Edelbrock performer intake and summit carb and distributor, new fuel tank, new starter new radiator. Engine had new pistons and rings was bored to 40 over and heads where resurfaced and valves were reseated. Crank was polished and lunati cam with new lifter installed, camshaft bearing replaced. New oil pump, new rotors and pads on front. Rebuilt power steering pump, new pitman arm new tie rod ends inner and outer. Front suspension has been overhauled with new rubber bushings.

I do know she was originally an I6 and a prior owner replaced it with the 351 which the most recent owner rebuilt. It has a 4 speed manual transmission and was originally desert tan from what I can tell beneath the sloppy red/white paint job. (Actually, inside the bed, cab and under hood all remain desert tan.) Unfortunately, the certification label is missing to help me decipher other history/details.

I have been driving her around locally a bit despite the non-working A/C. There are too many things to list that may need to be fixed and/or I would like to do. Or, more likely, I may just need a little help prioritizing. I have been busy poking around and I've already made a handful of mistakes of one shape or another.

Shall I start a new post under Projects to share the challenges ahead and my (mis)adventures? Thanks, again, to all for the welcome.

 

I understand every bit of that.

And I like the gate opener style brushguard!

At least you have no concerns about rust.

Don't expect that to last long once she's in Michigan.

Before it makes the migration you might look at rejuniviating any exterior seals or caulk that's been baking in the sun for 34 years.

 

[Gary Lewis]

I understand every bit of that.

And I like the gate opener style brushguard!

At least you have no concerns about rust.

Don't expect that to last long once she's in Michigan.

Before it makes the migration you might look at rejuniviating any exterior seals or caulk that's been baking in the sun for 34 years.

I, too, understand every bit of the advert. Sounds like a good point from which to pick up a project.

As for what to put your thread, it is your choice. I'm not 100% sold on even having the Projects folder/section - but I'm not suggesting we get rid of it.

Anyway, your call on where to put it.

[Kevin]

I understand every bit of that.

And I like the gate opener style brushguard!

At least you have no concerns about rust.

Don't expect that to last long once she's in Michigan.

Before it makes the migration you might look at rejuniviating any exterior seals or caulk that's been baking in the sun for 34 years.

It sounds like the main forum a problem at a time is the way to go. I will see everyone there.

And I like the gate opener style brushguard!

At least you have no concerns about rust.

Don't expect that to last long once she's in Michigan.

Before it makes the migration you might look at rejuniviating any exterior seals or caulk that's been baking in the sun for 34 years.

Jim, you've actually hit on a few of my first things. I don't like the brushguard and unfortunately it's welded right to the frame. You're also right about the seals and caulk, but unfortunately that leads to being wrong about the rust. The floor pans definitely have some and I believe it was most likely from the inside out. Anyway, I'll get to all that.

[Gary Lewis]

It sounds like the main forum a problem at a time is the way to go. I will see everyone there.

And I like the gate opener style brushguard!

At least you have no concerns about rust.

Don't expect that to last long once she's in Michigan.

Before it makes the migration you might look at rejuniviating any exterior seals or caulk that's been baking in the sun for 34 years.

Jim, you've actually hit on a few of my first things. I don't like the brushguard and unfortunately it's welded right to the frame. You're also right about the seals and caulk, but unfortunately that leads to being wrong about the rust. The floor pans definitely have some and I believe it was most likely from the inside out. Anyway, I'll get to all that.

Big Blue's floor pans have some rust, from the inside, and I'm going to clean it, wire brush it, and POR15 it to kill the rust.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Jim, you've actually hit on a few of my first things. I don't like the brushguard and unfortunately it's welded right to the frame. You're also right about the seals and caulk, but unfortunately that leads to being wrong about the rust. The floor pans definitely have some and I believe it was most likely from the inside out. Anyway, I'll get to all that.

Jonathan had an 'incident' with a burro out in Arizona about a month ago.

I bet he wishes he had a frame mounted guard...

So, show some pics of the rust.

As dry as it usually is out there (monsoon season excepted) I'd imagine the only way to rust is if the absorbent padding got soaked and held the water there.

See you in the main forum.

[Ford F834]

Jim, you've actually hit on a few of my first things. I don't like the brushguard and unfortunately it's welded right to the frame. You're also right about the seals and caulk, but unfortunately that leads to being wrong about the rust. The floor pans definitely have some and I believe it was most likely from the inside out. Anyway, I'll get to all that.

Jonathan had an 'incident' with a burro out in Arizona about a month ago.

I bet he wishes he had a frame mounted guard...

So, show some pics of the rust.

As dry as it usually is out there (monsoon season excepted) I'd imagine the only way to rust is if the absorbent padding got soaked and held the water there.

See you in the main forum. http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/uploads/6/5/8/7/65879365/waving_orig.gif

Yes and yes. I wish I had a stout grille guard. It would have at least helped the night the donkey ran out in front of me...

Rust in the cab is still a problem here, especially if the wheel arches and cab corners get packed with dirt and debris that holds moisture. Add a rubber floor that prevents moisture from evaporating and you can get floor pans that rival the salt belt 😥

That was my 4x4 parts donor... with a Phoenix AZ DSO on the door tag. It’s also why I won’t do a rubber floor and would be extremely careful buying one that had it.