Rembrant Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Hi Folks, I thought I'd at least start a project thread so I can post my progress...maybe it will motivate me a little bit;). Truck is a 1984 F150 2wd, with 302 and three on the tree manual trans. It has been touched up over the years, so the paint is currently a bit...spotty...lol. When I first brought it home, it was leaking oil, power steering fluid, and antifreeze all over the place. Cured the oil leak (fuel pump gasket), cured the PS leak with a new reman box (more on that later), and cured the antifreeze leak with a new heater core. I have re-done the entire front end, with the exception of one wheel bearing, which is on the bench...just haven't gotten to it yet. All new Moog stuff...beam pivot bushings, upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie-rods, etc. Installed new radius arms and bushing kit. It drives OK as it is now, but the steering is still sloppy due to the reman steering box. I plan to replace this one (again) with a RedHead box and hope that cures it once and for all. In the works for this winter is to pull the engine and trans to clean everything up, and fix all the leaks, etc. It will be getting a 4bbl carb, and likely cam and shorty headers, but that will likely be it. The 3spd trans is getting replaced by an M5R2 OD trans removed from a 1991 F250 2wd. I will see about body work and paint sometime next year. Currently, I'm just trying to get it driving better (and more reliable) for the 2018 season. I guess that's it. Other than all that, I added the black Cragar Soft-8 rims and Cooper Cobra rubber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted November 24, 2017 Author Share Posted November 24, 2017 Oh...I forgot to add, last weekend I installed a factory tach, painted my gauge needles, replaced all the faulty bulbs, lubed my noisy speedo cable, and installed a new signal flasher relay. That little group of things may not seem like much, but they made a world of difference to me. The speedo cable wasn't terribly loud, but with no radio, I can hear all kinds of things that might otherwise not even be noticeable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Oh...I forgot to add, last weekend I installed a factory tach, painted my gauge needles, replaced all the faulty bulbs, lubed my noisy speedo cable, and installed a new signal flasher relay. That little group of things may not seem like much, but they made a world of difference to me. The speedo cable wasn't terribly loud, but with no radio, I can hear all kinds of things that might otherwise not even be noticeable. Nice truck! And a worthwhile project. You've done a lot to it and should feel proud. And I understand the feeling that painted gauges and a quiet speedo cable give. Big Blue's gauges were washed out and the speedo cable so dry that the speedo didn't read correctly and even changed readings on bumps. It is much, much better now, and the gauges look excellent - and I appreciate them every time I get in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted November 24, 2017 Author Share Posted November 24, 2017 Nice truck! And a worthwhile project. You've done a lot to it and should feel proud. And I understand the feeling that painted gauges and a quiet speedo cable give. Big Blue's gauges were washed out and the speedo cable so dry that the speedo didn't read correctly and even changed readings on bumps. It is much, much better now, and the gauges look excellent - and I appreciate them every time I get in it. I ended up putting three coats of paint on the tach and speedo needles, and I hope that isn't so much that it effects their operation...but they seem to be working fine. I know they're quite light is all. The other thing I did was rebuild the steering column. The 3-speed manual shifting was terrible and sloppy. Unfortunately, all my time and money in that particular project, and it only made it marginally better. It seems to work fine most of the time, but it's still not great, and no matter how hard I try, I just cannot make myself like it. It feels like a novelty in a nostalgic kind of way, and I almost feel bad for removing it, but I just find it awkward to use (and geared awkward as well). I think with my little old 302 all tuned up with a few bolt-ons, and a proper floor shift 5-spd manual trans, and this thing will be fun to drive. I've pretty much have it all figured out...regarding my plans and intentions, but I'm still not 100% on what to do with the exhaust yet. I want to make it sound good, but it looks like duals are a real pain with these trucks, and that limits ones options pretty quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 I ended up putting three coats of paint on the tach and speedo needles, and I hope that isn't so much that it effects their operation...but they seem to be working fine. I know they're quite light is all. The other thing I did was rebuild the steering column. The 3-speed manual shifting was terrible and sloppy. Unfortunately, all my time and money in that particular project, and it only made it marginally better. It seems to work fine most of the time, but it's still not great, and no matter how hard I try, I just cannot make myself like it. It feels like a novelty in a nostalgic kind of way, and I almost feel bad for removing it, but I just find it awkward to use (and geared awkward as well). I think with my little old 302 all tuned up with a few bolt-ons, and a proper floor shift 5-spd manual trans, and this thing will be fun to drive. I've pretty much have it all figured out...regarding my plans and intentions, but I'm still not 100% on what to do with the exhaust yet. I want to make it sound good, but it looks like duals are a real pain with these trucks, and that limits ones options pretty quickly. I think your plans for the 5-speed are good. Some might suggest the ZF5, but I think the M5 is a better fit for your truck as it will shift well/quickly. My experience with the ZF5 is that it shifts exactly like what it is - a truck transmission. So, it'll be perfect in Big Blue, but not in a sporty truck. On the exhaust, I suggest Magnaflow mufflers. Or, a single two-in/two-out, which they make. Magnaflows have a deep, mellow sound, which I like. And, I do like dual exhausts with them exiting behind each rear tire. Not easily done, but it can be done and sounds so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted November 24, 2017 Author Share Posted November 24, 2017 I think your plans for the 5-speed are good. Some might suggest the ZF5, but I think the M5 is a better fit for your truck as it will shift well/quickly. My experience with the ZF5 is that it shifts exactly like what it is - a truck transmission. So, it'll be perfect in Big Blue, but not in a sporty truck. On the exhaust, I suggest Magnaflow mufflers. Or, a single two-in/two-out, which they make. Magnaflows have a deep, mellow sound, which I like. And, I do like dual exhausts with them exiting behind each rear tire. Not easily done, but it can be done and sounds so good. Yeah, I know there's more of a universal love for the ZF5 as a whole, but like you, I thought the M5 would be fine for this old girl. It will only be getting a minor bump from it's original HP, and I won't be hauling or towing anything with it. It will just be moving it's own weight around, and that's about it. Just a weekend driver, nothing more really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Yeah, I know there's more of a universal love for the ZF5 as a whole, but like you, I thought the M5 would be fine for this old girl. It will only be getting a minor bump from it's original HP, and I won't be hauling or towing anything with it. It will just be moving it's own weight around, and that's about it. Just a weekend driver, nothing more really. Should be perfect for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetesPonies Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Yeah, I know there's more of a universal love for the ZF5 as a whole, but like you, I thought the M5 would be fine for this old girl. It will only be getting a minor bump from it's original HP, and I won't be hauling or towing anything with it. It will just be moving it's own weight around, and that's about it. Just a weekend driver, nothing more really. Looks good. So install a radio :) As for the needles, I used a marker, so there was no buildup of paint/weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 Looks good. So install a radio :) As for the needles, I used a marker, so there was no buildup of paint/weight. I will probably get to the radio later on, but it is currently low priority on my to-do list. I love the simplicity of this truck (interior included), so it may stay like that forever. I may just grab a Bluetooth speaker to use with my phone since this thing will only be driver occasionally anyway. Is there any worry with the weight of the paint on the gauge needles? I believe it was one of your posts I read in another thread that made me think of it. It hadn't occurred to me otherwise. If I lost a little of the gauge precision, I think it will still be OK for this old clunker;). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 I will probably get to the radio later on, but it is currently low priority on my to-do list. I love the simplicity of this truck (interior included), so it may stay like that forever. I may just grab a Bluetooth speaker to use with my phone since this thing will only be driver occasionally anyway. Is there any worry with the weight of the paint on the gauge needles? I believe it was one of your posts I read in another thread that made me think of it. It hadn't occurred to me otherwise. If I lost a little of the gauge precision, I think it will still be OK for this old clunker;). I've painted a lot of gauge needles on these trucks but haven't noticed any change in their reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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