Dad's Truck Build

[1986F150Six]

Yes, those are lifting eyes with nuts on the bottom. I'd purchased them when I thought I was going to make a dolly for the engine and wanted to be able to lift it with them. Shipped the engine to Tim instead.

On the nuts, bolts, and washers, thanks for the thoughts.

Now, to think about the near future for Dad's truck. Rest! My goal for this spring has been to get it on all fours with steering and the engine, tranny, and t-case in. That way I can roll it onto the trailer and show it in the fall. And we are almost there. Here's what I need to do to get there, I think:

• Torque the t-case/tranny bolts as they are just snugged up to let the Ultra Black set up

• Torque the engine mount/frame nuts

• Powder coat another tranny mount/crossmember nut and install those and torque them

• Touch up all the fasteners installed recently

• Lube the body mounts, lower the cab, and snug up the bolts

• Roll the truck to the other end of the shop to await its turn again

As for what I'll be doing twixt now and Dad's truck's next turn, it's Big Blue's turn. Recently I've noticed that the clunk in the front end has gotten worse and the steering has gotten less precise, so I fear the frame is cracked. And, I've smelled oil burning one too many times, so it is time to pull the engine and replace the seals - as well as a few other things, like heads, pan, intake(s), exhaust, fuel delivery, spark system, valve covers, etc. Plus, there's a ZF5 sitting in the corner taking up space, so it needs a turn to play.

In other words, a new/different project. But this one won't include media blasting and powder coating everything. So, hopefully it'll go a bit faster.

So, Gary, tell us what you do in your spare time?

[Gary Lewis]

So, Gary, tell us what you do in your spare time?

I drink coffee, as I'm doing now, and otherwise hang out with my bride of almost 50 years. I am quite active in our church. And I have a small web site that gets a bit of attention here and there.

Oh wait! You were being facetious!

[85lebaront2]

I drink coffee, as I'm doing now, and otherwise hang out with my bride of almost 50 years. I am quite active in our church. And I have a small web site that gets a bit of attention here and there.

Oh wait! You were being facetious!

Gee, that sounds about right, I still haven't figured out how I had time to go to work.

[Gary Lewis]

Gee, that sounds about right, I still haven't figured out how I had time to go to work.

You know, a cousin that was 4 or 5 years older than me told me soon after he retired, and a few years before I did, that he was so busy in retirement that he couldn't figure out how he got anything done when working. And now I fully understand.

We usually get up around 6 and drink coffee and "compute" until around 9. Gotta catch up on the news, email, Facebook, etc don't we? Then off to the shop until 10:30 when I'm back for a break. Then lunch. Then a mid-afternoon break. Then in at 5, shower, watch the news & Wheel, and then relax for the evening. So, where would I fit work in????

[Gary Lewis]

You know, a cousin that was 4 or 5 years older than me told me soon after he retired, and a few years before I did, that he was so busy in retirement that he couldn't figure out how he got anything done when working. And now I fully understand.

We usually get up around 6 and drink coffee and "compute" until around 9. Gotta catch up on the news, email, Facebook, etc don't we? Then off to the shop until 10:30 when I'm back for a break. Then lunch. Then a mid-afternoon break. Then in at 5, shower, watch the news & Wheel, and then relax for the evening. So, where would I fit work in????

Well, this may have been the penultimate day for this chapter of Dad's truck's build. I have everything done save for dropping the cab back down and bolting it on, and I might get that done on Sunday afternoon. (Tomorrow I'm judging a high school debate tournament.)

But, let's review what I did today. I was short one nut to attach the transmission mount to the crossmember. But there's not much reason to do one little nut, so I powder coated two nuts, the bracket and bolts for the shift linkage, the lever and nut for the shift linkage, and the bolts to hold the bottom of the engine plate to the tranny. These things:

Oh, and I should point out that the grommet is not new. I removed it, cleaned it with soap and water, and then media-blasted it. Turned out pretty nice.

Then I put all of those things on. Here's a shot of the linkage bracket and shift lever installed. But note that I haven't painted the shaft yet. That's because I'm not sure whether the shift lever goes up or down, but I'm pretty sure it is up. Anyway, I don't want to torque the lever down until I know, and then I'll paint the shaft.

And, for grins, here's a close up showing the lever and the casting number on the tranny:

But, I have a piece missing - the inspection cover for the tranny/torque converter. It is apparently unique to the E4OD as the one for the C6 doesn't come close to fitting. Here's where it goes, and those two bolts are two of the ones I powder coated today. So, does anyone have an extra of these as well as the screws that go with it?

Last, I touched up all the fasteners I've installed recently. So now the cab is ready to go back on and the truck will be put away for a long summer's nap.

[Ford F834]

Well, this may have been the penultimate day for this chapter of Dad's truck's build. I have everything done save for dropping the cab back down and bolting it on, and I might get that done on Sunday afternoon. (Tomorrow I'm judging a high school debate tournament.)

But, let's review what I did today. I was short one nut to attach the transmission mount to the crossmember. But there's not much reason to do one little nut, so I powder coated two nuts, the bracket and bolts for the shift linkage, the lever and nut for the shift linkage, and the bolts to hold the bottom of the engine plate to the tranny. These things:

Oh, and I should point out that the grommet is not new. I removed it, cleaned it with soap and water, and then media-blasted it. Turned out pretty nice.

Then I put all of those things on. Here's a shot of the linkage bracket and shift lever installed. But note that I haven't painted the shaft yet. That's because I'm not sure whether the shift lever goes up or down, but I'm pretty sure it is up. Anyway, I don't want to torque the lever down until I know, and then I'll paint the shaft.

And, for grins, here's a close up showing the lever and the casting number on the tranny:

But, I have a piece missing - the inspection cover for the tranny/torque converter. It is apparently unique to the E4OD as the one for the C6 doesn't come close to fitting. Here's where it goes, and those two bolts are two of the ones I powder coated today. So, does anyone have an extra of these as well as the screws that go with it?

Last, I touched up all the fasteners I've installed recently. So now the cab is ready to go back on and the truck will be put away for a long summer's nap.

I missed a couple posts on my time off... great work Gary! That driveline does look pretty enough to warrant a glass floor 🙂.

It will be a summer cliff hanger waiting to see more progress but it does sound like big blue is due for a turn in the shop and that will be fun to follow too 😁

[Gary Lewis]

I missed a couple posts on my time off... great work Gary! That driveline does look pretty enough to warrant a glass floor 🙂.

It will be a summer cliff hanger waiting to see more progress but it does sound like big blue is due for a turn in the shop and that will be fun to follow too 😁

I rationalize it this way: Dad's truck is a loooooong, slow slog when every part has to be blasted and coated. I can only "slog" for a limited period of time, so I set a goal and work toward that goal. And when I achieve it I need to take a break.

Big Blue is that break, although EFI'ing him is a massive undertaking in and of itself. So, expect to see something pop up on the Big Blue channel soon.

[85lebaront2]

Well, this may have been the penultimate day for this chapter of Dad's truck's build. I have everything done save for dropping the cab back down and bolting it on, and I might get that done on Sunday afternoon. (Tomorrow I'm judging a high school debate tournament.)

But, let's review what I did today. I was short one nut to attach the transmission mount to the crossmember. But there's not much reason to do one little nut, so I powder coated two nuts, the bracket and bolts for the shift linkage, the lever and nut for the shift linkage, and the bolts to hold the bottom of the engine plate to the tranny. These things:

Oh, and I should point out that the grommet is not new. I removed it, cleaned it with soap and water, and then media-blasted it. Turned out pretty nice.

Then I put all of those things on. Here's a shot of the linkage bracket and shift lever installed. But note that I haven't painted the shaft yet. That's because I'm not sure whether the shift lever goes up or down, but I'm pretty sure it is up. Anyway, I don't want to torque the lever down until I know, and then I'll paint the shaft.

And, for grins, here's a close up showing the lever and the casting number on the tranny:

But, I have a piece missing - the inspection cover for the tranny/torque converter. It is apparently unique to the E4OD as the one for the C6 doesn't come close to fitting. Here's where it goes, and those two bolts are two of the ones I powder coated today. So, does anyone have an extra of these as well as the screws that go with it?

Last, I touched up all the fasteners I've installed recently. So now the cab is ready to go back on and the truck will be put away for a long summer's nap.

Gary, I think you have the lever for the cable shifter on that transmission. The one that came out of Big Ugly (parts truck) had a lever that pointed down and had a grommet for the rod to snap into. Here is a top view and you can see the lever on the side pointing down.

[Gary Lewis]

Gary, I think you have the lever for the cable shifter on that transmission. The one that came out of Big Ugly (parts truck) had a lever that pointed down and had a grommet for the rod to snap into. Here is a top view and you can see the lever on the side pointing down.

No, I don't have and extra E4OD cover plate.

Bill - I'm pretty sure that's not for a cable as Huck, the parts truck, had rods - which I plan to use. But, I do see that the lever points down on yours, so that's probably the way this one is supposed to go. I'll swap it and tighten the nut finger-tight for now and sort it out when the time comes to install the linkage. Thanks.

And, I appreciate your response on the inspection plate. I may have to go back to the transmission shop. Hmmmm, I'll be really close to it tomorrow, but it is Saturday.

[Gary Lewis]

Bill - I'm pretty sure that's not for a cable as Huck, the parts truck, had rods - which I plan to use. But, I do see that the lever points down on yours, so that's probably the way this one is supposed to go. I'll swap it and tighten the nut finger-tight for now and sort it out when the time comes to install the linkage. Thanks.And, I appreciate your response on the inspection plate. I may have to go back to the transmission shop. Hmmmm, I'll be really close to it tomorrow, but it is Saturday.

Houston - We have a problem. The cab hits the transfer case.

In the pic below you can see that it hits at the red oval, and almost does at the orange oval. And this is with the body mounts just snugged down hand-tight.

 

 

 

The problem appears to be due to the extra length of the E4OD, which puts the transfer case back behind the bump-up in the floor that was apparently put there to clear the driveline.

Options that I've thought of are:

 

1. Smaller Transfer Case: This is the BW1356, so perhaps it is bigger than the original NP208 or the later BW1345? I have the 208 in the attic and the 1345 on Big Blue, so tomorrow I'll be measuring to see if there are any differences.

 

Shorter Tranny Mount: Perhaps I could use a shorter mount between the tranny and the crossmember?

 

Modify The Floor: I don't like this idea, but perhaps the floor can be raised further back. For instance, cut the floor and graft in part of another floor that moves the raised spot rearward.

 

Shims: As a last resort perhaps shims could be used under everything to get maybe 1/4" of clearance. But, they would have to be under everything as the cab's creases line up with those of the bed pretty well right now, so the bed, cab, and the front of the fenders would have to be raised.

But, what ideas do you have? Which of my ideas are good and which are bad.