Windbane Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 I have a 1986 F150 302EFI manual, long box std cab. It has been in our family since new. Was the first vehicle I drove, first time I drove it I was around 12. Could barely press the clutch! It only has 50000km (31000 miles) on it. It was my grandfathers before my parents took it over after he died in 1994. And since then it really only was used to plow our driveway, which is around 1km long. My grandfather used and abused his truck, got it stuck a lot and ditched it a few times while plowing Broke the frame ahead of the front suspension (he should have gotten an f250). Not to say my dad or I have never gotten stuck . We have never really had any issues with it over the years, had to park it last winter as oil was shooting out from the valve covers and splashing onto the red hot exhaust manifold. And I really didn't want it to catch fire...So this past summer, I have been off on disability from work, so I decided to take it upon my self to try my hand at wrenching on it. I have way more experience with computers than vehicles, but I figured I can't learn anything without trying. So I have replaced the gaskets on the valve covers and the plenum gasket on the upper intake manifold (why is it in two sections?) Also found a couple of broken and gnawed on wires, one going one of the fuel injectors and the other who knows. The break pedal was too mushy, so I decided to bleed the brakes and I ended up having to change the wheel cylinders on the rear. I managed to break the bleeder screw off flush with the old wheel cylinder, so it turned out to be cheaper (and easier to find) to replace the wheel cylinders than to get new bleeder screws. Was also a good thing that I did, cause I found the adjusting cable on one of the rear brakes was broken. After this I had to bleed the master cylinder, as the forward fluid reservoir was bone dry, hence the mushy brakes. I also had to replace the steering coupler (rag joint). And after all that it still runs, yay me...Next will be replacing the front and rear suspension, probably a small lift to help with clearance for the plow mount under the front end. The plow and attachment frame must weight a thousand lbs, it is quite robust. The front coils have the factory air bags in them, but only one holds any air and the other is jammed right up near the top of the coil with the air inlet busted off. Also I will have to do some frame repair on one of the cross braces under the truck bed, it is all rusted out where it attaches to the frame. And whatever else comes up!For how frustrating and infuriating it is to work on an old vehicle (so much rust), it is also a lot of fun. Kinda wish I had started sooner wrenching on vehicles, instead of waiting till my forties... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Well, welcome! We love the family heirloom/hand-me-down trucks here. I wish I still had my great uncle's car I learned to drive! Sounds about right for a plow truck, especially with the thinner frames of a 150 model. Another of our Canadian members (Cory, from NS) is offering a master class is crossmember replacement right now! . I've just replaced my rusty brake lines and am looking at doing away with my lower steering shaft rag joint. Gary (the founder of this forum) has kindly offered me a steering box spline clamp to experiment with. If you intend to keep plowing and salting with this truck consider covering those bleeders in grease so they stay corrosion free in the future. You sound like you're really learning a lot about these trucks. I hope it's enjoyable. At the very least you're keeping busy through the lockdown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Well, welcome! We love the family heirloom/hand-me-down trucks here. I wish I still had my great uncle's car I learned to drive! Sounds about right for a plow truck, especially with the thinner frames of a 150 model. Another of our Canadian members (Cory, from NS) is offering a master class is crossmember replacement right now! . I've just replaced my rusty brake lines and am looking at doing away with my lower steering shaft rag joint. Gary (the founder of this forum) has kindly offered me a steering box spline clamp to experiment with. If you intend to keep plowing and salting with this truck consider covering those bleeders in grease so they stay corrosion free in the future. You sound like you're really learning a lot about these trucks. I hope it's enjoyable. At the very least you're keeping busy through the lockdown. Oh, the plenum is divided because... A) It is much easier to cast and machine that way. B) you don't have to do the manifold-cylinder head gaskets + replenish the coolant if you only need to address the throttle body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Another of our Canadian members (Cory, from NS) is offering a master class is crossmember replacement right now! I'm replacing sections of my crossmembers with .23 mig wire!! lol. I'm picking up some bolts today so I can slap them back in there and start working on the frame! Welcome aboard Windbane. Where are you located in the great white north? I know all about the rusty (and broken) frames, so I feel your pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Another of our Canadian members (Cory, from NS) is offering a master class is crossmember replacement right now! I'm replacing sections of my crossmembers with .23 mig wire!! lol. I'm picking up some bolts today so I can slap them back in there and start working on the frame! Welcome aboard Windbane. Where are you located in the great white north? I know all about the rusty (and broken) frames, so I feel your pain. Cory, I hope you have some chunks of copper plate to weld over. (I think it's called plate once you get to 1/4" or thicker???) This has proved invaluable in the recent resurrection of my tire carrier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 As the others have said, welcome! And, I'll echo the "where are you located"? But I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and we can add you if you'd like. Nothing exact as we don't want people showing up on our doorsteps. That's a cool story. Have you seen that we have a "virtual show" going on? Read up on it at Documentation/Truck Shows/2020 Truck Show. You should enter. Computers? I retired from IT, so have seen a few of them myself. But I enjoy wrenching. Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpin Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 As the others have said, welcome! And, I'll echo the "where are you located"? But I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and we can add you if you'd like. Nothing exact as we don't want people showing up on our doorsteps. That's a cool story. Have you seen that we have a "virtual show" going on? Read up on it at Documentation/Truck Shows/2020 Truck Show. You should enter. Computers? I retired from IT, so have seen a few of them myself. But I enjoy wrenching. Welcome! Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac79 Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Welcome! Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Welcome! Welcome aboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windbane Posted September 3, 2020 Author Share Posted September 3, 2020 As the others have said, welcome! And, I'll echo the "where are you located"? But I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and we can add you if you'd like. Nothing exact as we don't want people showing up on our doorsteps. That's a cool story. Have you seen that we have a "virtual show" going on? Read up on it at Documentation/Truck Shows/2020 Truck Show. You should enter. Computers? I retired from IT, so have seen a few of them myself. But I enjoy wrenching. Welcome! I'm located in north eastern Ontario...and thanks for all of the welcomes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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