So what did you do with your truck today?

snicklas · Apr 30, 2017

rdoimages said:
I've been nursing along a failing starter, really slow, weak, possibly the original. I bought a DB high torque and decided that today was the day. Talk about the most aggravating, dirty, curse filled job I've done in along time. The top bolt is nearly impossible to get to, there is no space, I was covered to the elbows in greasy dirt, did I mention aggravating and curse filled. I swear I'll scrap the truck before I ever do another starter. The engineer that designed the bolt pattern on it should be hunted down and killed repeatedly.

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A couple tips on changing the starter.

1. Replace the top bolt with a stud. I just changed a starter, it is much easier with a stud in the top bolt hole. The starter will hang on the stud, and you can start the other 2 bolts easily. Then put a lock washer and nut on the stud and you are golden.

2. If you use a 1/2 in deep socket, 3 inch extension and a 3/8 in air ratchet. It is the perfect length to reach the top bolt/nut. I discovered that trick a few years ago on the 1st IDI starter I changed.

Yes, it's a job that sucks, but there are a few tricks to make it a bit easier......

IDIBRONCO · Apr 30, 2017

A little back story, I bought a house with no outside storage whatsoever. I bought a piece of property in another town 15 miles away with a the nicest garage I've ever had. Someday, I'm going to be moving there. I was going to do some work there today, so I hopped in the 81 F150 and drove over. The garage is only about 2 1/2 blocks off of the highway, but it's all uphill. Thanks to the winter storm, it was all I could do to get the 2 wheel drive F150 up to the garage. Again, thanks to the winter storm, the power went out after about two hours. I was glad once again that I hadn't pulled the engine out of the F250 4 wheel drive and it was sitting there right outside the garage waiting to have the engine pulled. So I was very happy to fire it up and drive it home. It saved the day once again.

rotarydragon · Apr 30, 2017

Snapped the alternator belt which took out the belt on the vacuum pump on the way out (not that it would have mattered if it had stayed put). Fortunately I was slowing down for a yellow light from a ways back and could down shift and try to push myself through the back of the truck to stop it.

Of course it was Sunday night after the parts stores closed. Why don't I carry extra belts? Oh yeah, cause I'm drain bamaged!

pelky350 · May 1, 2017

Changed, radiator hoses and thermostat, coolant and all three belts with the good stuff!

chillman88 · May 1, 2017

rotarydragon said:
Snapped the alternator belt which took out the belt on the vacuum pump on the way out (not that it would have mattered if it had stayed put). Fortunately I was slowing down for a yellow light from a ways back and could down shift and try to push myself through the back of the truck to stop it.

Of course it was Sunday night after the parts stores closed. Why don't I carry extra belts? Oh yeah, cause I'm drain bamaged!

Did that a couple weeks ago. Now there's a spare set of belts under the back seat!

catbird7 · May 1, 2017

Turkey hunting in the morning, more fire wood cutting in afternoon. The old highboy works pretty good as a log skidder!