So what did you do with your truck today?

I removed the high capacity organic helper springs from my utility trailer today....



I was all set to flip the axle because it must have been bottoming out for them to wedge those between the axle and frame right??? Front leaf bolt is seized into the spring solid. Several spirited hits with a 5lb sledge didn't budge it. I spent an hour or so fighting it before giving up for the day. Pulled the blocks out and set the trailer down and there's still 2" between the frame and axle.... It really could just be because the springs are all seized to the bolts though. There's probably 1500+ pounds of scrap in the trailer so it's not empty. I'll have to drill out that shackle bolt at some point but not today.

Jesus Freak said:

AND if it goes wry, you'll get to buy all sorts of new stuff for your truck!

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Ever the optimist

Today I worked on my leaky plumbing... removed the right side exhaust manifold. Surprisingly easy since the bolts can either be reached from above or through the openings in the fender liner. Also the heads were replaced with rebuilt ones a few years ago.

Three of the bolts came out stiffly and the first few threads were buggered up. I think the genius mechanic who replaced them didn't bother to chase the threads in the replacement heads... anyway I used my rethreading set on all eight bolts and the matching holes in the head.

Next I removed the studs from the manifold exit since I'm not doing this job over if the Y has to come out again They also came out with just a little persuasion, torch not required, and they DO have the hex body... hmm. I don't have two 7/16 bolts of the right length, but (at least until I get to the hardware store) I can just turn the studs around and use them as bolts to trial-fit everything!

Then I decided to try "cozinsky"s method of using an aerosol can for shim material. https://www.oilburners.net/threads/...lled-my-boost-2022-edition.91627/post-1107945
I changed his approach slightly, making a ring to fit snugly over the male end of the Y (very delicately MIG welding the ends together). I pushed it back over the Y after applying ultra copper RTV to the inside. It's a nice snug fit in the up-pipe, so with more copper RTV it might just work. (If not, the next and final step is an IDIoit pipe!) Also I ground the welds flat to also help with leaks...



I had to reach up into the up-pipe female end with a wire wheel to remove as much of the old copper RTV as possible. Also wiped the collar with lacquer thinner.

Then I put the exhaust manifold back on (that would have been much easier with a helper). I got 7 bolts started but couldn't get the one in the rear... it took me WAY too long to realize that I should have hi-tacked the steel gasket to the head, not the manifold, because it was bending around the dipstick tube! I took all but the front bolt out, snaked the gasket into position, and then all of them went right in. With anti-seize this time. Snugged them down and will torque them tomorrow.

Somewhere in there, I also loosened all six exhaust housing bolts to reclock the turbo. I learned my lesson - don't tighten anything until every piece is in place. The invisible bolt at 7 o'clock position is not too hard if you remove the wastegate - then a box end wrench can reach it.

That was quite enough for one afternoon!

Think there's enough soot on the outside of the Y?

Took out an old, rotten passenger side battery tray from my baby and put in a new one from Jeff's.

I think it only took two days to show up and it was a beaut'. Fit real nice and did the trick. I did not notice the old one hanging in by a thread until I was checking her over for Va inspection. Got hold downs and hardware to top it off.

Should not be a problem passing inspection.

I have sunk a ton of washingtons in this thing but we both deserve it...I think.

I had to cut two bolts with a wheel and do the vise-grip thing while the Girl turned the ratchet but we managed.

I found two anti-theft bolts that were the right threads in my collection... Anti-theft, you say..?? Reverse torx heads...from some other thing that I musta put in reg'lar bolts in disgust.

I can thank all of you guys for making me aware of Bronco Graveyard.
They have done a good job for me...

Thanks !!

P.S. I am saving what good metal is left from the old tray to make a bracket for holding and/or actuating my 'Brake' warning light idea.

Instead of tracking down a factory switch for the parking brake that has the same possible breakage problem...I figured out another way and I'll share it with you guys when it is done.

Now I gotta figure out how to upload pictures on this site.

Told you I was new at this...roll yer eyes all you want...I don't mind.

Oh boy it's been a busy day.
New upper and lower rad hose, installed my 3 core aluminum radiator finally, finished the serpentine belt conversion along with alternator wiring and ac plumbing, installed a coolant filter, Ron's upgraded cooling fan and electric fan clutch kit, and proceeded to keep touching the hot radiator while checking for leaks like the king smooth brain I am.

Quite amazing how much more compact things are with v belts out of the picture.

Yup, did it again. Leaned on the radiator to check the power steering fluid.

I think it's time to call it quits for the day.

Not just today, but the last couple of days.
Got gifted a Beans Diesel sump that was sitting on the shelf for too long and figured I’d put it in the 6 month old 38 gallon rear tank I had in my old 85 F250. But in doing so, I had to remove the big chrome bumper with the integrated hitch, gaudy dual exhaust and tips, and transfer the bumper, hitch, tank, sending unit, and rebuild the trailer wiring. Found a literal rats nest on top of the old tank and a bunch of small pieces of plastic from the old pickup in the bottom of the old tank.

Somewhere in all of that, @Jesus Freak rolled by in his wrecker and took my mind off the fact that nothing wanted to cooperate on a 38 year old truck. Go figure. Lol

But she’s done now, I’ve got full use of 38 gallons in the rear, and obviously added range now too. Helps out on the 75 miles round trip commute.

Also moved the gooseneck in my buddies yard since he somehow trapped his 7.3 Super duty in his backyard.

Oh I almost forgot, took a snapshot of my truck, I ain't lying that I have one!

Nero said:

Oh I almost forgot, took a snapshot of my truck, I ain't lying that I have one!

You must be registered for see images attach

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Your emoji is a computer thingy. We can tell that the picture if Photoshopped, this is obviously a Suzuki samurai that's been airbrushed and "augmented".

Edit: here's a couple of the subtle hints in his picture:
#1 the picture is a single wheel one ton but the badge says F250
#2 the most obvious is that the clear coat on top of the fenders isnt cooked and peeling enough.
#3 though very subtle and not observable unless you know, but the exhaust pipe on his samurai sticks way out the back and you can see in this picture where the background is fuzzy where he's trying to hide it.

Mighty fine trucks, all...

Nero...that was a lot to get done in a day...congrats...

R squared...that was a lot to get done, too...I am glad I did not hafta deal with that rats nest...might not, either...my truck has a lot of soot back there...gotta get it on a lift and wash it out.

Anyway...you guys are an inspiration for me.

Jesus Freak said:

Your emoji is a computer thingy. We can tell that the picture if Photoshopped, this is obviously a Suzuki samurai that's been airbrushed and "augmented".

Edit: here's a couple of the subtle hints in his picture:
#1 the picture is a single wheel one ton but the badge says F250
#2 the most obvious is that the clear coat on top of the fenders isnt cooked and peeling enough.
#3 though very subtle and not observable unless you know, but the exhaust pipe on his samurai sticks way out the back and you can see in this picture where the background is fuzzy where he's trying to hide it.

Click to expand...

You're hilarious. When I built this truck back in... 2016? 2017? Shoot can't remember exactly when.. I had it painted. The reason that it is badged as a f250 is because I used the front clip off of my old f250 and was too lazy to change it. I have the 350 badges around here someplace.

Here have some photos of when I built it.

Nero said:

You're hilarious. When I built this truck back in... 2016? 2017? Shoot can't remember exactly when.. I had it painted. The reason that it is badged as a f250 is because I used the front clip off of my old f250 and was too lazy to change it. I have the 350 badges around here someplace.

Here have some photos of when I built it.

Click to expand...

Alright, I guess that answers, but we've got our eye on you!

R Squared said:

Somewhere in all of that, @Jesus Freak rolled by in his wrecker and took my mind off the fact that nothing wanted to cooperate on a 38 year old truck. Go figure. Lol

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This is the part where I almost made a real friend.........not @R Squared , but his wife! She saw that wrecker and KNEW there was about to be at least one less old truck in her yard! But unfortunately, for her....... and me, all I did was encourage him in his collection of old rusty trucks. But he did intimate that if things didn't go as well as they turned out that I might have had a shot at getting another bull nose crew cab.

Until I get a heater core shutoff valve installed... Temporary fix.
Charging the ac today too.

Today…

Pulled off the drivers side valve cover. Everything seems tight. Put it back on, is leaky. The gaskets are probably original, so I ordered new ones. It had a leak before I took it off. But now it is worse, and it was real bad before. Only oil leak on the truck. Looking forward to havin it sealed up.

Ordered a hood to cowl seal.

Put a radio in. It is an OEM one. It might not work, but I think I don’t have it wired correctly. Although I probably won’t be able to hear it even if it did work, the diesel clatter is real. At least the radio looks cool…

Fiddled around with timing and the relative advance arm in the side of the pump. I think I got it where I want it. Seems pretty advanced, clatters really loud, but sounds strong and runs pretty good. Also adjusted fuel screw, less smoke but more power after turning it back half a flat, I had it turned up 2 1/2 before, so now at two. But getting that timing right (or closer to what I think is right since I didn’t use a meter) makes it run better. Lugging hard and/or burying the pedal still gives me smoke, but at idle when warmed up it doesn’t chuff. Higher rpms turns the black smoke to gray, only when the pedal is completely buried though.

Ordered detent springs for my ZF5 as well. Can’t wait to get that in there…

Did a clutch safety switch delete, no longer have to push in clutch to start. Dangerous but handy sometimes.

I used to have a valve cover leak that would not quit even with new gaskets... I finally discovered there was a load of debris in one of the cover bolt holes that caused the bolt to bottom out before the gasket was compressed properly. After cleaning and chasing all the holes (pair of rebuilt heads), it stopped leaking