20191230_212712.jpg
496 hits | 110.99 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
I needed a bigger truck to (rarely) tow heavier & longer trailers, and this one was priced right (be...

20191230_212646.jpg
302 hits | 77.29 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
The most-recent owner scrubbed the hood with stainless brillo & then hosed it down with primer, so I...

20191230_212802.jpg
250 hits | 73.54 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
This is the worst damage I've found, but I think I can work it back out enough to paint & ignore. T...

20191230_212830.jpg
214 hits | 90.01 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
There are several bolt holes in the bed from the 5th-wheel rails, but no rust or goose-neck hole. T...

20191230_212918.jpg
269 hits | 79.13 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
VC label (edited) showing what each code means
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

[url=https://ww...

20191230_213202.jpg
226 hits | 68.32 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
VECI label on the hood above the master cylinder
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

[url=https://...

20191230_213452.jpg
217 hits | 68.06 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
Vacuum map on the Left valve cover
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

[url=https://www.supermotor...

20191230_213156.jpg
220 hits | 99.77 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
The engine bay was very dusty, but not nearly as grimy as many I've seen, so the low mileage shown o...

20191231_090052.jpg
271 hits | 107.01 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
This is after 2 wash/rinse cycles last night, using a LOT of water & some PurplePower mixed with Daw...

20191231_145248.jpg
265 hits | 97.45 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
The main problem was a ruptured fuel pressure regulator (FPR).
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.
...

20191231_150036.jpg
561 hits | 48.7 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
The failed FPR caused the engine to run very rich, fouling all the spark plugs. Fortunately, it see...

20200101_153505.jpg
1942 hits | 91.83 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
Ths failed Fuel Pressure Regulator (FPR) was diagnosed simply by pulling its red vacuum line off, th...

20191231_180623.jpg
277 hits | 70.19 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
While changing the fouled plugs, I pulled the distributor cap to clean & grease it. So I also pulled...

20191230_212905.jpg
263 hits | 79.93 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
Both window motors have the typical bushing failure, resulting in the motors running without the gla...

20191230_213006.jpg
256 hits | 71.99 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
The dash is surprisingly un-molested (just the trailer brake controller in the pocket), and the righ...

20191230_213017.jpg
248 hits | 63.34 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
The instrument cluster appears to be completely functional.
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

20191230_212951.jpg
269 hits | 68.36 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
The dash pad is also in good condition - I expect that stain on top to wash off.
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO...

20191230_212942.jpg
206 hits | 80.76 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
The seat upholstery is also in surprsingly-good condition - it almost doesn't even need to be washed...

20191230_213050.jpg
247 hits | 48.36 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
No surprise that the headliner is sagging, but it's still very clean.
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, cli...

20191231_160054.jpg
230 hits | 80.22 KB | Posted: 12/31/19
I pulled the w/s trim & wiper valance to clean under them, and to paint the valance when I paint the...

20200101_171526.jpg
290 hits | 69.25 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
The tires are dangerously old - I'm glad I didn't drive the truck home. DOT says 6-year-old tires ar...

20200102_175333.jpg
244 hits | 78.45 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
After changing the plugs & routing the wires, I set the timing and then marked the distributor base ...

20200102_193938.jpg
861 hits | 93.24 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
While swapping to a Saginaw pump, I added an oil pressure extension so I can mount a sender later.
I...

20200102_205215.jpg
244 hits | 52.44 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
The Saginaw swap didn't cause the belt length to change significantly, so I've ordered a new [url=ht...

20200103_195305.jpg
234 hits | 76.93 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
With the new plugs, and correct timing, I was able to drive the front end onto ramps and check the u...

20200103_195332.jpg
227 hits | 48.77 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
The pan gasket seems to be leaking - there's nothing wet above it, and the gasket is coming out of t...

20200103_195347.jpg
214 hits | 52.81 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
The engine mounts are broken, and the trans mount is soaked in ATF, so I'll replace all 3 with my fa...

20200103_195816.jpg
202 hits | 77.79 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
I'm not happy with the wiring for the trailer connector in the bed, and the 6-pin wiring under the b...

20200104_180023.jpg
385 hits | 82.98 KB | Posted: 1/4/20
The interior wasn't as filthy as many that I've seen, worked on, or owned; but I still like to start...

20200106_164228.jpg
255 hits | 69.92 KB | Posted: 1/6/20
I hosed all of this out last night, and it's dry this afternoon. I beat the carpet with a flexible ...

20200106_182246.jpg
416 hits | 102.22 KB | Posted: 1/6/20
This is how I detail a vehicle. Since the steering column needs repair, I pulled it to swap for the...

20200116_182046.jpg
233 hits | 50.57 KB | Posted: 1/19/20
After soaking for a couple of days, most of the coffee came out of the seat belts.

20191230_212952.jpg
316 hits | 72.28 KB | Posted: 1/11/20
It's hard to believe that's the same dash pad with only 1 coat of dye. But I put a few more layers ...

20200116_151858.jpg
679 hits | 59.74 KB | Posted: 1/19/20
I used a landscape timber to raise the cab and change the mounts to [url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B...

20200110_105515.jpg
621 hits | 108.24 KB | Posted: 1/11/20
With the bed off, I cleaned the rear chassis & fuel tanks. The front one doesn't work...
IF THE IMAG...

20200110_133328.jpg
694 hits | 80.61 KB | Posted: 1/11/20
It took several cycles of washing & rinsing to get the tops of the tanks clean enough to open the fr...

20200110_163930.jpg
1128 hits | 61.34 KB | Posted: 1/11/20
Quick-Disconnect Bails are commonly damaged because they're usually jammed by dirt & sand, preventin...

20200110_165034.jpg
248 hits | 79.79 KB | Posted: 1/15/20
The spare doesn't appear to have been touched in the past 18 years, so some effort was necessary jus...

20200115_113002.jpg
290 hits | 80.02 KB | Posted: 1/15/20
The truck had never rolled easily, and when I tried to winch it, I realized that the rear brakes wer...

20200113_151816.jpg
258 hits | 60.82 KB | Posted: 1/15/20
The new plugs got a thick layer of soot just from what was in the combustion chambers while I ran th...

20200113_150519.jpg
260 hits | 84.74 KB | Posted: 1/15/20
While I was running the engine, an oil leak became apparent, running down the plate behind the pan -...

20200113_174344.jpg
220 hits | 81.84 KB | Posted: 1/15/20
Since the engine is coming out, I pulled the radiator and flushed it back & forth a few times to rem...

20200116_110548.jpg
220 hits | 77.5 KB | Posted: 2/23/20
While the engine was out of the way, I sandblasted & painted the battery tray, and galvanized its su...

20200121_171806.jpg
397 hits | 78.27 KB | Posted: 2/23/20
I polished the crank flange, oiled it, and drove in the new [url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096A23M...

20200118_183602.jpg
358 hits | 60.28 KB | Posted: 2/23/20
The pan gasket is a cheap silicone replacement with undersized grommets that allowed the pan to pinc...

20200123_173533.jpg
829 hits | 67.42 KB | Posted: 2/29/20
This engine's timing chain slack is about 3 degrees with about 124K miles, so not enough to worry ab...

20200121_192102.jpg
273 hits | 61.59 KB | Posted: 2/23/20
With new pan gasket (Mahle OS32492) & RMS ([url=htt...

20200129_154851.jpg
416 hits | 59.25 KB | Posted: 2/24/20
I also pulled the valve covers (their gaskets are the [url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CLKMBO]Mahl...

20200225_113119.jpg
201 hits | 100.71 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
IDK how long they'll last since they're thermal labels, but I re-printed the plenum & throttle body ...

20200209_184723.jpg
238 hits | 71.58 KB | Posted: 2/23/20
Before dropping it back in, I sandblasted & painted the exhaust manifolds, and had them planed (incl...

20200328_160954.jpg
217 hits | 96.43 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
I replaced both engine mounts & the trans mount with my own fabricated polyurethane ones. Before tig...

20200127_112735.jpg
686 hits | 44.94 KB | Posted: 2/24/20
The front tank was nasty, but not very rusty, so I pressure-washed it a few times. The FDM, pump, & ...

20200408_134500_01.jpg
286 hits | 88.8 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
After replacing the front pump & sender, the bed went back on.

[url=https://www.supermotors.net/reg...

20200417_164802.jpg
960 hits | 80.35 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
This fuel rail's crossover tubing is more-brittle than any I've encountered before. Apparently I br...

20200327_165043.jpg
397 hits | 53.37 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
While the wiper valance is off, I added a screen to the fresh-air intake to keep rodents & leaves ou...

20200328_181627.jpg
224 hits | 96.97 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
I soldered a new clamp onto the positive battery cable.

[url=https://www.supermotors.net/registry/2...

20200329_144339.jpg
1210 hits | 80.07 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
This cheap replacement negative cable lacked a frame ground tab, so I made one from a short piece o...

20200117_160208.jpg
307 hits | 51.57 KB | Posted: 2/23/20
I managed to peel the headliner off the backer nearly intact, which only means less scrubbing the fo...

20200407_110110.jpg
258 hits | 37.84 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
The new headliner material (~$22/yd at a fabric supply in 2019) went on pretty easily, but I might n...

20200409_101706.jpg
220 hits | 76.92 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
The carpet & rear seat are back in.
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

20200409_104350.jpg
227 hits | 80.68 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
Per this TSB, I removed the plastic tab...

20200412_160520.jpg
313 hits | 96.52 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
Before re-installing the dash, I extended the power socket circuit for later devices, and added some...

20200409_114908.jpg
198 hits | 52.09 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
I converted the glove box bulb to this LED strip.

20200421_193017.jpg
350 hits | 68.63 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
This hose ruptured because I forgot to remove the line clamp before spinning the engine over, but it...

20200421_190126.jpg
768 hits | 96.19 KB | Posted: 4/23/20
It put up a good fight, but eventually, I got it running smoothly. The ECT was bad, causing a rich m...

20200113_190204.jpg
213 hits | 67.83 KB | Posted: 1/15/20
While disconnecting the exhaust, I noticed that BOTH of the downstream check valves had been install...

20200423_162724.jpg
225 hits | 73.87 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
Because the U-nut for the spare's J-bolt swivels & twists on the angled part of the crossmember, mak...

20200423_161213.jpg
454 hits | 74.67 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
I've always hated the factory spare hold-down bolt, because it sticks up from the tray, and is only ...

20200421_201953.jpg
198 hits | 64.05 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
Removing the limit strap from the driver's chair increases the rear access. The passenger chair doe...

20200426_203523.jpg
180 hits | 64.67 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
The ground pin was loose on the tank plate, so I peened it over to tighten it down. The plastic insu...

20200428_141824.jpg
175 hits | 70.63 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
The wheel mounting surfaces (including on the wheels themselves) need to be cleaned every time a whe...

20200429_173341.jpg
492 hits | 84.91 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
As usual, the door weatherbelts needed to be replace...

20200430_103721.jpg
278 hits | 50.54 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
The RV mirror button was gone, so I'm gluing on one for an autodimming compass mirror. I forgot to ...

20200501_181204.jpg
192 hits | 65.71 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
StepShields (88407) protect the paint on the thresho...

20200502_134655.jpg
203 hits | 84.04 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
Screen keeps rodents, bugs, & debris out of the air filter housing. The grill is also screened, and ...

20200504_114911.jpg
230 hits | 62.84 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
This armrest's original pot-metal plate was broken, but I made a steel repair plate that simply bolt...

20200505_111814.jpg
242 hits | 80.52 KB | Posted: 5/6/20
The rear bumper was too rough-looking even for me, so I found this mangled one in my junkpile & stra...

20200505_142947.jpg
345 hits | 59.24 KB | Posted: 5/6/20
The ride was pretty harsh on my first test drive, so I spread the leaves & greased them. It made a b...

20200507_153722.jpg
299 hits | 78.23 KB | Posted: 5/8/20
As soon as the TPMS arrived, I got 5 new Cooper Discoverer AT3 LT235/85R16s installed (load range E,...

20200521_193713.jpg
226 hits | 50.21 KB | Posted: 5/25/20
This is the smallest [url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FGZDTL]TPMS display available from CAREUD[/u...

20200430_194003.jpg
235 hits | 64.57 KB | Posted: 5/5/20
The painter wasn't satisfied with how I had sanded the hood, so he started grinding & sanding it mor...

20200506_183708.jpg
234 hits | 71.33 KB | Posted: 5/6/20
The painter wouldn't let me spray it by myself, so he came to my shop for a few hours to supervise &...

20200507_153609.jpg
414 hits | 79.28 KB | Posted: 5/8/20
When the paint cured enough to handle it, I replaced the seal under the wiper valance, and installed...

20200507_162254.jpg
240 hits | 109.24 KB | Posted: 5/8/20
I installed the hood alone by placing pads on the fenders & wiper valance, and carefully setting the...

20200507_162229.jpg
293 hits | 96.41 KB | Posted: 5/7/20
I still haven't decided if I'll spray the upper body to match the new paint on the hood & wiper vala...

20200516_171628.jpg
258 hits | 106.77 KB | Posted: 5/16/20
The front brake hoses were too badly rusted & degraded (braiding exposed) to risk driving, when new ...

20200516_223959.jpg
210 hits | 67.74 KB | Posted: 5/16/20
While waiting for the Motorcraft BRR211 hub-rotors t...

20200508_205532.jpg
249 hits | 92.22 KB | Posted: 5/19/20
Once the 17-year-old tire noise was eliminated, a bearing roar became apparent. The lack of grease i...

20200511_164713.jpg
397 hits | 77.73 KB | Posted: 5/19/20
While the Left spindle was off, I washed & sandblasted it, and then painted it with engine black and...

20200519_225509.jpg
364 hits | 101.27 KB | Posted: 5/19/20
The pads & rotors were ruined. The Right pads looked baked, but at this point, I can't tell if it's ...

20200603_172811.jpg
249 hits | 63.13 KB | Posted: 6/3/20
Tracking down this caliper was VERY difficult - apparently, BRC2RM isn't a very common one. So just ...

20200521_180307.jpg
445 hits | 88.07 KB | Posted: 5/25/20
To make the autodimming compass RV mirror work, it needs ground, switched power, and reverse-light p...

20200525_124120.jpg
216 hits | 64.39 KB | Posted: 5/25/20
When the front sensor (with my finger blocking it) is darker than the rear sensor (as when a vehicle...

20200525_124145.jpg
257 hits | 69.06 KB | Posted: 5/25/20
While the dash was out, I added wiring for a bed toolbox & bed LEDs; and for the floor console runni...

20200614_162304.jpg
212 hits | 93.7 KB | Posted: 9/4/20
These 3 of my 6 trucks have these DOT-legal projector headlights; so do the 4th & 5th. The 6th is un...

FrontMain58L.jpg
362 hits | 113.38 KB | Posted: 9/18/20
I chose not to replace the front main while the engine was out because I couldn't tell that it was l...

Alignmenot.jpg
203 hits | 54.32 KB | Posted: 12/19/20
After driving the new tires & upper BJ a few hundred miles to make sure there were no other obvious ...

SeatCovers.jpg
442 hits | 91.02 KB | Posted: 12/19/20
The leather was only getting worse, so I found [url=https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/dash designs,K...

20201218_152324.jpg
431 hits | 92.98 KB | Posted: 12/19/20
After putting a few hundred miles on the current diff oil, I swapped to the later-style [url=https:/...

DiffOil1025.jpg
354 hits | 45.55 KB | Posted: 12/23/20
Since the XL3 friction modifier was out-of-stock any...

MirrorsBB.jpg
255 hits | 61.23 KB | Posted: 4/19/22
The door mirrors that were on the truck when I bought it were cheap aftermarkets, that had been re-d...

ATF Coolers.jpg
209 hits | 76.91 KB | Posted: 12/19/20
The transmission is still shifting smoothly, so to protect it, I added this ~11x11" stacked-pla...

R134aPrep.jpg
284 hits | 79.81 KB | Posted: 12/19/20
In preparation for converting to the '94-96 HFC134a refrigerant system (from a blue donor '94 F150),...

AC134a.jpg
518 hits | 53.44 KB | Posted: 3/26/22
R134a Swap
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

The A/C system had already been converted to R134a ...

MirrorsTrlr.jpg
153 hits | 51.9 KB | Posted: 3/26/22
2-position Towing Mirrors
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

The previous mirrors couldn't handle...

BelRX65.jpg
126 hits | 53.25 KB | Posted: 3/26/22
Bel RX65 Radar Detector
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

I transfer this among all my trucks...

AllonBrights.jpg
246 hits | 68.03 KB | Posted: 3/29/22
All-on Brights
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

I soldered some wires to the MFS connector a...

BypassHose.jpg
378 hits | 81.21 KB | Posted: 4/8/22
Just before making a quick trip from Memphis to Gainesville, FL, I noticed a small coolant leak, but...

CoolantReservoirSediment.jpg
195 hits | 69.7 KB | Posted: 4/8/22
Coolant Reservoir Sediment
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

It only takes a minute with a be...

TPS.jpg
383 hits | 58.24 KB | Posted: 6/15/22
TPS
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

During the trip to FL, the idle got progressively higher, ...