1981 Ford F100 Revival (Parked for 12 years)

[rcarlisle]

Just like being a kid all over again.   I have done some in the last decade.  Nobody said you wouldn't suffer for your ART.  LOL.   And your truck is approaching ART.   I mean that in the BEST way.   If you ever get it looking as good as the mechanicals, you should have a $25K + truck.  

[Atlas75]

I agree!  I packed two bearings by hand this past Sunday.  I find it rewarding watching the grease ooze out from between the rollers.

[Jonathan]

rcarlisle wrote

Just like being a kid all over again.   I have done some in the last decade.  Nobody said you wouldn't suffer for your ART.  LOL.   And your truck is approaching ART.   I mean that in the BEST way.   If you ever get it looking as good as the mechanicals, you should have a $25K + truck.

It will get there some day I hope.

[Jonathan]

Atlas75 wrote

I agree!  I packed two bearings by hand this past Sunday.  I find it rewarding watching the grease ooze out from between the rollers.

You guys are forgetting the best part of the visceral experience of working with grease. The SMELL!

[Jonathan]

Back to work on the Kelsey-Hayes Combination Valve. I have been delaying tearing down the metering valve due to the spring and very small clip. I purchased a small clamp from Wal-Mart and modified it so I can compress the spring safely and remove the clip. Now it is soaking in the sonic cleaner. After cleaned up I will replace the rubber seal and assemble. The rest of the ordered brake parts should all arrive this week.

[Jonathan]

The transmission pan arrived yesterday (TCI 428000) but still waiting on the better gasket. The pan does not have the engraving on the bottom as shown online but rather a blank area. I might get creative and etch something or put a sticker on it. They don't give you any instructions so you are left guessing how this should work. From what I can tell the OEM filter (Pictured) is replaced with this metal filter extension which they don't provide a gasket for. The gasket I had from a filter kit I ordered does not line up well so I ordered another kit from Wix. If that doesn't work I might reuse the gasket on the truck if it looks okay. I found an old post online from someone that did this before but no pictures are loading. I will contact the manufacture today to ask questions.

[rcarlisle]

Well, dang if that ain't fancy.   Good luck getting it installed.   How much extra fluid will it hold?  That should help keep it cooler and fresher.  

[Jonathan]

So basically TCI support implied that it is so simple you should not need instructions. I still would prefer to have instructions to confirm how it is designed to work. He said that the gasket for the filter is not needed as it does not mater if it leaks some from there. So if the new gasket fits I will use it or reuse the factory one that is metal from what I have read online. If the stock gasket stays stuck and looks good I will just leave it be and attach right to it. So to summarize TCI thinks I am an idiot for asking questions for something so simple.

[Jonathan]

rcarlisle wrote

Well, dang if that ain't fancy.   Good luck getting it installed.   How much extra fluid will it hold?  That should help keep it cooler and fresher.

TCI claims two extra quarts. I purchased 4 gallons from Wal-Mart to be safe.

[grumpin]

Nice job on making your tool to remove that clip!

To me it does matter if it leaks from there. It’s not designed to leak IMO. They should be happy to answer questions. Keep asking, you’re only getting more knowledge.

Good job!

[Jonathan]

grumpin wrote

Nice job on making your tool to remove that clip!

To me it does matter if it leaks from there. It’s not designed to leak IMO. They should be happy to answer questions. Keep asking, you’re only getting more knowledge.

Good job!

Thanks Dane. I will try and make sure it has a good seal. Because I imagine if it leaks from there it may loose suction trying to suck up through the filter.

[Gary Lewis]

That is amazing work on the valve!  I'm seriously impressed!  You have elevated "detail" to a whole new level!  

[Jonathan]

Gary Lewis wrote

That is amazing work on the valve!  I'm seriously impressed!  You have elevated "detail" to a whole new level!  

Thanks Gary, I will work on some documentation for it.

[Jonathan]

I got the Wix transmission filter kit yesterday. The filter gasket lines up perfect to the adapter kit. The atp one really was off and so thin compared to the Wix. Sorry didn't take a picture yet of the new gasket. I also got the replacement pan gasket in. The first one from Amazon had some rough shipping and the metal inside the gasket was broken. It is very thick! Hopefully it will seal that small dip in the pan surface where they smoothed out a seam. I also started to put together the filter extension. The pan came with a regular drain plug that is not magnetic and a magnetic one. Does anyone know why they would provide both?

[Jonathan]

The coil spring parts and bumpers arrived from LMC (Lot of Mismatching Crap) So it probably won't be the right size or close to correct but I will try.

[Jonathan]

Final cleaning before assembly. Acetone is very strong. I put the parts on my mat and it took away the measuring lines. I learned my lesson and dried them on some towels.

[rcarlisle]

For sure interested in seeing if the new coils raise the front any just by being new.   My front seems lowish from what I would expect and think it probably was from factory.   Which means the rear is probably also sagging, beacuse the rake of truck is pretty much what it should be.   The whole thing may be sagging due to age.   But only an inch or so.  

I really want to do front shocks, see if that helps the general handling issues.  Mine only seems to randomly wander, where I've read about some that wander a lot.

[Jonathan]

rcarlisle wrote

For sure interested in seeing if the new coils raise the front any just by being new.   My front seems lowish from what I would expect and think it probably was from factory.   Which means the rear is probably also sagging, beacuse the rake of truck is pretty much what it should be.   The whole thing may be sagging due to age.   But only an inch or so.  

I really want to do front shocks, see if that helps the general handling issues.  Mine only seems to randomly wander, where I've read about some that wander a lot.

It's funny because I will never know a before and after difference. I am fixing it before I even drive it for the first time.

[rcarlisle]

Is it sitting on ground now?  Or up on jack stands?  If on ground, get a measurement from grade to fender lip opening.  If you have it up on jack stands, yep, just have to see if it looks taller than mine?  

[Jonathan]

Metering Valve Rebuild

After rebuilding it the bleed pull release now retracts like it should when you let go. Before it would stay pulled out.

https://www.musclecarresearch.com/kh-kit-4?v=177