1985F20 SuperCab "REDRUM"

[CRittaler]

Gsmblue wrote

Looks like you were crossing the I5 bridge there.

I was on the flats between Marysville and Everett. There was a huge accident on I5 South

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, you got a lot of things done.  

So, what backup camera did you go with?

[CRittaler]

I'm using the one meant for my Atoto head unit

[kramttocs]

Great progress! Nice seeing it on the road

[Gary Lewis]

I forgot you have one of those.  

[CRittaler]

Well, after driving it for ~70 miles I've grabbed a reman steering box from autozone to get me through the winter, the current steering box is leaking excessively out the input.

I also have a vacuum leak somewhere as there is a whistle drone sound when my foot is off the throttle.  It sounds like it's coming from the back of the engine, but I haven't tracked it down yet.

It goes away as soon as I crack the throttle and engine vacuum drops below ~20inHg

[ArdWrknTrk]

My truck has a vacuum tree at the rear of the intake with a couple of ports capped off.
The only other thing I can think of in that area is the vacuum manifold on the firewall that sends vacuum over to the passenger side for the heater controls.

When you have your steering box off carefully examine the frame rail, -especially between the two rear bolt holes- for cracks.
There's a lot of force being sent through there with the steering box, cross member and the infamous Huck bolt close together.

[CRittaler]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

My truck has a vacuum tree at the rear of the intake with a couple of ports capped off.
The only other thing I can think of in that area is the vacuum manifold on the firewall that sends vacuum over to the passenger side for the heater controls.

When you have your steering box off carefully examine the frame rail, -especially between the two rear bolt holes- for cracks.
There's a lot of force being sent through there with the steering box, cross member and the infamous Huck bolt close together.

Thanks!  I'm going to try to swap the boxes today so I'll have a look.

I'll check those vacuum ports as well.  I haven't been able to look while the truck is running because it pukes power steering fluid all over the ground at idle.

[Gary Lewis]

Jim is right, look the frame over closely.  And one way to do that is to get a light close to the frame and pointing back toward those bolt holes.  That will bring out any shadows or highlights that straight-on light won't.

I had taken the steering box off of Dad's truck, took a pic, and was posting it when I spotted the crack.  The flash had highlighted it.

[Gsmblue]

I had a similar whistle. Mine was a deteriorating gasket on the intake manifold. I could pour water over it and the noise would stop momentarily.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Gsmblue wrote

I had a similar whistle. Mine was a deteriorating gasket on the intake manifold. I could pour water over it and the noise would stop momentarily.

This is a good idea, if there's nothing immediately apparent.
Just don't dump a huge amount of water.

[Gary Lewis]

Maybe a safer way would be the smoke test?

[CRittaler]

the way I've checked in the past is a light spray of carb cleaner and listen for a change in RPM.

[Gary Lewis]

That works, but sometimes it is hard to get it where it'll get sucked in.  David/1986F150Six had a problem that turned out to be a cracked vacuum hose that was buried and he wasn't getting the cleaner to it.  But as soon as he pushed smoke into the system it was obvious.

[CRittaler]

that's true.

I also just ordered a steering coupler just in case mine is bad when I go to change the box.

I was also just out looking under the hood (checking power steering level) and I noted that there are a bunch of uncapped vacuum ports on the air cleaner.  I'll have to check, but I'm wondering if any of them could be causing the hissing.

[CRittaler]

Well I spent a couple hours on my lunch break pulling the steering box.  All in all that wasn't that bad of a job.

I had a look at the frame and I don't see any cracks.  I plan on having a closer look with the brightest light I can manage once I finish cleaning it up.

I also pulled the steering shaft to replace the lower rag joint.  Turns out the Lares 204 replacement that I bought is waaay too large and I needed the 206.  But I also don't really want to go through the hassle of grinding off the rivets to replace it so I'm going to stop by the wrecking yard on Thursday/Friday and look for a steering shaft from an 87-91 and see if they have any that are in decent shape.

[ArdWrknTrk]

The '87 still has a lower rag joint but maybe it's a little different than a Bullnose.
I know I went through that grinding the rivets out and finding elevator bolts and shallow locknuts to replace it.

Hopefully you can turn something up!  

[CRittaler]

From what I understand the rag joint is slightly different on the later models. maybe I'm thinking of 88 and up, I can't remember.

I also just cleaned off the inside of the frame and used the brightest light I had.  I don't see any cracks on the frame.  I see some scratches in the paint where the box slid down as it was coming out, but no cracks.

I also just spotted a coolant leak.  It's either the short bypass hose between water pump and intake or it's the 90deg heater fitting in the intake.  Both look annoying to replace.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm not sure how they differ.
I do know that the upper joint changed with the body style for '87 but the splines on the rag joint fit '80 & up steering box.

Glad your frame is undamaged.
That's a pain to fix.

I'm not sure about your 351 but if I cut the bypass hose JUST right I can fold it in half and wiggle it on (to my 460)

[CRittaler]

Mine is a 460 so it's good to know it can be squeezed on.

Do you drain coolant to do it, or does it only lose a little?