81 F100 flare side custom with 300 six & T18

[Gary Lewis]

Wow, that is a lot of progress, Dave!  Little details like that just eat up time, so you did well.  

[FuzzFace2]

Gary Lewis wrote

Wow, that is a lot of progress, Dave!  Little details like that just eat up time, so you did well.  

It sure does. I was out there for most of the day, yes I could have started earlier, and it was not till I was posting that I said "man I did not get a lot done for the time in the garage".

The cutting of the 3 AC bracket bolts and still to long so needing to grind them down more and redo the threaded ends eats up time.
Then wire brushing the hinges & hood springs for painting tanks time.
Then add looking thru 6 bins of parts, looking on top of my work shop (needed to pull out the ladder) and then going thru the work shop for the hood cable all took time.
So I guess I did get a lot done LOL
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

I got hit with lazyazzetsis today
Never made it out to the garage today but did hit the mail box.
I ordered some LED's for the gauge cluster because the other light before I came in I hooked the battery up and turned the lights off and man was the cluster dark!
I guess I should have gone with new bulbs and not just clean the outs sides off.

I went with green bulbs as I like that color. Also the HVAC control(it was pretty bright), light & wiper light and the radio are factory green and want it all to match.
I did not think going with the blue, I do like that color, or red would go to good with the other green lights.

We just got hit with a cold spell 60* yesterday with a high of 34* tomorrow. It will be pretty cold in the garage if I make it out there so we will see.
Dave ----

[Ferdinand]

Dave,

If you think of it shoot a couple comparison shots of the cluster lights with the factory bulbs and then with the LED's. I am thinking of converting my cluster as well, but as I get everything back together and have been cleaning all my grounds my lights are looking pretty bright. So, I may hold off for now, but for comparison's sake I'd love to see the difference.

Keep at it. I am struggling with losing some steam myself. We had a 0 degree day here today, but thankfully I have a few small heaters running in the garage so its not bad at all.

[FuzzFace2]

A few weeks ago I was in the truck when it was darkish and saw half the dash lights did not work. When I rebuilt the cluster I did not replace the bulbs, just cleaned them.
Also the colored covers were like new so I left them in at that time.

So I ordered LED bulbs, pulled the cluster last weekend and replaced all the bulbs.
Today was install time and to make sure worked. Some of the bulbs needed to be turned 180* before they would work.

I also replaced the warning lights across the top with LED's too.
I had to jump out the sensors to make sure they worked or needed to be turned also.
The only one I did not jump out was the brake light. I did not know what it was till I was going in the house. Then again I will know if the brakes don't work and don't need a light to tell me.

What bulb colors did I use you ask? Green for the gauges and white for the warning lights.
Garage lights off but still bright out at 5:45pm and facing the windows but you can see the gauges.

Then took a picture when it was a little more dark out.

I left the colored cover in as I did not want to take the cluster all apart to remove them.

After the cluster was back in and tested in day light I pulled the truck out of the garage and did a Bill Murray cleaning like in Caddy Shack, back pack blower and all!
There was a lot of body filler dust all over, even on top of the lights! It will take a lot more cleaning before I can paint in there.
It would be nice to get my sons boxes from moving out and the 1 car I have in there with 4 blown out tires for the next cleaning
I don't see that happening but I do see Bill Murray coming back out again LOL

Before backing the truck back in I checked how the HVAC worked as I remembered something not right with it.
When on MAX AC the air comes out the defrost. If on Normal AC it comes out the dash vents. The rest work as should when in that position of vents / floor / mix / defrost.
This works off the vacuum system of the switch, the temp side works as should and that is cable.
I should have jumped the AC pressure switch and checked for power to the AC compressor, maybe next time?

Oh I also bolted the jack bracket to the right fender and the hood hinges on.
I need to go thru all the parts a have and start putting them together that I have 2 of, like wiper arms, wiper motors & linkage to name a few.
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

Ferdinand wrote

Dave,

If you think of it shoot a couple comparison shots of the cluster lights with the factory bulbs and then with the LED's. I am thinking of converting my cluster as well, but as I get everything back together and have been cleaning all my grounds my lights are looking pretty bright. So, I may hold off for now, but for comparison's sake I'd love to see the difference.

Keep at it. I am struggling with losing some steam myself. We had a 0 degree day here today, but thankfully I have a few small heaters running in the garage so its not bad at all.

Sorry I just saw this and it is to late to get before shots.
To tell the truth the reason I did the LED's is because I think only 2 or 3 of the 5 cluster lights worked and did not think they were all that bright anyway. Now I did not install new bulbs when I did the work the first time.

So if I had to pull the cluster again I was going LED's.
Here is what green LED's with the covers still installed.

I did not get any of the white warning lights but with out the colored lenses they are bright.
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

I think my truck hates me
 I keep the gas cans in my garage, cooler in there than the tractor shed, and the 5 gal can is heavy so open the garage door and backed my DD up to it so did not need to carry the can far.
 When walking in thru the garage door I see a puddle of anti freeze under the truck
 Got out the drop light and creeper. Green on the new Y pipe and up above that on the starter?
 Looking farther up I see a trail down the side of the block and what does it lead me to ........... one of them rubber repair casting plugs that use a nut that flares out the rubber to seal it to the block.

 I remember seeing it when I had the manifolds off and was well it's not broken don't fix it!
 So got out the tools and was able to tighten the nut a little more, dried the area and fingers crossed it will hold.
 If it keeps dripping I will replace it with a steel or brass one with a little sealer.
 I think if I peel back the inner fender well I think I can use a long extension & socket to drive the plug in.

 The other day I saw some members under hood pictures and saw I had the hood release cable run the wrong way so fixed that.
 Being up at 1am for work I called it quits for the day and plan to get some work done Saturday and/or Sunday.
 Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

I agree that you can probably replace the core plug by peeling back the inner fender and use and extension and socket to drive it.  That worked for me on a 351W, but of course that puts the plug at an angle and yours will be level, so it may not be as easy.  Good luck!

Anyway, you are still making progress.  Two steps forward and one back is the correct "reformation dance step".  

[FuzzFace2]

At times it feels like a slow waltz 1 step forward and 2 steps back
I should get my butt out to the garage, fire up the heater and get something done even if is just to look at it.
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

Last time I was out to work on the truck it was cold so fire up the heater and got under the truck to look at the bed heat shields. Only under there for a short time and started to feel sick and for weeks now not quite right.

Got out there today to finish the heat shield install and as soon as I got under the truck started to feel sick  again but worked thru it.
Wife is ordering me to see the doctor next week when I see my eye doctor.
Got a feeling it is an ulcer and most likely need to go for tests .... oh joy ....not!

Anyway I did get the shields installed. I was able to use the style side rear shield as it was and screwed into holes in the cross rails as that is where it came from.
Now the front style side shield was to long as I made the bed floor shorter and not lone enough to cover the full area.
I cut a section out of the front shield so the front part would screw to the side of the front cross rail and the rear part would screw to the 1 of the middle cross rails using the screw holes for it that were there.

When I cut the front section out I left it to over lap about 4".
I wanted to do a few spot welds at the over lap but the parts would have needed to washed better and being galvanized would be risky (fumes) so I just screwed the 2 parts together.

Sorry no pictures, hard to get them under there and not felling good, didn't even pick up the tools or turn lights off yet.
It would be nice if I can get primer on the last fender and get the spray gun cleaned up today.
It will feel like I got something done.
I think till I feel better it will be slow going on the truck.
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

I got out to the garage late today, off work for medical procedure, only got a little done.
Pulled the rear bumper brackets off the frame, were only on hand tight. Once off I pulled them apart and got them soaking in Evpa-A-Rust a long with the bolts and got the rear fender braces soaking too.

I have had 1 rear fender waiting for primer and the 2 fuel doors. Did a little more prep on the fender & did the 2 doors.
The spray gun gave me fits before I figured out what was wrong but got primer on the fender & 2 fuel doors and to get the fender out of the way put it back on the bed with 2 nuts holding it.

I do know this fender will need work as after it had primer on it I could see "issues" I am not happy with before painting. I am also sure the rest of the truck will need work to before paint but it is closer to paint.
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

Dave - Not sure how I missed your previous post.  Sorry.  Any news on the potential ulcer?

As for today, glad you took it easy.  (I was concerned when you said you took the bumper off, but then saw that you said "hand tight".)

Once you get the whole thing in primer I guess you'll step back and look things over to see what needs to be re-worked?  Can you easily tell then?

[FuzzFace2]

Gary Lewis wrote

Dave - Not sure how I missed your previous post.  Sorry.  Any news on the potential ulcer?

As for today, glad you took it easy.  (I was concerned when you said you took the bumper off, but then saw that you said "hand tight".)

Once you get the whole thing in primer I guess you'll step back and look things over to see what needs to be re-worked?  Can you easily tell then?

For you I can see it being easy to miss with keeping this site going, updating the great information and then doing work on your projects.

Ulcer, well I cut way back on the hot tea I was drinking. I try to limit them to 6 or under if home all day and 2 or 3 when home after work till bed about 8pm. early get up is 12am late would be 3am.
I only have 1 "high test" the others are Decaf for the days hot tea.

The bumper was off the truck I only had the brackets hand bolted to the truck to get them out of the way.
Once the brackets are de-rusted and painted I can do my "custom touch" to the bumpers.
Still looking for lights to fit in the front bumper. I saw a Lighting today and it had lights that might work just need to see if I can find then and get a size.

Yes now that the truck is in primer I can see where  I rushed the body work on the 2 rear fenders so need to work them over some.
I used a different manf. primer on the rear fenders as I could not get what I had been using.
I do like the way this sprays and it stays wet longer so no dry streaks no matter how hard I tried not to get any.

Also the rest of the truck I can see I did not use fine enough sand paper. I will wet sand the truck with 320 or 400 then I may need to re-prim and sand again, not using build up primer.
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

Yipes!  So, you've "cut back" and will "try to limit them to 6 or under"?  So, how many were you having before cutting back?  

I try to limit my coffee drinking to ~3-4 cups/day.  But, mine are Starbucks Verona, French, or Sumatra and they have a bit of punch.  

Anyway, I hope you get things under control.  I have Tagamet that I use every once in a while when the stomach says I've had too much.

Lights for the front bumper?  Have an example?

As for the bodywork, that's not my thing so I can only imagine how difficult that is.  VERY from what I understand.  But, it'll look perfect when you are done and you'll certainly be justifiably proud.  

And, I do sometimes miss things as I seem to be somewhat all over the place.  I have so much I'd like to do on the website, so much I want to do to both Dad's truck as well as Big Blue, and then there are my friends on the forum.  

[FuzzFace2]

On weekends if not working on the truck the mug was always full.
Surf the forums drink a cup, surf , drink, etc. it adds up fast.
I got home at 4pm it is now 8:30pm and only had 2 cups, I would of had 4 by this time.

On the bumper the area I want to mount them is about 3" high but can go pretty wide.
I also want the lights to be driving but may go with fog if that is all I can find.
All the small square LED lights are work lights and not what I am after.
I found a set of driving / fog lights on LMC I think will work but need to mock it up to see how it will look.
Should look something like this but in the Bullnose bumper.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fc/full.aspx?Page=80

It is going to get cold here for a week or so, so body work will be on hold till it warms up some.
Have I told any one I hate body work? That is the biggest reason why I may not do any work till it gets a little warmer.

You are doing a great job on the site and the trucks and as long as you ejoy what you are doing thatisall that counts, so what if you miss a post or 2.
Dave ----

[Frank Wyatt]

I think the 5 3/4 x 2" lights would look right at home on my truck at least. Of course, I don't believe my bumper would ever get any though.

[Gary Lewis]

Dave - Now I understand what you are thinking of doing.  Thanks for the explanation.  I'll be curious to see what you come up with.

As for the surf/tea exercise, that is something I like to do, but with coffee.  My mornings include catching up on the forum, checking on the stat's on the website for the previous day, looking at facebook, and drinking two cups of Starbucks.  Then it is off to the shop where I try to put the energy to work.

But, as you point out, the weather is supposed to take a turn for the worse here as well.  Rain, sleet, and snow are to move in tonight during the night and continue tomorrow morn, so we are on the cusp of canceling church services tomorrow.  If that happens I'll probably sit here on the porch and drink coffee, watch the weather, and surf a bit longer.  

And thanks for the feedback on the site and trucks.  I do enjoy what I'm doing, and find that a mix of things is better for me than the same thing day after day.  I like to set goals and then work to reach that goal.  So I'll set a goal of getting the suspension on Dad's truck and then take a break to work on the website, with a goal there as well.

[FuzzFace2]

On the lights I did not want them above or below the bumper as they tend to stick out like a sore thumb.
I also like the custom touch it adds being in the bumper, like the duel tanks on the flare side I have added.

The round lights in the bumper I did not think would look right with the square head lights. Besides I don't have a way to cut a round hole in the bumper with out buying a large hole saw. Square I can drill out the corners and use a cut off wheel on my 4.5 grinder or a saw.

I will mount the bumper and using tape or something the size of the LMC lights see how it will look.
If I like it I will get the lights then cut the holes and figure what I need to do to mount them and finish the opening.

I will keep everyone posted.
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

I agree that rectangular lights match the style of the headlights and turn signals.  And, I like the idea of lights integrated into the bumpers.  So much wasted space there that could be used.

I'm still considering integrating lights and tow hooks into the Warn front bumper on Big Blue.  But, I'm watching on Facebook a couple of guys show their efforts to reinforce a stock bumper and add a winch behind it.  

As for drilling and cutting the bumper, you'll have to go slowly in order to ensure you don't turn the chrome blue.  That can usually be polished out, but not always, and that would be a shame.

[FuzzFace2]

Little more work done on the truck today.
I pulled the rear bumper brackets, bolts & fender braces from the Evap-A-Rust. Had to do a little more clean up of the brackets then a few coats of black paint.
Between coats and drying I cleaned the bolts up on the bench grinder wire wheel.

Paint drying I moved to running boards. I have 2 sets and went with the best and just happened to be the ones off the project truck.
I cleaned them, sanded them to get to good base as they had a few coats of paint and then flat black the whole truck was done in.
I sprayed them with acid to kill what little rust they had and are now sitting till I get primer on them.

Rear bumper brackets dry I put them together and loosely mounted to the truck. I then mounted the bumper made sure all looked good and tighten all the bolts.
I had to do this to make sure the brackets are straight on the truck so I can pull the rear bumper for my custom touch.
Here it is now what ever I do to it I can't hurt it!

I then moved on to the front bumper. I had to mount it so I could mock up how it will look with the lights I want to mount in it.
Once mounted and the "mocked" lights on it I had to dig out a grille and head light doors to get the full effect.
The green rectangle is the size (5-3/4" x 2") of the light that is a fog & driving light, I want a driving light.
This is where I was thinking they would go and would be easy to mount there as it is the flat part of the bumper.

But it just did not give me warm fuzzies so I moved the "mocked" light. I did not measure I just placed it there.

I like the out board spot better. In the LMC catalog it looks like they are mounted between where I have them but they are for the late 70's trucks.
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fc/full.aspx?Page=80 where the frame is in farther then our 80's truck.
It will take more work to mount them to the out side as that part of the bumper is angled back and the light would need to point straight.
I guess the next step on the front bumper is to get the lights if the banker will let me.

As for turning the chrome blue I am not worried on the front or rear bumpers as my custom touch has welding involved.
I would need to weld the light brackets to the back side and if I go with the out board set up I would need to fill the gap as the light needs to point straight.

This is the kind of work I enjoy doing, just look at the firewall, metal floor and duel tanks on a flare side
Dave ----