HBF comes out of retirement

[HBF84]

Happy Blue Ford has been sitting at my parent's place for about 11 years and it's about time to come out of retirement.

[HBF84]

Gonna try to post a few pictures as this progresses.  

[HBF84]

HBF didn't wanna come out of retirement and liked it in California.  

So, despite some feet dragging...

[HBF84]

But a fancy new F-350 and a chain were a bit too strong and HBF went up the driveway.

[HBF84]

And got loaded up for a move from California to Maryland.

[HBF84]

3000 free miles ride later and arrived in Maryland with 229,702.3 miles on the odometer.



Last time the oil was changed was 17JUN2009 @ 228,190 miles or so...I think we should change it and not wait until 231,190.  Just saying.

[HBF84]

Welcome to Maryland...Apparently you'd rather be in California and retired...







HBF showed a vast amount of appreciation for having to work again by throwing a shoe!  "Who throws a shoe?  Honestly!"  (Anyone know how to insert an Austin Powers GIF?!?)

[HBF84]

Off to the tire and wheel hospital.

[HBF84]

Back from the hospital.

[HBF84]

Time for some new gas...It was a bit tricky to thread a piece of tubing into the tank from the gas cap.  I ended up disconnecting the filler hose for better access and siphoned out about 5 gallons.  Good thing I had saved some Folgers Coffee cans.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, time for new gas! That stuff looks like varnish.

You are really making PROGRESS! And as Jim says, progress is good.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Glad to see you've started a thread!  

Looking forward to seeing the happy blue Ford's new life

[1986F150Six]

I like your good sense of humor. Good luck!

[HBF84]

Does anyone know if I can replace the 1984 8.8" (WB 117, Type: F153, Axle code 18-3.08) with a 1994 8.8" (WB 117, Type F141, Axle code H9-3.55) without too much of a struggle?  It's available at the local junkyard.  Alternatively, should I be patient and wait around for a Bullnose era H9.  The goal is to get a limited slip 3.55 rear end.  


 

[ArdWrknTrk]

I don't think the spring perches or anything changed.
The later axle will have a 'tone ring' gear and a pickup at the top of the pumpkin for antilock.

You could leave the plug in there.

[HBF84]

Found some gas money...Guess I can get the old truck fired up now!

[HBF84]

Pulled the plugs and cranked the engine over by hand.  Moved nice and smoothly.  Added some Marvel Mystery Oil into the crankcase and some PB Blaster into each cylinder and gave it a week to be mysterious before blasting it back to life.  

I'm not sponsored by Permatex, but the anti-seize worked!  All spark plugs came out without any hassle.  And, I am sure they had been there for a decade and maybe even 15 years.  



Proof it moved under its own power!

Does anyone know what the little hash marks adjacent to the 10, 15, 35, 45, 72ish, and 77ish are supposed to represent?  

[Gary Lewis]

Cool!  Glad you got it going.

And a good plan to lube it and let it set.  As for the anti-seize, I use it religiously on plugs - and lots of other things as well.  

That's a good question about the dashes.  I think I've seen something about it, but can't remember what nor where.

[ArdWrknTrk]

They are shift points,  -ranges- I believe..

[Gary Lewis]

That's what I remembered, but it didn't make sense so I didn't say it.  Shift at 10; 15; 35; 40; 72; and 78?  Or, maybe shift between 10 & 15; 35 & 40; and 72 & 78?  That seems much more reasonable save for shifting out of something at about 75.

I've searched the '81 and '85 owner guides (we don't have an '84 on the site) and find that the '85 has some suggested shift points for various transmissions, but none of those shift points match up.  And nothing is said about shift point indicators on the speedometer.