L'il Blue '83 F150 4x4

[Ford F834]

Gary, if I’m remembering right 1980/81 had Custom, Ranger, Ranger XLT, and Ranger Lariat. 1982+ had Standard (no badging), XL and XLT (plus XLS in 82/83). So this truck would have been “Standard” trim but with options.

Big Brother would indeed be factory correct with rosewood horn pad speed control

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, Jonathan.  That confirms my observation - no badges so "Standard".

[Gary Lewis]

Ok, the care package is ready, and the list of things in the document embedded in my first post shows what is in it.  But there is a bit of room left, so maybe there's something else I can put into the upper left corner?  I plan to send it Monday so need to move quickly.



Also, here's why I wanted to install the CRL latch on the rear window dividers myself rather than leave that for TJ.

As I discovered when installing the same latch on Big Blue's window dividers, the holes for the striker part of the latch don't line up with those in the divider.  So I had to use an end mill in the drill to make the holes egg-shaped to allow the screws to go into the original holes.

In addition, the screws provided with the new latch don't easily go into the other divider far enough to properly secure the latch.  So it took a bit of "encouragement" to get the screws in far enough.

[tjmac]

Sorry- phone-based post, I couldn’t easily adjust the code for the pic to show upright.
My under hood light pulls out and retracts smoothly! Haven’t tested the mercury switch with a new bulb yet but will do when Iget back from a trip this weekend.

Gary- thanks for the work on the back window locks! The only thing I can think of (right now) is maybe door lock interior pop up pulls. I’ll be looking for a molded handle cover for the driver door panel, sometime in the far future.

Safety related fixes & Water intrusion are the first priority, in the near term.





Also read the great article listed on the board on carburetor start-ups - I’m not completely convinced user error is my (full) issue, as I’m having the symptom of losing acceleration on a turn, and it’s increasingly not wanting to slip into gear without some encouragement, in the driveway or after a stop, but only right after it wakes up. Once it’s warm, there’s no issue at all. Will read more and begin to try and figure that out next week.

[Gary Lewis]

Just in case your light doesn't work I've included a spare that is known to work.  I'll pick up whichever is redundant on our next visit.

Not sure what you mean by "molded handle cover" but I suspect you mean the arm rest and I have a black one in the tote.

I'll look for the lock pullups.

On the choke, by "increasingly not wanting to slip into gear without some encouragement" you mean the engine doesn't want to run when you drop it into gear when the engine is "cold"?  Not that the transmission isn't shifting into gear like your Jeep.  Right?

From the "Once it’s warm, there’s no issue at all" statement I think that it is the engine, and this suggests that your choke is either not adjusted on enough or is otherwise not working properly.

I feel a Youtube coming on regarding choke adjustments - assuming I have a 2150 sitting around after I gave my granddaughter one for the school project.  

But the pic below is of your carb and the red circles and arrow point to the three screws that hold the choke housing on.  The yellow arrow points to the marker line and the green arrow points to the index marks.  (Does the sheet metal donut keep the choke from turning?  Gotta look at that.)

You do not remove the screws but just loosen them enough to let you turn the black housing.  Note where the marker line is pointing currently and turn it one notch so the choke closes, not opens.  (Direction TBD.)  Then tighten them back just snug and give it a try.

[81-F150-Explorer]

This post reminds me that I need a steering wheel. Nothing really wrong with mine, but it is showing the wear of almost 800,000 miles. The texture and lines are gone on the left side.  Adds character perhaps.

[81-F150-Explorer]

Gary Lewis wrote

I'll look for the lock pullups.

Looking at the pictures, he might need the actuating rod as well. I don't see it in the hole either.

Didn't he say his doors were replaced by a different model? Or is my stroke brain mixing things up?  They weren't from a 1980-1981 with slide locks by any chance? That could open up a can of worms that's not expected.

[tjmac]

As far as I remember, the doors and panels are original, but once I get into them, we’ll see!

I’ll also look around the forum to see how people have changed out the locks- my passenger door lock doesnt unlock with the key; once I inspect it, maybe it’s fixable, or maybe not.

Have also had a hard time getting keys made for this truck- Ace and Lowe’s said they couldn’t do it with the Hillman machines they use ( but suspect the workers aren’t well trained/experienced- can’t blame em) Will poke around and see if others have had that issue.

[Gary Lewis]

TJ's 1983 has the pin locks, and hopefully has the linkage in the doors as I shipped the care package today w/o them.  In fact, I didn't find any reasonable knobs to go on them, so didn't include them either.  But I'll bet these from Amazon would fit nicely.

TJ - I suspect the linkage is bent.  I've seen several cases like that where the door wouldn't lock with the key or even unlock with the key although it would with the button/knob.  But I have the links if needed, so we can get you going one way or another.

As for the locks, it is very easy to change out the locks themselves and you can order lock/key sets cheaply.

[tjmac]

Wrote up a detail of a recent battery cable, relay and starter replacement. Put it in the resources page, but linking it since I want most of my changes to be documented here.

https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Noobie-Guide-to-Replacing-Battery-Cables-Starter-Relay-and-PMGR-Starter-tp138679.html

[Gary Lewis]

Yep, good writeup.  Glad the starter saga is seemingly over.  Another layer of the onion peeled.  

[BigBrother-84]

tjmac wrote

Wrote up a detail of a recent battery cable, relay and starter replacement. Put it in the resources page, but linking it since I want most of my changes to be documented here.

TJ, you inserted the same diagram twice.

I think you’ll need to edit your post.  I suppose this is the good one, the "PMGR" one:

Also, maybe the issue is on my side, but the provided link doesn’t work:


And please continue, I will subscribe to the “Noobie Guides" collection!
Can’t wait for the next one!

[Gary Lewis]

Jeff - You are right that he has the wrong diagram on there.  But the link works for me.

[tjmac]

Jeff and Gary- updated the post- thanks for the edit suggestions!

[BigBrother-84]

TJ, just be careful when you paste a link to another page, be sure to clean the double "http://" at the beginning (which is automatically added):

[tjmac]

Fixed! Thanks for pointing that out!

[BigBrother-84]

Yep, now works for me!

[Gary Lewis]

There's a rumor that a mobile mechanic is planning to visit TJ and family around Christmas. So this post is to document what projects we might do as well as the tools & parts needed.

I've sent TJ a link to the document so he can update it with projects, and I'll update it with tools that we might need. And I've tagged him to this post as well.

But if any of y'all have suggestions as well please chime in.

[BigBrother-84]

Gary Lewis wrote

There's a rumor that a mobile mechanic is planning to visit TJ and family around Christmas […] please chime in.

Is this guy going to enter TJ’s house by the chim / ney?

[Gary Lewis]

LOL!  No 'cause the chimney is very small.  Was probably for gas logs.

I think he'll go in via the garage door.