My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

[PetesPonies]

Now you are going to a hydraulic clutch.

[FuzzFace2]

So the winter work has started LOL
I will have to check in here from time to time to see how your doing.
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

Pete - If this is an '84 it should already have a hydraulic linkage.  The changeover started in '83 with the 460's and diesels, and then in '84 everything got hydraulic.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Pete - If this is an '84 it should already have a hydraulic linkage.  The changeover started in '83 with the 460's and diesels, and then in '84 everything got hydraulic.

Yeah, my truck has a hydraulic clutch already, so that part is an easy swap. I haven't picked up any parts for that yet, but I'll be installing a new master, slave, and line.

[Rembrant]

FuzzFace2 wrote

So the winter work has started LOL
I will have to check in here from time to time to see how your doing.
Dave ----

Yeah, I've dug into it a bit the past few days. Once everything is out, I will have a lot of work to do. Just doing mechanical this winter. Body work will be next year if all goes well.

[PetesPonies]

I didn't realize the '84s had a hydraulic clutch. I thought it was later.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Looks like a good plan.    Are you going to pull the grille, radiator, and core support to pull the engine?  I find that doing so allows you to bring the engine forward without having to go so high with it.  But, it makes for more work, and you may find you have rust problems where the core support bolts to the frame.  So, .....

Yes, lots more work...and yes, rust issues, but it is out. Next is the engine...just have to cut the exhaust off, and lift it out of there. Not sure if it will be today or not as I have a few chores to do first;).

[PetesPonies]

So are you keeping the same engine? Just pulling it to clean it up, new gaskets etc? or?

[Rembrant]

Yes, staying with the same engine. I'm pulling it to clean it up, remove the smog equipment, fix all the leaks, paint, etc. I'm also swapping in a 4bbl carb and intake, and likely a cam and shorty headers, but that will basically be it. I won't need any more power than that for what I'll be doing, and the engine has pretty low miles, so I might as well leave the rest of it as is. I think with the 5spd swapped in, and the engine all tuned up it should work much better than it does now. It's a bit of a slowpoke as it is now;).

[Rembrant]

Question for Gary or anybody else that can answer:

I need to replace/repair my battery tray, but I don't even know what is supposed to be there. There is a steel tray under the plastic fender liner but it has rusted into oblivion. My battery was just sitting on the fender liner. Can anybody tell me what is supposed to be there?

[Gary Lewis]

Might this help?  Electrical/Battery Trays

But, I like the 1987 and later style tray better as it has a brace that bolts to the fender to take the load off things. And, it captures the battery at the bottom instead of using the top retainers.

[NotEnoughTrucks]

I have been looking at this too. Seems like a change to the inner fender would be required to use the later battery tray.

[Gary Lewis]

I put one in place on Rusty some time ago but didn’t use it. The only thing I found was that the solenoid would be very close to the brace.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Might this help?  Electrical/Battery Trays

Yes sir, helps perfectly. Seems that the tray is still available...not sure about the other parts, but I'll see what I can scrounge up. Thanks Gary, much appreciated!!

[Rembrant]

Oh,...and I just thought of something else I've been meaning to ask:

Does anybody know what color my engine was originally? Or was it just bare metal? It is now rust colored...lol, and I don't see any signs that it ever was painted. The valve covers were grey by the looks of 'em.

[PetesPonies]

I took the battery tray off and rebuilt it for my '83 Bronco. They are available, but pricey. I have lots of extra metal, so it wasn't bad. It is a funky design.

[Gary Lewis]

I think by '84 they were all gray.  But there is debate about exactly when they changed from blue to gray.  Most of what I've read says '82.

[Rembrant]

Thanks Gary.

I'll worry about painting the engine a little later, I was just curious for now. I think I'd like to paint it blue though. Not sure if there is a specific blue for the Ford engines, but it probably doesn't matter in my case. This thing won't be on the stage at Barret Jackson...lol.

[Gary Lewis]

I think Old Ford Blue is the correct color for the earlier engines.  https://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-DE1621-Ceramic-Engine-Paint/dp/B00296DYD8

[PetesPonies]

My '82 has a blue engine. It is the 300. The 302 was left natural in the Mustangs, starting in '82.  The T-Bird had a gray engine in '83.