Bought a new project.

[rubiranch]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYdghm8T5Yk[/ame]

I had to go test the new tires.
I don't get too aggressive when I'm by myself so I just gave it one shot.




[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkgaVUAllHI[/ame]

This one gets pretty steep and rocky and that's where my camera tipped over.

So far I am really liking the new tires.
Thumbs up for Ironman All Country M/T tires.

 

[Onomea]

Rubiranch, you sure it's legal to have that much fun in Utah?

 

[rubiranch]

Rubiranch, you sure it's legal to have that much fun in Utah?

It is until they catch me.

 

[rubiranch]

I bought some new mufflers and had them installed yesterday.
The first set I had were too loud for me.
When you got on it they sounded like straight pipes.





These were the first ones and as you can see they are pretty much a straight pipe.
Flowmaster FlowFX.

photo hosting software

These Dynomax Super Turbos are also free-flowing but they have baffles to significantly reduce the noise. Much better.




I also bought and installed an intermittent wiper switch and module.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOxBEJUYCfM[/ame]

Its the little things in life that make it soo much better.

 

[rubiranch]

I've been having rear main seal issues.
I've replaced it twice and parts are on the way for the third time.
I am getting an education.
I hope "third times the charm".




I recently bought a new fan shroud because the truck didn't have one when I bought it.
Yesterday I received my new factory correct "caution-fan" sticker.



And my new cigarette lighter.
The truck never had one.
I'm surprised that it was an option clear back in 1976.

 

[Tom S.]

Hope I catch you in time - those bolts in the oil pan are in upside down....

 

[rubiranch]

Hope I catch you in time - those bolts in the oil pan are in upside down....

No wonder it was soo had to hard to get the threads started. LOL!!

 

[rubiranch]

I bought the old Ford two years ago on Nov 1st 2021.
Here's a few now and then pictures.





A whopping 9010 miles in two years.





I have new carpet, kick panel and lower door panel carpet.
I hope to get it installed pretty soon.





The 410 is running extremely well and I'm quite pleased with it.

I've done tons to it and it still needs tons more. $$$$ LOL




Ford "enthusiasts" give me a bad time about the Dodge wheels.
But I like them so they stay.

The new Ironman All Country M/T mud terrain tires awesome.

 

[rubiranch]

Its been a while so I thought I'd post a few updates.


I found another Dodge wheel on eBay.
They came off 94-02 2500/3500 Dodge trucks.
People in the Ford truck forum give me grief but I like them.
Now I have a spare tire and I can do 5-tire tire rotations.


I also bought a new steering wheel and horn button.
While installing the new steering wheel I also replaced the old tiiurn signal switch.


And new carpet.





So this is what I have done to the interior;
dash pad, painted visors and replace the visor pins. New dome
light lens and bulb. Fixed door jamb switches. Added a cigarette
lighter, glove box insert and light, painted headliner, installed
intermittent wipers, clutch and brake pedal ads, replaced head
light dimmer switch, replaced head light switch, new steering
wheel and horn bar, turn signal switch, door panels, armrests,
finger cups, window crank spring and escutcheon, seat cover,
mechanical oil pressure gauge, new door weather stripping and
scuff plates, all new instrument cluster light bulbs, heater core,
"fixed" rusted floor boards, new carpet and kick panel carpet.



This will be the new upholstery for the seat when I get to it..

 

[rubiranch]

Some time back I made the comment in the truck forum that the one thing that
I really disliked about my truck were these Selectro hubs.

Those big Ford factory hubs with the red FORD knobs are iconic for these old Highboys.
I hunted and hunted and hunted for a set and never could find them.

A gentleman inn the forum sent me a PM and told me that he had a set that I could have, for free.
He said I could either take a road trip to pick them up or he would ship them to me.


I chose the road trip, he lives in show Lo AZ.
I wanted to shake his hand and thank him personally.
These hubs are easily worth $4-500.

1000 miles round trip.
I got to meet a true gentleman and shake his hand.
Soo grateful for all the amazing people that we get to cross paths with.

 

[rubiranch]

I think they were worn out.








Back in April I did a complete rear brake job.
It included new shoes, all new hardware, wheel cylinders drums, brake
hose and park brake cables.
This was the first time the ark brake worked since I bought the truck.
Both old cables were seized right up.

 

[rubiranch]

What a mess. Every hole was stripped, had busted bolts and or
helicoids that could not be repaired.
Looks like the wheel bearing hadn't been repacked in decades.



So I tore it all down to fix everything.



This is my good friend Geof, this is who I bought the truck from.
His dad was a machinist and welder and he taught Geof well.


Geof drilled new holes and threaded them for the hubs.
You can't buy new. These trucks only had disc breaks in 1976
and the first half of 1977 so the bearing hub and spindles are
impossible to find and hew ones have been out of production for years.


They turned out perfect.


New rotors, calipers, brake pads, spindle bearing, every seal,
master cylinder and brake hoses.


I tore down the hubs, cleaned and lubed them and they work like new.


I couldn't be happier with the way everything turned out.
And I can't thank Jon enough for the hubs.
You just cant find them anymore and I've wanted a set ever since
the day I bought the truck.

 

[soFlaNative]

Good to have friends.
Hope you provided plenty of his beverage of choice when finished.

 

[rubiranch]

Good to have friends.
Hope you provided plenty of his beverage of choice when finished.

I will as soon as he recovers.
The seized up rusted in place u-joints in the two front axles kicked his butt.
Steaks and drinks are on the schedule.

 

[Oldengineer]

Wow, this is a blast from the past. I was a 30 year old engine development engineer in 1976 calibrating 302 cid 49 state emissions and driveability. This brings back many fond memories of “growing up” at the Ford EEE building. We were learning a lot about catalysis and durability. Back then, 50,000 miles was the design target! How things have changed.

Tom H.

 

[rubiranch]

Tom, in 1976 I was 22 working in a tune up/drivability specialty shop and yes, things sure have changed.

Some for the good and some for the worse.

 

[Oldengineer]

Tom, in 1976 I was 22 working in a tune up/drivability specialty shop and yes, things sure have changed.

Some for the good and some for the worse.

Where have the carburetors and distributors gone? Answer: California Air Resources Board and EPA. We owe it all to electronic engine control.

 

[rubiranch]

I still run one on this truck but a lot of people are converting them over to EFI.
I just have too many other things that need money.
Its a Brawler carburetor made by Holley.
Its cast aluminum so it costs a few $hundred less than the traditional Holley.
Its a 650 CFM with mechanical secondaries.

 

[rubiranch]

This piece right here is harder to find than those OE hubs.
Ford only put disc brakes on 1976 and and the first half of 1977 Highboys.
1975 and older all had front drum brakes with closed knuckles'.
In 1977.5 Ford changed the frame width and changed the entire drivetrain.
So that part was only produced for 1.5 years.
My hubs came off a drum brake truck but fortunately the hubs were the same.

 

[rubiranch]

Back in May I wired in this CRS, constant run solenoid so I would have key on
power to charge my travel trailer's house batteries while I was traveling and
not drain the trucks battery when I had the truck shut off.
Newer trucks have been wired like like that for quite a few years.


The truck had a 6-pin trailer plug already in the factory bumper so I had to
change it over to a 7-pin and installer a trailer brake controller too.
Now the truck was eclectically ready to tow a trailer.