Projects Helping an old(er) couple out

thats my thinking too, i want to go over the shift linkage to see whats actually wrong with it.

 

@Marty Strode said it before I could. Those '60 and up column shifters in most all the Fords were pot metal junk and always need replaced! I have seen them split the shift tube inside the steering column too. Watch for that.
Best wishes for you!

Dave

 

I only ever had to grease my '57s shifter and it has 0 slop, im guessing its steel linkage?

 

GREAT, don't forget to keep posting the progress....with pics of course.

 

Yep. 1960 Falcon got the new pot metal ones and so did pickups etc about the same time. Before then, Ford had one of the best column shifters made as far as I am concerned.

Dave

 

Good luck. But don’t hit the tops of the valves with wood and a hammer. Good way to bend them. Just pry them down with a long lever. You don’t even have to remove the rockers first to do it.

 

Super cool you are offering to help @The_Cat_Of_Ages. Trucks compared to similar year cars tend to be worn, Everywhere and Everything, due to the nature of their intended use. My linkage was laughable and the amount of Gumbo mud was as well. Once was it was put back in service with some tinkering I moved to the very next item that was pooched - and so it continues. Well intended as it may be, past the initial drive, the owners will likely shake their head in Nostalgic disbelief then offer it to you, then you're really in for a round of Love/Hate.

 

I love it.

So good of you too donate your time and effort to help them out. Nothing cooler to all of us.

And then everybody here just jumps right in and gives you a bunch of information about particulars that you probably couldn't get anywhere else. Things learned from personal experience.

I don't know...
I just think it's neat.

The only thing I have for you is a reminder that the crankcase oil will probably look nice and clean after setting for years because everything has settled out of it to the bottom of the pan. Don't let it fool you. Change the oil. I'm sure you were going to anyway.

Have fun.

 

Good day.... I have a shifter tube but I am in Ontario Canada north of Barrie!
i would donate it to he cause, but first I have to find it. Shipping would be up
to you and I have no idea how much it would be. It is NOS

 

first things first is see whats actually broken. dont want to get parts i dont need. i tried to open the door before and it seems to be binding on the fender, so the hood will need to be opened first, then the fender unbolted shimmied forward, then the door opened then check the shifter linkage and see whats wrong

 

Another sign you might want to check the cab mounts.
Is there a clearly understood "this is as far as I am going" agreement? Even with such an agreement, there will be some inevitable mission creep. Lot of difference between "putt around the farm" and "lets hit the highway".

 

dead cab mounts and motor mounts are the worst offenders for binding shifters on Ford pickups. There's probably nothing wrong with the actual levers and linkage that a bushing kit won't fix; rusted out cab mounts are a different thing. It'll also cause binding accelerator linkage.

 

Well drats... bad cab mounts isn't very neat. Good luck.

 

its been in accidents in the past around the farm, i think the fender is out of alignment. or something similar. im not condemning it just yet, the floors looked alright though. once again we'll see how it is, they arent going to be home for a while so it will be a bit until i can head back. nothing will have changed most likely.

 

I'm curious what the signs leaned against the tree say?

 

i believe they're old gas stations signs

 

They could be worth a lot of money to collectors of signs, which many old car guys just happen to be!

 

Happens here all the time. Someone will buy an old barn find or inherit some car that's been sitting for the last 25 years. When we get done quoting all the stuff that needs to get fixed to "get it running" their eyes usually bug out as their wallet has a coronary. Yeah, I might be able to get the engine to fire in less than 30 minutes, but to keep it running reliably, stop, steer, and drive safely is a whole 'nother story. Don't even get me started on those brand new 20-yr old tires!

 

Good for you for helping out. Take a closer look and see if he’s got the coveted 262ci I-6
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1161028-identifying-a-262-vs-a-223-a.html

 

Would nt hurt to prime the oil pump and replacing the fuel pump as well

Esp if its been sitting

Would flush the lines n blowing them out

along with dropping the tank and cleaning it out

Pop in a hot battery , good to go

 

Did the couple let you know what they wanted? It was mentioned before (sorry, forgot by who) but maybe they just want to putt around the farm kinda like maybe the old days before it was parked. Then just make it easy to start, and make sure it stops properly.
Might be all they want?

 

I was about to say what Brando1956 posted. Front cab supports on those trucks were prone to rust out and let the front of the cab drop down and bind the shift linkage. You don't even have to get under to see if that's the problem. Just look at the gap between the doors and front fenders. If the gap is obviously wider at the bottom, that's the problem. All Ford trucks from '61 up into the '80s had that problem.

 

i think for brakes (for now) i will get the front brakes working, and disable or plug the rear brakes, itll depend on how far gone the brake system is. im hoping for all 4 wheels. the easy part will be wheel cylinders and rubbers. hand brake especially will be fixed. again nothing is set in stone, the trucks been parked on a rubber or carpet floor covered barn. it looks alright underneath. i need to air the tires up.

 

the front fenders are tight against the door, but the cab is level. any easy way to temporarily fix the cab mounts?

 

I've heard of people putting wood blocks between the floor and frame rails. Might have been me.

 

You need to get under there and look at the cab mounts, anything else is a guess. An educated guess, but still a guess. Being a native Buckeye myself, I'll agree they are probably toast, and have been since way back in the previous century. Yes, some lumber stacked between the cab and the frame can help for a while, as long as the floor doesn't give way. I too, applaud you for trying, but give it a serious looking over so you can get/give a realistic diagnosis.

 

THS Class of 65 1965 Who's alive, We're Alive . Dang those young wippers calling people my age old,.
I'm in that club with The guy 153 miles down the road DWollam, in that back when I was working in shops I replaced a few of those shift collars.

 

Well, I must be old...graduated in 62. Still married to the same gal who graduated in 64 and we got engaged in a 58 Vette. And, I admire anyone who will help us old guys with anything. I also admire guys older than me like tubman, and a few others who like me just love old iron. Have a GR8 4th guys !!!!

 

Good on you @The_Cat_Of_Ages. This reminds me of a coworker who found out that I work on old cars. Hey, I have a 56 Dodge I'd like to get running. No problem bud bring it over. Almost 3 years later (some of my fault because I don't work on it every day) the quick brake job and carb rebuild turned into new floors, floor supports, complete new brake system, shocks, tie rods, some new wiring (absolute rats nest in there), radiator, etc. Jeez, I got to get this done and gone!

 

PS, I have a white steering wheel for that truck if needed, the one on the seat