Bringing an F100 Back from the Dead

Hi Mike.Thanks for your serice.11-11 is also a special day for me too.My Fathers birthday was11-11-1896.He and his oldest brother were WW1 vets.Lost Dad in September of 1994.Miss him a bunch.
Really enjoying this thread.Thanks for posting.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

$350.00 delivered with the title. 1989. There was paint under the rust. A solid body. Today still not done. Isn't going to get done.

 

Thanks Leo!
It's because of guys like your dad and his brother that we are able to enjoy the life we have today. It's just heartbreaking that there are many who don't appreciate that.
Everyone who served played a part, although I was but a lowly flightline machinist at George AFB, (fighter base) at the tail end of the VietNam debacle. Removing stripped and broken screw and drilling safety wire holes (since some mechanics put non-drilled screws in) were my most common tasks. As insignificant as that may be to some, if I didn't do that, that plane might not fly that day.

 

what??-no quick change under there??!!

 

Today's project was some travel limiters for the front beams. The dropped beams did not have any provision for limiting the down travel, which under some severe circumstances could allow the front coil springs to fall out. Now, that would not be good at all!
Even though my "Dukes of Hazzard" days are behind me, I have a trip coming up that entails some dirt roads that have the potential for that scenario.
So, a couple forged eye bolts, some stout steel cable, some steel flat bar, I rigged some up.
The test will come this weekend when I go out to an archery shoot with a couple miles of bumpy dirt road.

 

I thought the shocks were what limits travel. Are they too long?

 

Are they? Are they really?

 

I reckon so. The factory beams had limiters. The dropped beams did not

 

I think so.
But one never truly knows how they would respond to an emergent situation!

 

Shocks will limit travel but leads to quick death of the shock

 

A crisp December morning out at our local Saturday morning "Cars & Coffee".
A fellow HAMBer stopped by to say hello. Sorry, I don't remember the name. I'm just bad with that. Bad, bad, bad.
This is just a great way to stay in touch with other car people. The coffee shop we park close, Monkey Dog Coffee, even provides free coffee. And ol' Herb brings donuts. He owns the '51 Kaiser in the photo below.

 

The T bucket guy wins the prize for toughest or brain damaged.

 

Yep. They were one of the topics of discussion!

 

Glad to finally meet you Mike. You were in a conversation with another couple so I just wanted introduce myself. I got into an extended conversation with Herb and Donny. ( I haven't been around for a while) and didn't get back to talk with you. There is always next week. I'm bad with names also but I remember cars.
Jerry

 

Glad we got to meet Jerry! The Cars & Coffee things is a great way to catch up, meet up, and cruise the old iron without tying up a whole day.
Wifey and I will miss this coming Saturday, but looking forward to meeting up again!

 

Since it is purty dang cold these days, I decided to swap out my steering column for an Ididit column with tilt. Not a fan of the factory firewall seal, since to call it a seal would be innaccurate to say the least. It only covers 2/3 of the hole. I don't get it. Maybe the engineers had a reason. Just seems like there was some miscommunication between sheet metal and rubber parts divisions, and they just said t'hell with it. It's just a truck. So, I did what any self respecting hot rod guy would do. I made my own lower column support/firewall seal using a gas filler neck grommet.
Also, the engine has developed a tick when the motor was cold that had me concerned. "OH crap. Cam's going flat."
Nope! I'm happy to say it was the power steering belt. After removing both AC and power steering belts to isolate those from whatever was making the noise, the ol' inline 6 is purring along just fine. AC belt back on....still fine. Put the power steering belt back on and got 'er adjusted just a bit tighter.....bingo!
The moral is, don't freak out until you figure out what ain't makin' the noises!

 

There's a reason we keep stuff like the filler gasket. I don't think I will live long enough to use some of mine. I like the fact that you dated your filter. I keep my records on a spreadsheet. Having all of the records in one place helps my senility.

 

Thanks wfo!
I put the mileage on the filter too. I really need to drive this thing more! Only 1000 miles since june!
That filler gasket was perfect for this! Exact ID needed for the column, and just made the panel to fi the OD!

 

And still no booby bouncer video!

 

Thanks - I'll file that tip. What make was your particular grommet originally from?

 

A couple months ago, I bought a hinged gas filler door assembly designed for a later model jeep. It came with the recessed body bezel and filler neck grommet. All I needed was the door for the floor of my bed. The grommet had an ID of 2.25" which is what the steering column is. So it was just a fortunate set of circumstances.
Just as an FYI, the factory Ford body grommet has this ID too and is quite a bit heavier.

 

Sooooo....
The new Ididit column's turn signal switch isn't playing nice. Their tech support says my original steering wheel is the cause. This is the third TS switch fail in the two years since the truck has been operational. The first two were Chinese repops that had the cancelling tabs break off in a very short time.
This one is not cancelling all the way, which causes weird things to happen.
They say a new wheel ($200) will fix it, but I'm not convinced. I still have a known to be good, US made TS switch in my original column. All that will cost me is time.

 

Change the switch - not the wheel. I fail to grasp how a steering wheel can interfere with the turn signal mechanism. And even if it does $200 will go a long way toward making modifications to the steering wheel hub.

 

Yep. That'll be the first course of action. I have a known good US made switch, and it gets easier to change every time!
Kinda says something about Ididit's quality control and their willingness to back it up with their warrantee.
Reminds me of computing in the early days. The software maker says it's a hardware problem. The hardware maker says it's a software problem. The user is left to figure it out on their own.
One really funny thing the Ididit tech guy said that really hit a nerve...."Remove the canceller so you don't break it."

 

WTF?
However, there is such a thing as a 'turn signal on' warning buzzer that will sound an alarm if the turn signal stays on for longer than a minute or so. I have one on an RV.

 

I've seen those. One of my buddies had one in his Galaxie back in high school. Musta left an impression since I still remember that. I seem to remember some cars had a lighter toned chime. Might have to look into that.
What was weird is the the dash indicators were not flashing when the TS didn't completely cancel. Just both rears were flashing.
Dinkin' around with it this morning. The switch is really really tight. Much tighter than the US made switch I have. Probably the best pieces the Shanghai plant had to offer in bulk at about a buck and a half per unit. 40% failure rate? No big deal. Just work it into the consumer price.
I used needle nose pliers and a small screwdriver to work the push-nut that hold on the cancelling lever. Then squirted a bunch of di-electric grease into the switch. Then I just worked the TS stalk up and down a BUNCH of time to get that grease worked in. Noticeably looser afterwards. It seems to be cancelling all the way now. Maybe it will loosen up a bit more with use. We shall see.
While it's a fairly nice column over all, I'd say when it comes to Ididit, I'm feeling.......disappointed.
Thanks FTF!

 

So, it's been a while since the last update. The biggest change has been a change to the induction that cannot be spoken of.
In the meantime, just little refinements and enjoying drivin' 'er.
A couple things have popped up. First, my modeling career has finally taken off. Me and Ol' Furd get the cover of an agricultural expo guidebook. Photo below.
Also, while at our Friday night hot rod gathering, I parked next to Ol' Furd's daddy. Can you see the family resemblance?

 

Cayucos Car show this weekend, Nov. 2.
Of course the weather report is calling for a bit of rain in the morning. While some people won't stand for their car getting the least bit wet, the turn-out may be a bit lower than it otherwise might.
But Ol' Furd, now she can get wet, and she won't melt. Got windshield wipers and everything!
If you are in the area, stop by and say "Hey!" Right on Beach Street!

 

Mike, sorry I'm running behind with my editing. Here is a shot of Furd at the 10-19 Clovis show.