Spent the day working on the 4WD [many LG pics]

[FORDification]

I had the day to kill at the shop today, but didn't really feel like doing anything to the project truck, so I tinkered around with the '69 4WD. Since the truck's going to be sitting in front of the shop for a while, and since my shop is in a residential neighborhood, I decided I needed to fix it up a little bit, just to keep the neighbors happy. Here's a before shot:



....and here's a couple shots after bolting on a bumper, grille, grille guard and a hood:





The lower valance panel was beat to hell, so I unbolted it and beat it back it back into shape before bolting on the other pieces. I also lucked out in that the one spare hood I had was already black, and actually matches up pretty well with the rest of the truck. I also reattached the left-side fender where it was hanging down, so it looks a little better.

I then spent the rest of the day stripping the cab. The wiring was COMPLETELY trashed! A previous owner had done some major 'jury-rigging' all over the place, causing 1/3 of the harness to have a meltdown. I've got several spare harnesses, so that's not a problem.

Here's a shot of the melted turn signal switch:


...and here's a shot of the main underdash harness:


Everything else inside was in such sad shape that I just gutted the cab completely and will replace everything with good used parts I have laying around the shop, left-overs from other trucks I've parted out. Here's a shot taken just before coming home for the night:

[72hiboy4x4]

all I can say is... WOW!

[splavin90]

I love the melted turn signal switch.
what did the PO do that made 1/3 of the harness to melt down?
replace all the fuses with 50amp fuses??? dang. I saw my friend using a paper clip as a fuse on his pickup. i was like WOW.... that's a stupid thing to do...

[hardtailjohn]

That's the first "calibrated" 15amp NUT I've seen!!!

JH

[spartman]

DAAAANNNGGG!!!!!!

[Chasbod]

That is priceless!!! Jerry-rigger's hall of fame!

[SmokeyBear]

i've wrapped a blown fuse in a foil gum wrapper before as a quick fix to get me home but DAMN! that's some A-1 USDA Grade A afro-engineering.

[layedout72]

thats awesome. Re-wiring is one thing I plan on taking my time to do! I hate shoddy wiring jobs. I payed 200 dollars for a shop to run my power wire/remote wire/RCA's for my system in my new mustang. I didn't want to risk messing things up, being it is a 2005, so I left it to the "professionals". I took it back 3 or 4 times for them to completely redo it, only to find they redid the exact same way, routing the power wire on the other side of the engine, in back, but touching things, or below and touching things. I may be finicky on where my wires run, but they will NOT run anywhere near a header. Needless to say, the 4th time i went back, i brought it home and redid the damn thing myself, new 1/0 awg power wire because the wire they supplied MELTED! to the header. No problems ever sense.

[heep70]

I know a couple people like that. They don't ride in my rig.

[CJ,s 67 F100]

Keith, That sure looks good now. I have used the double mint wrapper to get home at night with a trailor but that nut for a fuse takes the cake. I know I'm paranoid about theft with my tractor and shredder getting stolen but that looks good enough to steal now. Anyway of running a chain on it to inside the building?

[jzjames]

Kieth, your 4x4 parts truck looks pretty good all straightened up. SELL IT!

[wolfpack]

smell that everyone??? another projects in the wings a few pics here some there and before you know a big time project going on along with the 67....

[flyboy2610]

Ain't that the way they ALL start??!!

[wolfpack]

yeah i have a feeling that's the way mine is going to start....one thing will lead to another, and then the snowball effect will go into full force...

[FORDification]

Yep, that's true. And since I've decided to go ahead and keep this thing, I do have to resist the urge to do a complete teardown....it's a constant internal struggle. But I think I'll just keep this one as my junkyard dog / toy. I'll replace the things which need it, which basically means all rubber parts and joints, and I'll upgrade to power steering and brakes, but it's not gonna be pretty.

And I've just about decided that this rig is going to get a hydraboost power brake setup from an '82 Ch*vy crewcab dually diesel I've had sitting around for the past few years.