'68 F250 Crew Cab 4x4 Short Box - Cummins!

[hivewax]

'68 got loaded off the carrier tonight. It's sitting in the driveway. Tomorrow I'll buy a battery and do a compression test; see why it after-fired making the mufflers explode. I bought today a 5 gal Coastal 80W-90 gear oil online from Advanced Auto online shop with the coupon codes topic from the General Discussion board - http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =2&t=59756 - and saved $20... nice! Thanks for the help, Bump Crew.

EDIT: added link

[hivewax]

I cleaned out the cab. Whole body is infested with black ants and dead wasps! Glovebox w/door, ashtray, instrument cluster, heater controls/box, and radio have been removed and thrown in the back seat. I'll pretty sure I'll need to know what screws where used to hold these parts to the dash. Post pictures if you have them, please! The cluster is going to be a nightmare... I'm seeing a harness laying on the floor, cut up. I'll have some pictures tomorrow.

As for the engine, I'm having the truck towed to a professional shop. I'd probably spend a couple of weeks figuring out what's wrong with it.

Oh, bought a Optima Red Top 800 CCA with a $60 code discount at the same place.

[hivewax]

A look at the interior. I got the ashtray and instrument panel plugged in... there was just 2 connectors. What is that black box dangling from the steering column? Looks to have a brake line attached to it. Part of the MicroLock Brake system??


This is the piece of harness that was cut out. Where does this go to? I hope it's from another truck!


I dug up the carpet and under-lay jute padding/insulation. Patches coming. I hate carpet.

[RexHymen]

wow dude! good luck with everything. I'll come by this weekend (saturday maybe) and see how things are going and if i can lend any hand!

Rex

[dolinick]

I'm looking forward to getting my crew home also. Keep the pics coming. Good luck with your new truck.

[hivewax]

Anyone have one of these? - http://www.mico.com/


I don't think the dome light is original. Looks like it belongs in a shack. In the middle of the roof is a hole... maybe for antenna.

[averagef250]

Mico locks are common on trucks that have PTO winches. The Mico lock will lock all 4 wheels instead of just the 2 rears like the e-brake (well, the e-brake will lock all 4 tires with the transfer case in 4 wheel drive, but to use a PTO winch with a proper transfer case pto you'll need the transfer case in nuetral).

Pacific Power put a Mico-lock on my '70 when they ordered it new. There was no internet when I bought the truck, didn't know the company was still in business so I removed it (it leaked) and installed two electric line lock valves one front, one rear.

[hivewax]

Cool. This truck definitely needs a winch back on it. The black box hanging from the steering column is used to turn on trailer brakes said the previous owner. I'd need to know how that works, too. The cut up harness is from another truck. And, the truck will be towed to a machine shop to get the engine running after work today.

[hivewax]

Truck has been parked in front of the shop since August 22. They get a lot of quick cash jobs, so I figured I'd do most of the labor with a little guidance.

I got the 351M to start. Mechanic replaced the points in the distributor and played with the timing to get the engine to crank over. Then, the engine was not getting fuel. Shop and I could not figure out why fuel was not getting to the jets. The Ford Motorcraft / Autolite 2100 2-barrel carburetor on there was rebuilt wrong. I found out the ball bearing was missing and the spring was put in wrong. I bought a rebuild kit for $20 and did it myself with CARB cleaner and compressed air. I also siphoned out most of the old gas... got the rest by using the fuel pump.

Now, it doesn't idle without giving gas. Next thing to do is change spark plugs and oil, check alternator, and flush the radiator. Hopefully, I can get all that done after work at their shop within 3-4 hours before they close and drive that tank home!

[hivewax]

Well, I took the carburetor off again to check if it matched the Mr. Gasket spacer and it does, but I didn't use it. I tried putting the carburetor back on without any spacer and it works now... must of put the heat soak gasket on backwards or tightened the nuts on the studs wrong. Later on, I might buy the 1" phenolic spacer on eBay if there is a good reason to??? Seller gave me the dimensions of the product in his own words:

THE HOLE PATTERN IS 5 3/16 THAT IS 1/16 BIGGER THAN 5 1/8 AND 3 7/16 THATS 1/16 SMALLER THAN 3 1/2 INCH . THE BUTTERFLY BORES ARE 1 11/16 AND THE CENTER OF THE BUTTERFLYS IS 1 9/16 OFF THE CENTER OF THE REAR HOLES.

Good news is the engine idles on its own. Bad news is when I put coolant in the radiator, there is now a leak under the engine. I had no clue what it was until the shop said rusted freeze plug. I need to crawl under there to make sure. Another issue is the engine is shaking like crazy... some of the cylinders are not firing at all... probably the ignition again.

So tomorrow, I will likely change the freeze plug and oil. And, the shop will check the charging system and the non-firing. Then, MAYBE I can drive it home.

[hivewax]

I drove the truck for the 1st time on Saturday... from the shop to my house. It was pretty scarey with spongy brakes, bed rattling, coolant leaking like crazy from a freeze plug, and no power to anything but the wipers. I also didn't like actually driving like a grandma in 1st & 2nd gear. Luckily, my home was only about a mile away. Shop was pretty nice to only charge under $100. This week I'll get to replacing all the freeze plugs and the oil, then the electrical issues... maybe whole new homemade harness!

EDIT: Spelling.

[FormerMarine1981]

Sounds like you are diving right in. Good luck with the freeze plugs. I had to replace some on my 72. I used the rubber ones that you place in the hole and tighten a nut and bolt down to get the rubber to expand and hold in place because I could not get a good angle to properly seat a metal one. I will keep those in there until I take the engine out and just keep an eye on them. Just an idea if you have trouble getting to yours.

[FormerMarine1981]

I'm interested in the front wheel on this '68 F350. What year and model trucks can I find these?

The owner of this truck used to be a member here and had a build thread going. Anyone remember his thread?

When he found that truck it looks like it was set up for regular wheels not duals. One of his many mods to the truck.

[hivewax]

Just finished installing new deep brass freeze plugs. I had to jack the engine at the bell-housing; remove motor mounts, starter, oil pan, driver side exhaust log manifold and exhaust pipe, and unbolt the clutch bar linkage to the frame.



Next, I'll be going to the U-Pick salvage yard to look for a 3G alternator, hydro-boost setup, DURASPARK distributor, 67-72 body parts, wheels w/tires, and anything else interesting. I'll also need to repair or replace the radiator as there is a small leak coming from the corner.

[hivewax]

Here are the old crusty steel freeze plugs and a rubber plug that was a PITA to take out! Topic about it - http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =3&t=61565