Ford Fan#1

thats good. still wondering about the quality... i think they look good but for the long run idk.

bwk9087

Ok, got to work on cutting off the driver's side exhaust manifold, because the nuts had no shape to them, just like the other side. Went to take off the pipe on top back side of manifold, and it crumbled off in my wrench, I already had ordered one. I thought this side was supposed to be the easy side, I could not get a cutoff wheel in where I needed, so I pulled out the torches, and cut the left half of manifold off, I had already cut the right half off with cutoff wheels. I was able to get all of the studs out with vise grips, the back two were difficult, had to put two flats on them to get them out but not too bad. Header install will be next.

bwk9087

Got the driver's side header on. Not finished because I did nor realize I needed a fitting to connect the pipe from header to egr tube. Ordered that. Also had to take off the oil dipstick, and who would have thought, it was rusted, and broke off. I was only able to punch it thru to bottom of pan. Hopefully will be able to fish it out, seems everybody is able to do it, so I should be good. Ordered new dipstick tube.

bwk9087

Fought with pitman arm for about 5 hours, it would not come off with puller, no matter what I did. Finally was able to use a small burr on pencil grinder and go almost all the way thru, and beat it some more with 4lb sledge, and it broke, and got it off. Damaged threads on shaft when I started with cutoff wheel, so had to find a metric thread file, since I don't have a die that big. Actually found one on a late Saturday afternoon. Will get it cleaned up tomorrow, and get the pitman arm on.

bwk9087

Pitman arm went on good today, once I cleaned the thread up. Front end kit is installed, should have nice tight steering now for awhile. I will finish up the header once the fitting comes in, along with the dipstick tube. Did install a new flasher for led lights, and a new shift indicator cable bracket, that was busted, another common problem with these years. Thought I needed somethings easy to do for a change. Time to work on the right rocker.

kaboom10

Putting on long tube headers here. Looks like it will be a fun job even with having just 63000 miles on mine. I wonder if the top of the shock mounts are strong enuff to put on the coilovers? Love what you have done so far.

bwk9087

You will have more "fun", I didn't have to remove anything from exhaust, except for the 2 bolt and nuts per side connecting the header to the exhaust. I would think the shock mounts are strong enough, measures just over 1/8" thick.

AllanR

Wow, You have done a killer job. Im going to keep an eye on this for when I attack my rocker and bed brace rust. what did you use to fab up the bed braces?

bwk9087

Thanks. I can't find my paperwork, or email, at the moment, but I think it was either 2.25", or 2.5" x 1/4" square tube. I will try to remember to look it up later, or measure when I go back out in garage later today.

bwk9087

While sanding and applying body filler to seams on right side rocker, and cab corner, painted up around the suspension area, and frame, on both sides. Also installed leds in map lights in cab, and installed new map update, and software on the Pioneer radio.