Work on My F8, No. 11

[Jim Price]

Yesterday we finally got all four bolts holding the bed to the frame off. Today we pulled it off onto my trailer for some stripping of panels. Got the rear ones off and called it quits at noon. The temp was 112 F by then and the three of us were whipped!

Found that an 8" section of channel was added to the rear to help support the extended bed. Also, a double set of rear springs are present to help out as well.

Noted that the frame has a diagonal repair made to it in the same exact location on both sides!?!? A piece of channel that perfectly fits the inside of the frame has been added to strengthen the repair (?). Almost looks like a factory job.

Have attached pictures of the above.

Regards,
Jim

[cletrac (RIP)]

Jim, all the F8s have that splice in the frame. That's the way Ford made them.

[Jim Price]

Since Day 14 we've:

Unbolted the drive shaft at the joints. (The shaft is bent and the ends will need to be rewelded to a new section of pipe.)

Removed the transmission (Although the motor was gone the tranny was still in place!). This was no easy task as the cotter pins holding the linkage together were rusted in place. Finally had to cut one rod in half to get it out.

Unbolted the floor from the frame.

Used a torch to cut off the extension off of the back end of the truck frame as well as cut the front bed panel off of the bed extension.

Measured all parts of the original bed.

Loaded up the the old bed and took it to the scrap yeard. (It's condition was such that it could not be reused.) Got $43 USD out of it!

Took the doors, back bottom panel and roof/rear window section to the media blaster for stripping.

Talked to the body shop next door to the blaster about fabricating replacement panels where needed for all the above parts. (I get the quote back next week.)

Went to the metal fabricator with all the measurements on the truck bed to get a quote for replacing the floor and seat panel sections as well as a new tailgate. (I get the quote back on this work in a couple of weeks.) We're going to reuse the original front and end panels as well as fabricate our own floor support beams then reassemble the bed parts ourselves.

Daytime temperatures are still exceeding 110 F so am taking today, Day 18, off!

[Rookie]

Go for it Jim. had the asbestos problem myself, take great care. To repeat, welcome to the assylum (too cold here at the moment to work on my truck in the barn)

Regards

Rookie

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Jim Price

Loaded up the the old bed and took it to the scrap yeard. (It's condition was such that it could not be reused.) Got $43 USD out of it!

Jim,

I may have misunderstood your post. It's just my humble opinion, and I am probably out of line, but I would have kept the original 1A1 bed ( no matter what condition it was in ) until the new replica copy was made .. Even then I would have kept it for future reference . You really need the original on hand to look at the details like weld locations and other intricate stuff. There were variations with those bodies, they are not all the same . I made up a replica 1A1 tub and I wish I had an original on hand to look at . I only had photographs and drawings to go by and it was often a guessing game as to what is correct. Parts like tailgates are as rare as hens teeth .... I have a set of drawings compiled over 4 years. David P has filled in many gaps for me .

Mike

[peter simundson]

...that box would be "in the bushes" for a long time. Likewise all the parts I removed from the frame. It's amazing how years later what was thought to be a wood box support turns out to be the original spare tire spacer or wireless box mount.''

Peter S ('member me?)

PS You have a copy of Blueprint for Victory...right?

[Jim Price]

Mike and Peter:
Thanks for your comments! How right you both are as far as saving everything, either for future reference or recycling into the restoration! I did save the tailgate but the original bed had many, many pictures and measurements taken of it before considering taking it to the scrapyard. I hasten to assure both of you that all the bed parts were beyond use. I have on the other hand saved eveything else, nuts, bolts, brackets, you name it!

Regards,
Jim
PS Peter, yes I do remember you and no, I don't have a copy of Blueprint for Victory but will look for one. Thanks for all your past help!

[Jim Price]

Being a Sunday work was limited. Today we accomplished the following:

Removed the floor and the interior engine compartment walls.

Removed the master cylinder and all brake lines.

Removed the drive shaft.

Removed the starter solenoid and cable.

Took pictures before and after work that was done.

Am missing the driver's side floor support. Any ideas where I can find one? (See the picture.)

Noticed that the wood spacers that separate the floor from the frame end at the rear of the cab floor. However, because they are groved on the end I suspect they run back farther underneath the bed and possibly with another two short pieces placed on the frame ends right at the back end. Can somebody help educate me on that? (See the picture.)

Started at 7 am and quit at 11 am. Too hot!

Regards,
Jim

[Jim Price]

Yesterday and today we disassembled the front suspension. That involved:

Removed the hubs and bearings.

Removed the steering wheel, column and gear box.

Removed the steering arm and the connecting rod. (Had to use a puller on the steering arm!)

Removed the king pin retaining pins.

Removed the front axle.

What we didn't get done was removing the king pins. Those are stuck, stuck, stuck in the axle. Tomorrow will take the axle with spindles attached to a machine shop for removal. Will have them replace the king pins and bushings as well.

Am also stopping at a parts place and pick up all the parts needed to rebuild the brakes.

By the way, I'm missing the floor support bracket that's under the door on the driver's side; anybody out there have a spare one? (See the picture of the one I have.) I did contact Brian Asbury but he doesn't have it.

Hot again today (107 F) so we quit at 11 am.

Happy Canada Day!

Regards,
Jim