Work on My F8, No. 11

[Jim Price]

Well, it's Day 8 (I'm counting from the day the truck arrived.) and the following has been accomplished: (in spite of over 105 degree Fahrenheit for each of those days which has limited working time to 4 hours each morning!)

The front fenders have been removed.
The doors have been removed.
(All the sheet metal forming the outside skin on the front of the cab was removed when I received the truck)
All the bolts that hold the bottom have of the back of the cab have beem removed.
All the bolts (except one) that hold the top and the back half together have been removed.
The windshield wiper motors (which I believe will work when cleaned up) were removed.
After 8 days the remaining 2 nuts of the twelve that hold the two halves of the split rim together were freed. Replacement of the tire blown during shipping can proceed.
The windshield top and bottom brackets were loosened.
The inside top panel above the steering wheel column was removed along with a Chevrolet heater. Have attached pictures of that little gem.

Have not removed the body parts as I am hoping for a visit from my body person who lives nearby. I wanted him to see all before we completed this step. All in all, with the help of some friends things are moving along quite nicely!

I do have a deadline to get everything stripped off the frame as the agreement with my neighbor to keep my Kubel in his garage was for 30 days only (set firmly in cement by his wife....) I've got 22 days to go and all is looking good!

More to follow!

Regards,
Jim

[Jim Price]

Temerature over 110 F today. All the metal is hot, hot, hot to the touch. Almost tried that technique shown in that German news clip from Afrika to fry an egg......(didn't have the requisite Panzer to use though.....)

Work proceeded with the following accomplished:

Removed the top panel covering the passenger (left) side of the cab. (Picture of front end attached.)

Removed the instrument cluster. All the plates are present and in fairly good, readable condition. All the switches are frozen, though. (Picture attached.)

Removed the horn.

Installed a tire and rim on the driver's side to see if I really need to replaced the bushings and king pin immediately. Wobble seems to be related to the wheel bearing.

The one stud that was broken when trying to remove its nut from the split rim will be welded tomorrow. This will enable to intall the tire and roll the vehicle around. Needed to get that done so we could remove the bed.

More to come!

[Jim Price]

Took Day 10 off to do errands: grocery shopping, haircut, and buy tools.
Day 11 and today, removed more internal body panels, the tail gate (which still has that little folding step on the inside) the windshield, roof and back bottom half of the cab.

Rewelded the stud on the split rim and reinstalled the tire and wheel back on the truck. Rubber on all four for the first time in 11 days!

Rechecked the king pins and definitely will need new bushings and more than likely, king pins as well.

Rounded up some sleepy neighbors at 7:00 AM this morning to push the truck out of the garage and turn it around so that the bed is facing the driveway. Am going to pull off the bed onto my trailer so that we can disassemble it.
Found another picture on the forum of a bed similar to mine (see picture.) I believe that mine must have originally had a wireless bed.

It's forecast to be 114 F today so have quit for the day!

Regards,
Jim

[cletrac (RIP)]

Jim, those beds are the 1A1 or 1A2 that have been lengthened by someone. You'll have to get it back to its original length and make up a set of lockers between the box and the cab. I can send you a cd with all the dimensions if you want. It looks like you've got the original front piece there too.
You can tell if your truck is a wireless version by looking under the hood. The wireless ones had copper grounding straps joining every body panel to help reduce static interference. They also used a shielded power wire to the coil for the same reason.

[Jim Price]

David:
That CD covering the lockers would be much appreciated. Email me and I'll send you my address. If there's any cost advise and I'll remind same.

By the way, how were the lockers affixed to the frame. And, how many gas tanks were there? The one I have seems rather short. Also, from what I can tell there might have been some sort of a wood platform on the Fords for all that that was placed right behind the cab. If that's so, where can I find the specs? And, where can I find the spare tire holder or plans for one?

Regards,
Jim
PS Checked on those copper grounding straps and none are present.

[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.