70 F250 Cab Swap - Continued - Her name is Ethyl..

[flyboy2610]

You're getting there! Sounds like you've made a LOT of progress already. In stead of being frustrated over what you can't do right now, stop and pat yourself on the back over what you HAVE done so far!

[Sharkdance]

THE FE BREATHES AGAIN!!!!

After six + months of sitting on my garage floor out of the frame I re-started my FE today!! (With open headers :twisted: Damn thats loud. )

Took some cranking to get the fuel up from a previously dry tank all the way up to the carb but once she lit she idled great and pedal response was snappy as always.
Man it was like therapy hearing that engine breathe again.
I let it idle for a few minutes to bake the new header paint on and shut it down to let it cool and check for leaks. Only one, very small leak at the PS gear box where the hose screwes in. A little more tightening with a wrench and it was fixed.
After allowing the engine to cool, I turned the key again and like always she lit back to life with only 2 or 3 spins of the crank. (This engine has always been reliable and quick to start)
I couldnt resist it any longer so noise levels be damned I reved her up a few times and sat there for what must have been 30 minutes listening to those open headers rumble.
Now I just have to put mufflers on, drive shaft in, and bleed the brakes before it moves for a test drive.
With no bed on it yet, might have a problem keeping the back tires from smoking. :twisted:

[trukcrazy]

Wonderful news Shark, glad to hear it still runs great.

[jzjames]

Great! And we're not going to hassel you too much about those door window channels since you did come up with that firewall cover. And that turned out really nice!

[spartman]

[flyboy2610]

[Sharkdance]

flyboy2610,trukcrazy,spartman,

Thanks, feelt good to hear my old FE make some noise again.

jzjames,

Thanks for no hard time. But it wasnt just me who came up with the firewall cover. If it were all me then Id still be sittn here trying to figure out how to afford it.
What I mean is; I installed it but it came from a good individual who shares our love for these old trucks. A stand up person with a generous heart who must know what its like to struggle and how good it feels to succeed.
My wife was trying to help me budget for a firewall cover as well as she is trying to help with the run channels right now.
But it couldnt have happened without the fantastic people of this forum.

[Sharkdance]

Got my door glass run channels.

Sent my wife to a local glass distributor with samples of the old run channels and she came back with enough to do both doors for about $28.
Still gotta get new dew wipes (fuzzies) but at least I can put my door glass in now. Gonna put them in this week-end.

[Sharkdance]

Got both door glass in today. Now I can roll up the windows and close the doors and not have to worry about the weather ruining the interior anymore.
And now that it starts and runs I put the ignition & door lock cylinders in.

When I put my back glass in I had tinted it before I installed it. The idea was that the gasket slipped over the tint and there would be no cut line. (easier to tint such a large piece of glass when its out too)
Well, I thought I would pre-tint the door glass today and then install them. (bad idea) I ruined the tint on one window so I just put the glass in without it. (I can tint them later)
Replacing/installing the run channels is the easiest thing Ive done to this truck yet. Its so nice to have the windows roll up and down smoothly and not rattle.
Still have to finish putting the door seals and driveshaft in, along with the exhaust system and bolting down the seat/dashpad/instrument cluster/Etc. Etc.
Oh yea, and then theres the bed. Havent even started on that yet. Its still upside down in the yard. Gonna have to move it under the tarp to work on it now. That means my truck has to be parked in the driveway now.

[widegauge]

Wow man, I leave you alone for two weeks and you almost finish it....I need to stay away more so you can start driving it.

[Sharkdance]

widegauge,

Well, its still a ways from finished. Still got a lot of time consuming doo-dad crap to do like lights, bleed the brakes, Etc. But it feels good to finaly see a light at the end of the tunnel and realise its NOT a train.
Drop by tomorrow and we can take it for a test drive. I still got those slicks too. :twisted: You can help me warm em up a little. Wait till you hear that FE wih open headers.
Could use a little help moving that bed one more time too. I just cant work on it out in the middle of the yard. Somehow I gotta move it under the tarp.

------Edited to add------
If you can remember, I need those tail lamp harnesses out of the donor truck when you get a chance.

[jzjames]

Sharkdance, lets see.....youre from FL, how dark did you tint your windows? Ive been thinking of tinting mine as dark as poss. I like the look, and it sure would keep out the glare. Only thing is, I have thought it might offend the "big man" - and I want him to keep on leaving me the hell alone!

[widegauge]

sorry buddy, My wife had me in the yard all day on sunday, and this weekend I have a hole bunch of woman things to do too. little kids b-days and such , all I know is that my wife said not to make any plans for this weekend but I will try to stop buy this weekend for a min to help with that bed.

[Sharkdance]

jzjames,

Here in Florida you can legaly have 5% tint on every window except the windshield and the front driver/passenger windows. But its a moot point because unless your acting like an idiot they dont strictly enforce the tinting laws here.
When I bought my truck it had 5% tint on the rear and both door glass. Was nice in the daytime but realy hard to see at night.
To correct that I tinted my back glass with 30% and plan on using 5% on the door glass. That should allow me to see better at night and still keep the look and cooling benefits of dark tint.
The 5% tint on the door glass will be fine because I can always roll the window down if it gets too dark.

widegauge.

Dont sweat it dude. I understand. Family comes first allways. And I cant thank you enough for the help you have given me already.

[layedout72]

u sure on that 5% deal? ive had a few run ins on lighter than that in florida when i lived there. it may change city wide. because orlando 5% wouldnt pass from what ive seen.