'68 Highboy.... rebounding from neglect (LS Swap and Mechanical Restoration)

[biggurn]

Subscribed..... keep 'em coming!

Thank you gentlemen! I have the next couple days off and hope to make some serious progress on wrapping up the electrical.

As of yesterday, this is where I stand:

[biggurn]

Ilene Update (1968 F250 4x4)- had a very productive day today! I was able to wrap up all of the under hood/cab wiring (cooling fan high/low speeds, neutral safety, reverse lights) along with getting the new hood hinges installed and routing the transmission and axle breathers.






From there, I wrapped up the interior wiring (all gauges, cruise control, trailer brake controller and check engine light). Routed the connector for the UltraGauge and installed it.




Started up the engine, brought it up to temperature, the fan turns on and the dash gauges for oil pressure and water temp work!


The window list is getting shorter... except I keep adding things

[hfdco4]

Very good progress. It's funny how things keep showing up on the list....

[biggurn]

Very good progress. It's funny how things keep showing up on the list....

100%! Everytime I cross something off, I think of something else that still needs done


Today, I finally had time to look into the lack of reverse in the transmission. As I suspected, the reverse band servo was well out of spec (measured .302"). I had previously ordered a servo pin extension (which adds .225" to the length). With the extension installed, it brought everything back into spec (installed depth is now .077"). With that done, and everything back together, we have reverse!
https://youtu.be/DwWd8am-N0s?si=RoJZ9NnpfpnEfNx7

I wrapped up the afternoon by wiring in the trailer plug and the plug for the bed. Now it's ready to simply install the bed and plug the lights in.


Next up will be mounting the air bags for the rear, building the gooseneck hitch and exhaust.

[biggurn]

Ilene Update (1968 Ford F250 4x4): Today I called the exhaust shop to see about getting an appointment in a couple weeks and was shocked to be told he'd get me in this afternoon!

I hooked up one trailer, found out Ilene was too wide with the new shoes, then swapped over to the gooseneck. It took all afternoon (only because of how busy his shop is with customers continously coming through the door) but he built a full exhaust from manifolds on out the back.

Very happy with the sound, quiet but noticeable when the skinny pedal is pushed.
https://youtu.be/hlYlLwluR0A?si=kOSfwiuF1ae9X5sX







This morning, I installed a couple LED lights for the plate and wired them up. Gotta keep the law man happy!

[biggurn]

Set the bed on today so that I could start mocking up the turn over gooseneck hitch I'm building... boy does it look good! The wife and I also took it for a ride. Very happy with how it rides with the new springs.

[biggurn]

Ilene Update (1968 Ford F250 4x4): Today I fabricated a turn over style gooseneck hitch for the truck. I won't be pulling my gooseneck frequently with this truck, but for parades and car shows, I thought it would be fun.

I ordered a B&W style ball and socket then used some 5x3x1/4 angle to build the frame mounts. Welded it all together and bolted it to the frame. It has more mounting points than the gooseneck hitch I installed on the '93 F350 CCLB, so I think it'll be good

The bed is off again as I need to also install the load leveling air bags. Once that's done, the bed can go on and stay on.

[Venomous duck]

That hitch looks fantastic, nice job.

[biggurn]

That hitch looks fantastic, nice job.

Thanks!

[biggurn]

Mounted the airbags today. Only took an hour with the bed off, not sure how long it would take with the bed on . I didn't have time to plumb the air to them today as I have to build the mount for the hoses.






We did put the bed back on and bolted down solid. Next week I'll work on getting the air lines mounted and wrapping up the wiring for the lights.

Figured I should take a few pictures of Ilene with Floyd before we parked the trucks for the night.

[biggurn]

Decided it was time for Ilene to start earning it's keep around here... mostly, I really wanted an excuse to drive the truck to town!

Hooked up to the 16' trailer and picked up some 8" pipe for our ditch. Truck drove straight as an arrow and found a few things that need addressed (fuel gauge quit working, the speedometer cable came unhooked from the speedo, idler pulley whine, etc) so nothing major, just the little things that come from a ground up build.

With the 5.3L and the 4L80E the truck didn't even know the trailer was there. Very happy with how it rides while towing... now to get back to crossing things off the list.

[jzjames]

Well congratulations. Very nice truck.
When my gas gauge quit it was just the ground wire.

[biggurn]

Resolved the fuel gauge issue: the float was sunk. Pulled the sender out of the parts truck and we're fully functional.

Had to run one of the Minions to a friend's, so we took the truck. The Hound dog wanted to go. Molly gave Ilene her "drool" or approval.


I also wrapped up the air bag lines today. I had this fuel door and since the truck had a poorly cut hole for a previous auxiliary tank, this was a good way to clean it up and put the lines somewhere safer than the rear bumper.

[biggurn]

Had a short day at work today, so I came home and installed the rebuilt power steering box and then built a spare tire mount out of some metal hanging around the shop.

[biggurn]

Had some time left over this afternoon after doing some service work on Floyd, so I decided I'd build a tool box "headache" bar so that I could mount the jack. I've done this same set up on a couple trucks and it's worked out quite well for me.