My 1989 F-150

[P72Ford]

The truck is coming along nice!

I always lose control of the rivet gun once the rivet pops. Did you experience that as well?

You aren't the only one!!!

When my Dad's '99 P71 came back from paint, we were putting the door handles on. Now remember, the paint on my old man's car is nothing short of perfection... PPG single stage, never rubbed, but damn flat.

So I was holding the door handle and door, and my Dad was working the rivet gun. Rivet pops, and the gun slams down on the paint, right in the door handle area!

The rivet gun went air born across the parking lot (because it was the gun's fault: )... But the scratch ended up getting fixed after he was rearended a few months later.

[hav24wheel]

Hey, not too shabby...

I just saw your user name over on FTE, and it reminded me I have not been on this site sence I sold my vic and bought my 94 F150.

Are you going to put a aftermarket coil on there too with that tuneup? than bump the timming a bit, and open the gap on the plugs?

[87DeuceVic]

Nice rig mang! That truck is badass, has a mean look to it! The 4-wheel drive works? If it came with those tires then its not a bad deal at all.

[Bowman85merc]

I always lose control of the rivet gun once the rivet pops. Did you experience that as well?

Lol, yea I did for about the first 2 or 3, then I was able to control it pretty well.

Hey, not too shabby...

I just saw your user name over on FTE, and it reminded me I have not been on this site sence I sold my vic and bought my 94 F150.

Are you going to put a aftermarket coil on there too with that tuneup? than bump the timming a bit, and open the gap on the plugs?

Welcome back !!! lol

I was thinkin about putting on a new coil, but then I dropped that thought when they were like $20+ lol.
We did bump it up a degree or so, and I gapped the plugs at ~50...

Nice rig mang! That truck is badass, has a mean look to it! The 4-wheel drive works? If it came with those tires then its not a bad deal at all.

Yup, everything works perfectly, and yes, the tires do come with it, or I probably wouldnt have got it lol.

[hav24wheel]

O, Ok. I did the major tuneup to mine when I got it. I picked it up 200 miles from here, and on the way home, it got 10 mpg, after the tune up, it got 14 on the hwy..... now that I put 33s on its at 12 on the hwy...... Your going to love that pickup.. I know I love mine.. Sad thing is, the pickup a 4x4, same size motor as the old vic, gets better milage, and handles just as good on the road as the vic did.... But the pickup has sway bars front and rear, the car didnt....

[Bowman85merc]

O, Ok. I did the major tuneup to mine when I got it. I picked it up 200 miles from here, and on the way home, it got 10 mpg, after the tune up, it got 14 on the hwy..... now that I put 33s on its at 12 on the hwy...... Your going to love that pickup.. I know I love mine.. Sad thing is, the pickup a 4x4, same size motor as the old vic, gets better milage, and handles just as good on the road as the vic did.... But the pickup has sway bars front and rear, the car didnt....

Yea, I hope to get decent MPG's in this, as long as its over 10, im happy lol


But, I got some major updates...

First, I'll start with some interior updates. I got some "new" black trim, instead of the fake wood stuff. And I added some switches for fog lights in the future. I also Cleaned up the interior so I didnt feel scurvy just sitting in it.

Heres the old dash.



Heres the new dash.



New one installed.



New Radio one.



New radio one installed.




And heres my switches.




and heres some bed side caps, and a tail gate cap, I got them both at a swap meet for $40 new in the box I wanted to get the diamond plate ones but they didnt have any, and I know these are gonna get majory scratched up in a short time lol. But they will be goin on right after I scrap the stuff in the bed.






Thanks...

[Bowman85merc]

And, I finally changed the ball joints, and im glad I got it out of the way, these were pretty bad, to say the least lol. and dong them wasnt all that hard, just very time consuming, took me a total of about 6 hours to completely do everything..

Heres the Ball Joints, and the new U-Joints. I got the best Greasable ball-joints I could afford, and the best Greasable U-joints they had.



And heres everything out.




Heres the old and new next to each other.



And heres the worst one. Yea, I'd say it was pretty bad...



Now everything is nice and tight, and the wheels are much more straight, they still angle in just a tiny tiny bit, its barley even noticable, so Im going to leave it at that.


Thanks.

[Archangel]

Get rid of those spacer things that live between the coils of your front springs, they are known for flying out and taking out stuff like tire sidewalls or even brake hoses if you're real lucky. If you want your truck to sit higher (which is what these things accomplish) then swap your springs for a pair of 2wd springs from an F250 or F350 with the diesel engine, it's an instant 2" or more lift over factory F150 springs but you may (or may not) also need a pair of aftermarket camber/caster sleeves for the upper ball joints.

[johnunit]

The red with black dash looks great mang!

It must feel like a whole new truck with those joints swapped out.

[hav24wheel]

I hate to say this after you already have it all back together, but, those ujoints are junk! I tried a set back when I drove my old 78 everyday, and I had one break after 5 minutes of use, yes, they will give you a new u joint, but if the shafts break too, u are sol. I usually use the non greasable Spicers. They are only $24 each from Broncograveyard.com.

[Bowman85merc]

Thanks, The new ball joints make this thing feel much more safe to drive.

But, it still sways left and right when I drive it. My cousin said a steering stabilizer shock would fix it. Is that true ??? Cus I dont like drifting close to cars in this thing, especially when I cant see the little cars lol.

Get rid of those spacer things that live between the coils of your front springs, they are known for flying out and taking out stuff like tire sidewalls or even brake hoses if you're real lucky. If you want your truck to sit higher (which is what these things accomplish) then swap your springs for a pair of 2wd springs from an F250 or F350 with the diesel engine, it's an instant 2" or more lift over factory F150 springs but you may (or may not) also need a pair of aftermarket camber/caster sleeves for the upper ball joints.

Yea, I really want to get F-250 springs, they have one at the junkyard that I have been eyeing, its an old electric company truck that has the tool bed for a box, so I know it has some beefy springs on it. Its like a 96 or 97 I think and has a 5.8, and does it have to be a 2WD ???

I hate to say this after you already have it all back together, but, those ujoints are junk! I tried a set back when I drove my old 78 everyday, and I had one break after 5 minutes of use, yes, they will give you a new u joint, but if the shafts break too, u are sol. I usually use the non greasable Spicers. They are only $24 each from Broncograveyard.com.

I hope their not junk, they were pretty pricey...
and if they do break and mess up my shafts, I will be extremely angry, and the windows would most likely getting broke in this thing...


Thanks.

[hav24wheel]

I would personally check out the tie rods, the adjustment of the steering sector, and get a good alignment. I had to take mine in twice to get the alignment set right. If all that checks out, than, try a steering stabilizer, I really don't think they make much of a difference though.

[marquisman]

you dont screw around eh?lol shes looking good. i dident notice before that its a 3gear with OD. manual trans trucks are awsome. my 95 5L/5speed beater is fun but the shifter broke in the 4X4 mode(thank god for locking hubs lol). if for some reason i get a truck for road use, it will be the same kinda set up you got.

[Bowman85merc]

Its accually 4 speed with overdrive.


But, I guess its time to update this thing.

Not much has happend, but I did get a Perfect rust free radiator support (mine is rusted pretty bad where the mounts are), and a pair of perfect rust free fenders.

I put Por-15 on the spots most know for rust, and already painted them and everything, just waiting to put them on.


Heres the Por-15, this stuff is awsome, it dries rock hard, and im pretty sure its never coming off.



Heres the new HV/LP paint guns my Dad got to paint these. These worked very well.


Heres the Radiator support with Por-15 on it. Front


Back


Bottom


Here it is painted. Mmmm, nice and glossy black.


And heres the fenders. Passenger.


Drivers.


Back of passengers.


Back of Drivers.



And heres the Battery tray coated with Por-15, just did this as a precaution, I dont want this to ever rust again lol.





Thanks.

[87gtVIC]

Nice