Just run it into the bench!

Another week and some measureable progress made. Now that the bed is off we were able to move onto the drive train. Most of the engine bay has already been removed, except the block, of course. So that is where we decided to focus. First and foremost, we need to take off the drive shaft from the transmission and the rear end – no issues taking that out because we had done some work to the u-joints a few months back. Next thing was to loosen the bolts from the motor mounts. After we decided that it wasn’t going to be possible to pull both the engine and transmission at once we had disconnect the transmission from the back of the engine.

We didn’t run into any issues taking out the transmission except for the fact that I dropped it off of the jack and chipped the brand new concrete floor.

Once the transmission was off the engine we were able to easily pull out the motor.

After the engine was out of the truck we needed to get the fenders off – so we could pressure wash almost fifty years of grease, dirt and grime from the truck.

So the fenders are off now and Rich and I are looking at the front bumper, something isn’t quite right. The left side of the bumper was pushed in toward the rear, more so than the right side. So what’s the reasonable solution? Run the right side of the bumper into the work bench – that should work right? It did! We pushed the truck into a blanket wrapped bench leg, (which is not only anchored to the concrete floor, it is also welded to the bench top) it is the most sturdy work bench I have ever seen. It took four good collisions for the bumper to move back into its proper position.

Now that we were done pushing the truck into something metal and hard – it’s time to pressure wash it. Forty-eight years is a long time to accumulate dirt and debris – it only took thirty minutes to erase most of those dirty - four decades of filth. Now, the truck isn’t shining like a diamond [in a goat’s ass,] but its 100% better than it was. After the fact, looking back staring the pressure washer was a complete pain in the rear. The pressure washer wouldn’t start – it took us longer to get it started than it took to use it. After pulling the start cord at least one hundred times, pulling the spark plug three times, and countless head scratches – we determined I had forgotten how to start it. Apparently having the water on and trying to pull start a pressure washer doesn’t work. I swear I read in the instructions the water must be on, but apparently that was made up in my head. I’m just glad we were able to get it started, because Rich told me he usually cleans his project cars by hand. No thank you.

The final thing to come off the truck this week was the windshield. There wasn’t anything wrong with the windshield or the windshield weather stripping – there is some surface rust just above the windshield and below the chrome drip rail. So we had to take out the windshield out to access that area to clean up the rust.

During the week I had been looking at craigslist for various things that are needed for the truck. During the search I came across a 1987 Ford crown victoria. It was described as to be in good shape, runs and drives. When I found it I remembered Rich telling me that 1981-1989 crown vic had a rear end that would fit my truck. It also had a 302ci, and an AOD (automatic over-drive) transmission. I sent the ad to Rich and he agreed that we should go look at the car. Luckily it is only 20 minutes away so it wasn’t going to be that inconvenient. In the next installment I will share with you whether or not we bought the crown Vic, and whatever else we were able to accomplish on the truck this week.