1968 F250 Project

[1968-f250]

Picture time







I used some spray on undercoating from NAPA on the firewall. That stuff sure goes on nice and dries solid.





This is before sandblasting when I put the major patches in





I'll have pictures of all of the parts sandblasted tomorrow and should have some pictures of them freshly painted.

[1968-f250]

Well I brought the parts over to my Grandpa's and he got me all set up with the spray gun. It took a little bit of time to get the hang of it, but after spraying primer for a while I was on a roll and got done in no time. I'll have to buy myself a spray gun in the near future; it's way better than using a rattlecan!

Sandblasted







Primer






Paint








I think it turned out pretty good for my first time using the spray gun. Hopefully I can get it together tomorrow and fire it up!

[1968-f250]

Well sure enough, I got everything back together and was about to fire it up when I noticed that the radiator sprung a small leak. Can't anything go right for a guy?

[zazoos]

Bummer about the radiator. But the project is looking really sharp. Keep up the good work.

[1968-f250]

thanks, I did get the radiator soldered up, but that was the least of my worries. The engine still runs like crap. I made the executive decision to pull the carb and distributor out of the 360 in my 57' Ford since I know they work to see if that was the problem. Turns out that it is not either one of those. The only other thing my dad and I thought of was possible bent push rods or collapsed lifters, or something stuck on top of the valves, since the change was really sudden. I'll talk to my grandpa first to see if he has any insight on the subject before I start taking out push rods and lifters. With these old trucks i'ts one thing after another, but it keeps me busy.

[flyboy2610]

With these old trucks i'ts one thing after another, but it keeps me busy.

Get used to it, my friend. It's called "life"!

[1968-f250]

With these old trucks i'ts one thing after another, but it keeps me busy.

Get used to it, my friend. It's called "life"!

Yeah, I guess so... Anyway, I believe I found the problem. The culprit was a bent pushrod that was not plugged in the cup on the rocker arm. Got it straightened out and it should be ready to go. Some of the spark plugs were also fouled again, and the oil smells like gas. Just got back from Fleet Farm, and picked up oil, oil filter, air filter, and spark plugs. Hopefully the truck will be running like new tomorrow

[1968-f250]

Sadly, my prayers have not been answered. So i put everything in the engine and when I fired it up it still ran like a turd. The culprit was a stuck valve, which is on the #7 cylinder, the same one that bent the pushrod. Long story short, after a few hours of trying to free the valve it would not move, so now we have to pull the head. If I'm lucky it might be back together tonight.

[1968-f250]

Sadly, my prayers have not been answered. So i put everything in the engine and when I fired it up it still ran like a turd. The culprit was a stuck valve, which is on the #7 cylinder, the same one that bent the pushrod. Long story short, after a few hours of trying to free the valve it would not move, so now we have to pull the head. If I'm lucky it might be back together tonight.

[1968-f250]

double post

[1968-f250]

Ahh, it's like a walk down memory lane... It's getting to the point that I can tear this engine down in my sleep.



My dad bought me a pair of heads from one of his friends, so the driver's side head will be replaced and the pass. side will stay original. Just to be safe we are going to go through both of the heads again to make sure none of the other valves will stick.

Here is the new head. This picture is before i cleaned it up a bit.

[1968-f250]

Double post

[1968-f250]

Does anyone think I should replace lifters before I put it back together?

[flyboy2610]

Does anyone think I should replace lifters before I put it back together?

If you can afford it, new lifters and pushrods would be a good idea.

[1968-f250]

It's alive!!!
Went ahead and decided to put it back together with the old lifters. I was able to use the original head and took a valve out of the other heads. It took a lot of penetrating oil and massaging with the hammer to get it out, and the valve guide was not harmed. It took about an hour or two to get it back together and it runs like a watch, so of course I had to take it for a cruise in the field. Now I can start focusing on body work again.