[duke3478]

Just want to brag a little about the truck I just stole.

Ad on craigslist was:86 Ford350 dually $1500..

I went to take a look and it was a 6.9 with factory Banks turbo, Gearvendors overdrive, crew cab, lumber rack, mesh tailgate, factory air, cruise, sliding rear window and tilt. C6 auto. (65mph tops)

After negotiations got it for $1200 plus tax+fees (tow company lien sale) total $1300 and change. Starts on the first blip of the starter, only leaks at the differential. (new gasket and lube on the bench now)

Needed a new ignition lock, needs air evacuated and charged, and I ordered new injectors and return lines for $128 on Ebay. A/C clutch engages when jumpered, but not when the air is turned on in the cab. Blows hot.

GV overdrive solenoid has no wires running to it. Wired up a dash switch, and still not shifting. Gonna drain it, clean the filter and refill with synthetic fluid tomorrow and hope.

Trans filter, fluid and gasket change scheduled for tomorrow, same for GV unit, and a motor oil change. A/C recharge if I can get to it.

My question is, anyone have any suggestions of what to look over first?

Anyone know what will make the overdrive work? I need to be able to do the speed limit without running 4000rpm.

Anyone know a good source for body parts, or should I hit the junkyard? Need a passenger front door.

Anyway, happy to have found this forum. Lots of good help and info.:thumbsup:

 

[cdnsarguy]

Sounds like a steal........Welcome to TDS

Please be so kind as to put much needed info in your signature, go to "My Account" at the top of the page then "Settings and options"....... "Edit Signature" put "all known" particulars for your truck/van in the signature block, any other info you feel worthwhile in other parts of this area. Fill in the "geographic location" too it is just as important, members can then direct you to the best known suppliers for parts, repairs, fuel etc closest you by location/area/country. You could be just around the corner from a member willing to assist you or a parts store with what you need..
THANK YOU

 

[drinkypoo]

Hit the junkyard for body parts, because there's a million F-Series out there and if it looks the same it fits (note door shape)

 

[CH47 F Model]

duke 3748,
you mentioned the overdrive solenoid has no wire going to it. That is probably why the trans wont shift into overdrive.

i do not own an automatic but I know that most automatic trans usually have some sort of Control Module.
I would suspect that the Control Module on your truck sends power to the overdrive relay/solenoid.

Also, your truck probably has a speed sensor. these sensors are sometimes located on the rear differential. In most vehicles, the speed sensor sends signals to the control module for shifting schedules.


I would start with getting power to the overdrive relay/solenoid and see what happens.
hope this gives you some place to start.

 

[stumiister]

Duke

I found a 1985 F250 with a 6.9L with a C6 auto tilt wheel, factory air, for $1500 no the A/C didnt work until I vaced and recharged it, the only thing that would have made this truck better would be the turbo but it does fine for me.

 

[drinkypoo]

http://www.gearvendors.com/shop_images/C-6_Flat.jpg

 

[duke3478]

Thank you all very much for the info. I've updated my sig. CDN and Drinky, I see you do a lot of informative posting, and I appreciate it. Very glad to have found this forum.

CH47- I wired up a toggle to my dash, and it activates the solenoid. I can hear it click, and it only takes 1.5-2 amps at 12v so I didn't worry about using a little switch and thin wires. Problem is that the solenoid doesn't seem to engage the pump in the GV. I'll post if the fluid change makes a difference. There is no control module on my truck, although from what I read the GV connects to a speed sensor by design. I haven't found it, and don't care if I do, rather just use OD as a low 4th gear.

Stu- Sounds like you found a deal, too! I'm a little sketchy about doing the A/C. I have the manifold and gauges, and I bought a vacuum pump to do the job, but I've done some 134 conversions that didn't seem to work well. I'd love to take it to a shop and have it converted, but I can't afford another grand. Definitely need the A/C in Vegas, 120° days are coming soon.

While we're on the subject, I have one issue with the truck's performance, which is what I would describe as a hesitation if it were a gasser. It jumps off the line just fine, but doesn't seem to do so until about 8% throttle, if that makes sense. Instead of a steady pull from a 3-5% accelerator input, it does nothing until about 8% at which time it jackrabbit starts. This is in the engine, not in the torque convertor. The engine doesn't respond until more than normal throttle for a takeoff from a stop. Pedal effort is higher than I like, too, and I disconnected one of the two return springs I found which helped some. I'm just starting to learn about the injection pump and its function, is there a guide somewhere about what different parts/linkages/adjustments do?

Thanks again, all for your help and advice!

 

[stumiister]

Duke, this is what I did to recharge my A/C, it looked like it already had R134 in it so I hooked up the vac pump and the low side guage went to 30" in vac and it didnt leak back to 0 or normal atmospheric pressure, then I added about 3.75lbs R134 and now it blows cold enough to hang swingin meat, in the past with other vechicles Ive had I just vaced out the R12 then added R134 and never had a problem I know thats not the right way to do it but I know it does work so long as all the old refridgerant is removed.

 

[duke3478]

Stu- I've done that, too, but without pulling vac, so this should work much better. If I can hang meat, that'll be great, but I'll take driving without sweating. Hopefully I don't have leaks when I pull vacuum.

Just an update, changed the c6 fluid & filter, motor oil and filter, and checked the GV. Overdrive had about an ounce of black watery fluid in it, and junk on the filter. Cleaned the filter, refilled with just over 23 ounces of synthetic gear lube, and went for a test drive. At 50 mph, flipped the switch, and clunked right down into 3rd over! Looks like someone let it run dry, then just pulled the control unit when it didn't work right.

Anyone have advice on the hesitation?

 

[drinkypoo]

in the past with other vechicles Ive had I just vaced out the R12 then added R134 and never had a problem I know thats not the right way to do it but I know it does work so long as all the old refridgerant is removed.

If you were to do only one thing to improve this process it would be to replace the dryer, and to add more oil. You can usually get dryers for thirty to fifty bucks for almost any vehicle.

 

[duke3478]

Almost can't believe it, but after about 1/2 hour at -30inM, a can of ester oil and two cans of R134, she blows ice cold. This truck has been a string of blessings.