Heat Soak Problems

[ronsii]

Yeah. I was under it yesterday looking at the bed bolts. They don't look too rusty. Going to start soaking them with PB Blaster. I like the idea of pulling the bed to be able to get to everything from the top. Pulling those tanks out is a PITA.

Got other stuff to do on that truck after all these years too. The #1 plug is rusted and rounded. Not good. I ordered a couple of special sockets from SK to see if I can get it out without pulling the head. It runs OK, but is overdue for an ignition tune up. The other 5 loosened up fine. After that, pan gasket, rear trans seal leaks, brakes. After 195K, its time to catch up on stuff.

Any ideas for how to get that plug out would be welcome.

You might think about cutting a panel in the bed to give access then depending on how/where you cut it weld a frame under(like a drywall repair) or just bolt it back in. personally I usually just drop the tanks... kind of a PITA but simpler than lifting the whole bed

[Zimm]

"Any ideas for how to get that plug out would be welcome."
If you can get around it, slip a very large nut over it. MIG it to the steel.
If you can't make room, break off the porcelain. Slip an impact socket over it, and weld it to it with 6011 filler. The heat from welding might help, but be careful not to get the head too hot.
It'll take a tremendous lever of patience wiggling the socket back & forth, I think it'll loosen.

Friday I had two grade 2? bolts rusted solid in the end of two shafts, and broke off 1/4" deep. Only welder I had was MIG. With patience I built up flush, then a good sized ball of filler sticking out. It took 15 minutes each of wiggling with vice grips to free the thread. One of the two was bent halfway through the thread.

Thats the next thing to try if the fancy sockets don't work. The 13/16 version was a little too big to fit in the cavity so I took some metal off with the lathe. It didn't get a good grip. Next up is 19MM and 17MM. Damn thing is really stuck- i was pulling pretty hard on a breaker bar. That doesn't work, big nut and 6011 as above. Worry there is some of the porcelain could end up in the combustion chamber. We will see. Worst case is pull the head.

[Zimm]

You might think about cutting a panel in the bed to give access then depending on how/where you cut it weld a frame under(like a drywall repair) or just bolt it back in. personally I usually just drop the tanks... kind of a PITA but simpler than lifting the whole bed

I hear you, but if the bolts come out, my two post friend can pick that bed up no problem.

See how it goes. Its all fixable, just a matter of how much trouble its going to be.

[rexcormack]

I hear you, but if the bolts come out, my two post friend can pick that bed up no problem.

See how it goes. Its all fixable, just a matter of how much trouble its going to be.

Just so you know, the bed bolts ARE NOT torx! They are torx plus!
If you use regular torx on them you will more than likely strip out at least 2 and have to cut the heads off! Ask me how I know!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx#:...%20loose%20fit.

[gnewby]

Only two pages. I must be slipping in my old age

Well farmersammm I don't think you have completed this thread as yet as we haven't heard an update on the F150

[farmersammm]

Well farmersammm I don't think you have completed this thread as yet as we haven't heard an update on the F150

I'm still running the F-150 on the front tank. Sucky thing is........the gauge doesn't work on the front tank, so I use the trip meter thing on the speedo when I fill it.............then watch the # of miles since the fill

[farmersammm]

I figure I'm ok doing that because I always carry the cellphone. I never go far from home, so it's not too bad.

I figure if I run out of gas, I can call K'kins to run me some gas, or take me to the station.

Usually when I call during the day....................."What have you done now?" I mean..........she doesn't even let me start my speech, she just heaves a big sigh, and says that. I like to surprise her once in a while, and tell her that I called just to say hello, and "luv ya babe".

[John T]

Time to drop the tank and pull out the sending unit.

There is a place out there somewhere that rebuilds them

Can’t remember the name right now.

[gnewby]

Only two pages. I must be slipping in my old age

Well the good news is by the time you get the sending unit problem from the front tank,
and the problem with not getting gas from the back tank you will probably be over four pages at least

[Zimm]

Thats the next thing to try if the fancy sockets don't work. The 13/16 version was a little too big to fit in the cavity so I took some metal off with the lathe. It didn't get a good grip. Next up is 19MM and 17MM. Damn thing is really stuck- i was pulling pretty hard on a breaker bar. That doesn't work, big nut and 6011 as above. Worry there is some of the porcelain could end up in the combustion chamber. We will see. Worst case is pull the head.

To follow up on this bit of thread hijack: Ended up pulling the stinkin head. Engine is back together and running OK now and its time to move onto the fuel feed issue. For you pull/no pull the bed fans: Got it off with little trouble. Soaked the bolts (dome head, not torx) with PB Blaster over a week or so and went after them with an impact at about 120 psi. Damn things were 18mm. Used a 6 or 12 inch extension as needed and a stout knuckle and they came off just fine. Its sitting on my two post as this is written. Tomorrow I will scope things out. Lots of crusty lines under that bed. Sure is nice to be able to stand up with it all in front of me.