62 Falcon - $5k challenge, how will it rise from the ranger's ashes?

[BBR]

I've been looking for a pic, but I used a Lokar dipstick on mine. I was afraid it would work it's way out, so I drilled a couple of holes in the bellhousing and clamped the tube to it with a 1" or so exhaust-type clamp. I think the clamp was originally used to clamp a smog pump air line to a catalytic converter.

[pintoboy77]

Never wanted to have any braided stainless bling under the hood - but broke down and got an aftermarket flexible trans dipstick in hopes of solving the atf leak when parked, and miss the headers, firewall, etc, with the trans dip stick. The floor of the shop looks like I've been slaughtering pigs in there - it's leaking atf like a seive. I may paint the stainless satin black and bolt it to the back of the head not the firewall so it doesn't look dorky.

You've got to watch them Fords they are like puppy's they will leave little puddles all over the place. That's why I will never own one.

[gearhed1971]

I've got a lokar in my falcon w/ c4,used to leak like a sieve with the original stock stick, but knock on wood no leaks in 2 years ( i shouldn't have said that) Sorry, subtlety is like my mind, I lost both of them a long time ago

[STINEY]

I've got a lokar in my falcon w/ c4,used to leak like a sieve with the original stock stick, but knock on wood no leaks in 2 years ( i shouldn't have said that) Sorry, subtlety is like my mind, I lost both of them a long time ago

Is it empty? Better check before you drive it!

(Hey, I have VWs....I'm allowed to throw stones... )

[milner351]

Thanks for all the moral support guys, I really appreciate it.

LOL

one of these days I'll get the mop and bucket with a strong simple green solution out there (once I'm sure it won't become a block of ice) and clean the place up so I will know if it's a new leak, or an old leak.

On the ranger there was no good way to hold the dipstick tube to the back of the head with the headers - so I made a bracket to hold it down at the bottom using a trans pan bolt. I could put something like that together to hold the lokar in place... well it's a lokar knock off I guess, it was $35 not $95 which I thought was still too much, but if it stops the leak, worth it.

[1946Austin]

One thing you can do in the case of a leaky dipstick tube at the trans is to pull the O ring(s) off and take them to a good hardware store that has a variety of O rings. Find another that fits, but is slightly larger material, so when it's pushed in it fits snug in the trans. The slightly larger O ring will usually take care of any slop in the trans opening and seal it.

[milner351]

A generous bsr sent me this sweet tach. Where should I locate it?

[STINEY]

Center. Nice gauge cluster too.....did I miss that or just forget it?

[Russell]

Center. Nice gauge cluster too.....did I miss that or just forget it?

X2

[milner351]

Stiney - I think I mentioned that at one point - the "billet" part of it isn't totally "in theme" but I don't know WTF my theme is anymore save for 'eclectic mix of stuff I had around, found cheap, or was donated....

I'm not as true to form as squirrel... more of an opportunist I guess. The gauges are unproven yet.... need some tweaking - pretty standard street rod stuff like the steering column. Amazing how the different facets of this hobby don't always communicate.

Center as in - center of dash on a modified plate with some sort of wire covering going into / through the center defrost / speaker grille?

In case your wondering - its snowing and blowing again here.... freakin lovely. Since it was over 15*F I thought I'd try starting the diesel with the new manual glow plug relay set up - without being plugged in or started in over a week... yea no- it wants to be plugged. Battery and Low fuel lights came on while cranking... it's got over 1/2 tank.. whiskey tango foxtrot

[TheSilverBuick]

The low fuel light comes on during cranking on my Thunderbird to test the bulb. Maybe you hadn't noticed before?

[STINEY]

Snowing & blowing......becoming way too common!

Boys were amazed they actually had school today, that makes 8 days this month. Wiskey Tango indeed.

Manual glow plugs, as in you hold a button to heat them up before cranking? We had that setup on a '88 ford diesel back in the day.....that $&?! Truck dEVOURED batteries. dual setup of course. I think the swears are still orbiting to this day. Darn thing never did start easy....like farting in the wind.

[milner351]

It's supposed to be a "bullet proof" retro fit that takes out the computer from the equation - which does fire the glow plugs way more than it needs to and holds them on longer than really needed (read wears out glow plugs)

It's not a great test - the batteries are low from sitting, it's pretty derned cold, and - I only tried twice. I'm going to keep plugging it in when I need it - which thankfully - isn't that often when it's cold... I really want to keep this thing a long time, so the high sodium diet is not part of the plan.

[Bob Holmes]

You want to mount where its in your field of vision when you're at full throttle. No looking down, to the side or in any way taking your eyes off the pavement you are heading down.

[squirrel]

just to the right and down from straight ahead. Above the steering wheel, on the dash, close to you as you can get it. May have to raise it up a bit to make sure you can see it over the steering wheel.