Summers22 Bright Island Blue 2001 XLT build thread

[Summers22]

The previous owners never replaced anything, except the gas and oil........lol

 

[Summers22]

Now that the majority of the maintenance is out of the way (new leaf rear shackles, Lubelocker and gear oil are on the way), I decided to do the 06 mirror upgrade. So a pair of 06 up side mirrors with chrome caps are on the way. I'll eventually add the chrome door handles and tailgate handle. After that, I'll tackle the brakes. Not sure what direction to go. I may remove and have the front rotors turned and get new pads for them, then just do shoes on the rear. I already have some DOT3 fluid on the workbench for the flush.

 

[SenorNoob]

This thing is cleaner than my dishes coming out of the washer...

 

[Summers22]

LOL, well it will be once I detail the interior and buff then wax the exterior. I did use some glass cleaner and 0000 steel wool yesterday on all the glass. Then plastic polish on the headlights, taillights and CHMSL.

 

[Summers22]

Interior detail for the new to me truck.
Took out the seats, cup holder floor console, door sill trim (it had 4 cracks at the screw holes that needed repaired and painted the 8 screw heads). Scrubbed the carpet with Turtle wax carpet cleaner with an additional spray of simple green and water, soaked the center seatbelt in hot water and laundry soap and scrubbed all interior panels (even the inside of the glove box). Sat the seats back in and will leave a fan blowing on it all night. Will vacuum one more time and then bolt everything down tomorrow.

 

[SenorNoob]

Wait. Is it tan or gray? Also, I never realized how little the supercab parts changed. It looks like most of the plastic back there is exactly the same as my 88.

 

[Summers22]

It's tan, that first picture is using my old shop light with incandescent bulbs and the bottom picture is the flash from my Samsung phone.

 

[Summers22]

Looking for some of the bolt head covers (they just snap on) for the bed rails. I assume the bed rails come with bolts and the covers from Ford as I can't find them separately. Need at least 5, 8 would be better. If anyone wants tk part with them let me know, thanks

 

[Summers22]

Bought the all metal chrome tailgate handle from LMC, not real happy with it. Its much smaller than the original (obviously a universal type fit as its the same handle listed for some F150 and F250 trucks). Plus the plastic plate that covers the bolt heads made the handle appear at an angle. Granted it was only $15, but I have OCD......I'll see if it ends up growing on me. Also ordered some chrome door handles and 06 mirrors with chrome caps. I may see if a chrome door handle will fit and order another one of those to get it back to the original size.

 

[Summers22]

Today I did a hand wash using a Blackfire clay mitt, followed by a buff using Meguiars ultimate compound on my DA and topped with Klasse all-in-one. Yesterday I installed the all metal chrome tailgate handle, metal chrome door handles and 06 up mirrors with chrome caps. Tomorrow I am installing the new leaf spring shackles and rear differential service or I would have had some outside pictures. Pictures also include the bed rails that I restored with Turtle Wax Acrylic hybrid solutions trim restorer. I was also able to source the bolt head covers from Menards since I had a few missing, I replaced them all so they would match (no OCD here). They fit but all did not snap on like the originals, just a few did, so I used a little black RTV to secure them. Ignore the CHMSL, LED's from Diode Dynamics should be here tomorrow for it, as well as the dome light.

 

[Summers22]

Forgot to mention when, but it was a couple weeks ago, I removed the silver pinstripe that was deteriorating and polished the glass with some 0000 steel wool and foaming glass cleaner.

 

[Summers22]

Replaced rear shackles

 

[Summers22]

Drained rear diff yesterday and prepped the housing and cover. Lubelocker came today, got it all back together after work today. Also did the Buggman mods headlight switch in green. Put leds in the dome light locations, plus leds in the cargo lamps and a red zevo led in the third brake light. First pictures also after the interior and exterior full detail.

 

[Summers22]

Bled the brake system today, almost went through a full quart of fluid. Old fluid was brownish-yellow and stunk.

 

[sgtsandman]

Yeah, if you don't keep up on it every three years, it takes quite a bit of fluid to get it all flushed out. Even then, you're still looking about 1/2 big bottle to flush it all out and get back to a straw color.