I'm Back...

[Rider90]

It's a long story. First off let me skip ahead and thank Brian (RoyLPita), Brad (BradleyG), Mac (SergntMac), Dan (Mercman), and Mary (MM03MOK) for the help, E-mails, and voice mails on my cell phone making sure I'm okay. No Dan, the hogs did not eat me.

It started off with an old friend that sent me an E-mail telling me to watch out on the Marauder boards, as FoMoCo is watching and will be voiding warranties on certain areas of the drive-train (due to certain mods) to any users they can identify - users that have at one time given their full name and location, both of which I have done. It was a prank, no need to worry, but I am cautious and took it out of proportion since I have seen it done at the Ford Diesel boards. He informed me that this was a prank, and he got me good. I made it look like my account was vacant, pulled out midwestpanthers.net and midwestvics.org, both of which I will be getting back online tonight. The Windy City Marauders will also be up soon, but 100% by the 15th? I believe.

Next issue is if I will be keeping my Marauder. My insurance took a hike, a rather large hike, for reasons I will be looking into over the next few days. Insurance combined with my payment makes the Marauder seem very unreasonable to own right now. It's sad, believe me I've realized, but whenever I think about the insurance bill I just got for 6 months... :mad2: I'll keep you guys informed. I've also seen some money troubles the last week or so, I never went under the water but I'm about chin-high and recovering.

I was thinking about starting a thread about the progess of my 59 Apache, would anyone be interested or should I save it for a Chevy Trucks board? I have the carpeting in, seat in, and tonight I spent a few hours taping off the pickup bed as the wood needs to be sanded & re-stained. Ya'll should also listen to a video I have of it idling - 350 Chevy, 275 Comp Cam, Sanderson Headers, Flowmaster 40's, and no H-Pipe. For those that have undergone the process of removing the bed wood and putting new wood into an old truck, its a PITA...One of those jobs you are proud you did and never want to do again. This is why I have made the decision to put my 1.5 years of Collision Repair & Painting Technology education to use by taping off the bed and polished stainless steel bed strips - I guess a course in woodshop wouldn't have hurt either. Can anyone suggest a quality clear coat? The truck sat outside for one week, saw some rain, and that was enough to pull the clear coat off and get to the wood. This 90*F to 103*F weather is killing me out there...

On the plus side, I got a raise at work :cheer: and my birthday is coming up June 20th. I will no longer be the youngest Marauder owner, which I think I am right now? Wait, getting old isn't a plus...it used to be, ok I'm saving up for my very first tennis-ball equipped walker.

Dan, Mary, Brad, Brian, Mac, thank you so very much. I apoligize for the late replies for those who have E-mailed me, I have not touched a computer for a couple of days either which is a first for me since uh...1998? Hotmail is also down at the moment.

For those that skimmed to the bottom due to all the typing above - Got fooled, might be keeping the MM, nicest people I know are on this site. Thank you

[SergntMac]

I'm just glad you're okay, Jason, scared the beans out of a few of us, you did.

Dickhead...

See you at the Chicken Run Sunday.

[MM03MOK]

I'm just glad you're okay, Jason, scared the beans out of a few of us, you did.
^^^ Ditto ^^^ And I knew half of what was going on!! :welcome: back!

[rocknrod]

Last time I did a pickup (with wood in the bed) I used Deftain. It was a daily driver and stayed beutiful for years.
Used a saw horse to lay the wood on.
Sanded the wood smooth.
1st layer of deftain aplied. let dry overnight.
steel wool 1st layer till smooth again.
2nd layer of deftain aplied. Let dry overnight.
steel wool 2nd layer till smooth again.
3rd layer of deftain aplied.
Should last a long, long time.

I'm sure by now there are even better products out there.
The stainless is gonna make the wood look awesome. Good choice.

[MarauderMark]

Lousy joke . i've heard this before on here but just thought anyway that they can kiss my a** since at that time my warranty was going to be up soon anyway but still that was :bs: then and still :bs: today ..Congrats on your raise .:up:

[David Morton]

FMC watching the boards in order to void warranties...

:laugh:

[Rider90]

Mac: E-mail Sent.

rocknrod: Looks like I just made a new friend. Is Deftain a stain or clear coat? and where can I get it? The stainless strips and bolts look stunning.

Mark: Thanks :cool4:

[rocknrod]

Deftain is a clear coat. Used to use it on decks for boats and stuff, so it was pretty tough. I bought it at Home Depot.

BTW here's a pic of one of the trucks I did featured in Street Rodder:
http://www.geocities.com/capstain/53GMC1.jpg

[Rider90]

That's too sweet, I'm diggin the slots under the head lights. Did you do a Mustang II IFS? or C section the frame for the stock straight axle? Looks great :cool:

[rocknrod]

The headlights were Buick, with a modified insert. The front end was a - get this, 6 inch drop axle. Old style hydraulics sitting on top of coil springs for ride comfort. All chrome.
Had a tricked out straight six in it from a vette. Dual one barrels though, dual exhaust pretty maxed out in the shiny department. Rear end was a 54 vette, 4 speed. It got some eye.

[Rider90]

a 6 inch drop axle?? Where did you find that?? My truck has a nice stance but I think an inch or two to squat it down would be sharp. Very nice :bows:

[rocknrod]

Had it made. I'm not sure if their even in business anymore. A place called MoreDrop in the Bay Area (San Fransisco Bay Area), Milpitas I think. I don't remember anymore, it's been so long ago.

However, I hear magnum axle is sporting some new 5 inch drop axles lately, might ask them.

And if you move your spring perches to the bottom of the axles, front and rear it will lower your truck quite a bit as well. Just need to get some spring perches made for that. Looks better, Just my opinion though.

[Rider90]

Thanks for the info!

[rocknrod]

Anytime, if you need info on where to get anything your not sure of, give a shout.

That Big Window is one sweet ride. Keep the pics posted and updated. Can't wait to see more.

[Rider90]

Anytime, if you need info on where to get anything your not sure of, give a shout.

That Big Window is one sweet ride. Keep the pics posted and updated. Can't wait to see more.
A couple favorites...
http://midwestpanthers.net/apa1.jpg
http://midwestpanthers.net/apa2.jpg
I did the power disk brake conversion as well. Someday I'll do the power steering so I can ditch the 2 foot steering wheel, between that and the bench seat it is almost a tight fit for me.

[rocknrod]

A Fleet Side even!
Man your throwin down like a mo-town clown.
Thats gonna be a killer.

[BillyGman]

A couple favorites...
http://midwestpanthers.net/apa1.jpg
http://midwestpanthers.net/apa2.jpg
I did the power disk brake conversion as well. Someday I'll do the power steering so I can ditch the 2 foot steering wheel, between that and the bench seat it is almost a tight fit for me.Boy do I like the bodystyles of some of those late 50's and early 60's trucks!!!! I especially like the hood, headlight, and grill style of that truck. If you have any pics of the front veiw, then please post one if you can.You guys have some good taste in trucks IMO. That's obviously a small block chevy engine, but exactly how many cubes is it (327, 350)? BTW, it's great to see that you're still here. I was baffled when I saw that it said your account here was "closed".

[RoyLPita]

Welcome back. Regardless of whether or not you have to part with your MM, you are still a member of the family.

[SilverStreak]

Yeah Jason, what Roy said... Also we could become the Windy City Marauders & Apache group, CVPI, GM. etc. It's all good.
Good to see you again.
:burnout:





Welcome back. Regardless of whether or not you have to part with your MM, you are still a member of the family.

[TooManyFords]

. For those that have undergone the process of removing the bed wood and putting new wood into an old truck, its a PITA...One of those jobs you are proud you did and never want to do again. This is why I have made the decision to put my 1.5 years of Collision Repair & Painting Technology education to use by taping off the bed and polished stainless steel bed strips - I guess a course in woodshop wouldn't have hurt either. Can anyone suggest a quality clear coat? The truck sat outside for one week, saw some rain, and that was enough to pull the clear coat off and get to the wood. This 90*F to 103*F weather is killing me out there...

Wow, glad it was just a prank and you're back!

Now about that wood bed... I just restored my 79 F150 Stepside wood bed and used the stainless strips etc. For the best 411 on this, head over to www.mar-k.com (http://www.mar-k.com) for info and parts for your truck. They also did a test of the various sealers and such for the wood to see what would stand up to the weather. I followed their advice and used 5 very healthy brushed on coats of MINWAX (Helmsman Spar Urethane) exterior gloss marine spar urethane. I plowed snow last winter with this truck and the wood bed still looks like new!

I put more coats on than they did in their testing so my success seems due to the additional coats. BTW, they have all the restoration parts for your bed you would need. I wish I still had the pictures I took of the whole process. One of these days I'll get it out of the garage and snap a picture or two of the bed for you.

Cheers!

John

[Rider90]

For you, Billy...
http://midwestpanthers.net/apa3.jpg
The driver side chrome headlight bezel has not been installed due to a stripped out aiming "sleeve." They have a real scew for the headlight but inside the bucket its a long plastic sleeve that you need to groove with the screw. You can also see during the body work phase, I removed the trucker style mirrors he mounted and added simple peep mirrors to the top of the doors. They look good, but ya can't see much. Clear turn signal lenses and orange bulbs, chrome bezels for those as well, and the black grill has a rainbow glitter mixed into the clear coat, just like the top of the dashboard. Really an eye-catcher in the sun. Paint is Sebring Silver Metallic. There is a huge hunk of chrome that goes on the front of that hood, see the holes? I need to go to the hardware store and mix and match the correct nuts to hold it in there - the nuts it used to have were nothing but thin one-groove caps with holes at the top.

The truck used to have a 6 cyl. but the previous owner stepped up with a 350 Chevy. The Chevy engine was out of a late 70's early 80's truck, bone stock, and on top of that I added a 275 series comp cam, sanderson block-hugger headers, Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap intake manifold, Holley 600 CFM 4-barrel, Accel distributor, coil, plugs, and wires, and an Alternator from a late model Chevy Caprice to replace the factory Generator he still had mounted.

Thank you Brian, and Darrell - maaaayybee :baaa: :D

Thanks for the info John, I've got some research to do. I'll be checking out MINWAX and Deftain. Thanks again :beer:

[Bradley G]

Thanks for the call yesterday!

And thanks to Sargent Mac, for watching out for our own!:up:
Bradley G

[Rider90]

B-Rad, does the dealership you work for do warranty work on a Mercury? I have a few issues...

[Bradley G]

Yes they will, Let me know what you need and I will make the proper introduction.

Bradley G


B-Rad, does the dealership you work for do warranty work on a Mercury? I have a few issues...

[Rider90]

Yes they will, Let me know what you need and I will make the proper introduction.

Bradley G

Would they get their panties in a twist about a programmer, gears, and my K&N? I only need my heated seat switches replaced on both sides as they are blinking rapidly for no reason. IMHO they have no reason to check the OBDII port or pop my hood, maybe I'll disable the hood release...

[SergntMac]

Would they get their panties in a twist about a programmer, gears, and my K&N? I only need my heated seat switches replaced on both sides as they are blinking rapidly for no reason. IMHO they have no reason to check the OBDII port or pop my hood, maybe I'll disable the hood release...
Though there are no guarantees, Jason, you have to apply some logic, and conclude that it is highly unlikely you would be questioned about your mods for an electrical problem. Even if you do get questioned, your mods have nothing to do with your complaint. There are several reasons behind my thinking;

1) Not many dealerships have seen a Marauder, how would they know what is stock and what is not. We have all gotten a good laugh over the "trained specialist" who rotates the tires front to rear.
2) They shouldn't need a road test to diagnose switch malfunction, but they may want to disconnect the battery to repair it, so, don't lock anything down.
3) Nothing you have done is visibly detectable, your OBDII port wasn't a virgin that lost a hymen. Just don't leave your programmer on the seat?
4) The Moss-Magnuson Act is a federal law that regulates how manfacturers manipulate their product warranty. This is case law in your favor, and it has been tested in court.

Now, if you limp in with the #8 piston in your hands with drag radials and a shoe-polish number on your windows, Moss-Magnuson won't help you. But it does define some areas, and you're not in need of this protection. Last but not least, if Bradley cannot help to your satisfaction, I already spoke with Randy Morbach at Sutton Ford, who said "bring it in". Try something closer to home first, eh?

[Bradley G]

I show off my mods, Like they were my first born!
:rolleyes:
They will do your warranty work, no questions asked.
I have also shown, some of the staff at work, BillyGman"s vid, They are well aware of how awesome, this machine is! :burnout:
Bradley G

[marauder307]

Good to see you back Jason, and thank you for the email(s) earlier today! :D

This is a rather inspiring thread...for the last 4-5 years, I've had a standing offer from my uncle in west AL to pick up his old '66 Ford Ranger p-up. It's got a standard bed, 3-on-the-tree, and a 352 that's seen ~290,000 miles, heads off once @233k. Still got the little toolbox drawer on the passenger underside of the bed. Been on the family farm all of it's life.

Only problem is, I don't have any way of dragging it up here to STL from west AL (at least no way that I can AFFORD---no pun intended :) ), no place to store it even if I could, and no way to pay for the restoration even if I had the first two.

But I'm still dreaming...someday....

[Rider90]

William - "One of these days" :beer:

Ay Brad, send me over a PM of which dealership you work at and maybe I'll pay a visit, what are the service department hours? and do you think this is a part I should call ahead and order THEN visit or just drop by and wait?

Rocknrod, I found a brand called "Deft" for a nice glossy clear coat, is this what you mean? I'm about 40% done with taping so it's coming up soon.

Mac - Thank you for your research and insight, Brad does live about 15 minutes away from me though so I'm guessing his dealership is also pretty close? I'll keep Sutton in mind, thank you.