Talk me into, or out of, it...

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bluex

Mall Crawlin' ****!!!
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I just put the VS50388R on mine from rock auto an they were the blue silicone/rubber type that I've always seen. They sure didn't feel like there was any cork in them, they were way to flexible for that.
 

Stumpy

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Oh, and Mr. Let's Weld Everything saw some reason to stitch up the receiver hitch to the frame. I mean, it's bolted on like it should be, but he also ran some beads to the damn frame. WTF.. so I guess it'll stay on for now, unless it becomes an issue when the truck is lowered later.
PO did the same on mine, including welding the bumper on. Made it real interesting when I did the roll pan.
 

mr_josh

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I also had a truck (‘72 F-100) where someone welded a bolt on receiver to the frame. Only they didn’t bolt it and they welded it crooked. :(
 

454cid

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Yeah; I mean it's trash but should hold up a while if I replace the clamp, or run a bead around the joint. The echo tips out back aren't my style at all and they're kind of beat-up, but honestly, they sort of fit the truck's character. I may leave the setup intact until I get sick of it.

If it works it works. Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone for awhile. It sure will be fun to follow along with whatever you do with this truck. I've considered a lowered 8-lug 2wd myself.

They're "cork-rubber" whatever that means. I do recall the ones I did on the '96 Vortec 7.4 were rubber, and IIRC were Fel-Pro. I also recall them being a little bit of a PITA to install because they didn't fit exactly (perimeter slightly too big) and kept wanting to jump out of the valve cover rails. Same thing on the '95 TBI 7.4 3500HD that you sent me the spare valve covers for. I swear I bought Fel-Pro for it too and they were rubber, but that was 12 years ago. Wonder why Fel-Pro is only showing this cork-rubber thing now? VS50388R is their listing for all the cast cover 7.4's (1991-2000)

Rockauto's description page says molded rubber, as does Summit's. Maybe you're just seeing a bad/wrong description? I checked my garage parts pile, and I have the Victor Reinz on my shelf, so I must have used the Felpro gaskets that I've had sitting forever. I don't seem to have the fitment issues. Maybe it's your TX heat causing them to expand just a bit? I wonder if putting them in the fridge would do any good?


Has it really been 12 years since I sent the valve covers for the 95 HD? Sigh, I feel old, now.
 

someotherguy

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If it works it works. Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone for awhile. It sure will be fun to follow along with whatever you do with this truck. I've considered a lowered 8-lug 2wd myself.
The idea is a cheap beater that I can daily and not worry too much about it. The cheap part is kinda already blown as once I add up tires, drop kit, and the work I've already done - that'll about match what I paid for the damn thing. Then it still needs a better dash, seat, and door panel.. then fix the A/C and heat. FML I think I'll leave these beat-up bumpers on it, including those godawful tow bar attachment points.

Rockauto's description page says molded rubber, as does Summit's. Maybe you're just seeing a bad/wrong description? I checked my garage parts pile, and I have the Victor Reinz on my shelf, so I must have used the Felpro gaskets that I've had sitting forever. I don't seem to have the fitment issues. Maybe it's your TX heat causing them to expand just a bit? I wonder if putting them in the fridge would do any good?


Has it really been 12 years since I sent the valve covers for the 95 HD? Sigh, I feel old, now.
Yeah, the info box at the bottom left says "permadry molded rubber" but under the "Features and Benefits" it says "ENGINEERED TO PERFORM -- Proprietary cork-rubber formulation" - maybe just some cut-and-paste marketing stuff. It just caught my eye and made me wonder because the last several sets I had were rubber. Anyway, they're ordered and on the way..

12 years.. 11/2011 when I was tearing into that truck to get it going again. Huh.. you'd think I woulda remembered I had pics of the engine with the valve covers off, which would show me the basic location of the heater hose connector on the intake. This one obviously had already been broken and a regular hose nipple installed. Pretty clean engine for a 200K mile wrecker, shows me they did regular oil changes, at least. That really was a pretty solid truck. The HD door handles I'm going to install on the '93 are the old ones from the '95, by the way; I put brand new handles on that truck.
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Back to the '93, it's got that weird splice in the wiring that looks factory (I've seen it on several big blocks, even the '96 and '98 IIRC) right up front by the thermostat. On the '93 it's got a connector and some device at the end I cannot tell what it used to be as it appears melted. It's a factory style connector to it so I don't suspect it's anything aftermarket.. it's puzzling. The truck seems to run correctly now so I'm wondering WTH this thing is. I'm sure if I keep looking I'll find where it used to live, but so far, nada.
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Richard
 

someotherguy

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Sht's getting real now ;) biggest expenditure so far since buying the truck. Website says "in stock by Friday the 7th" but it also let me make an appointment for Thursday the 6th so who knows. We'll see..

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Richard
 

bluex

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One thing I was glad the shop did on mine before I got it. We got a decent deal on some Falken wildpeaks (what the distributor was pushing that month) but they were still about $800. They don't have many miles on them though, so can't say how they longevity on them will be.
 

618 Syndicate

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Sht's getting real now ;) biggest expenditure so far since buying the truck. Website says "in stock by Friday the 7th" but it also let me make an appointment for Thursday the 6th so who knows. We'll see..

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Richard
That's the only downside to my 30 year love affair with duallys, so....many....damn....tires!
 

OutlawDrifter

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One thing I was glad the shop did on mine before I got it. We got a decent deal on some Falken wildpeaks (what the distributor was pushing that month) but they were still about $800. They don't have many miles on them though, so can't say how they longevity on them will be.

Falken Wildpeak H/T02s are awesome tires. I've run the Wildpeak HTs on a bunch of rigs over the years. They are my go-to highway tread, just wish they came in an OWL tire, like they used to.
 
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