Ford F-Series Pickup Owner's Bible: F-1, F-100, F-150, F-2, F-250, F3, F-350 1948-1995

The earliest Ford F-trucks have through-the-floor-board pedals. On '48-'56 light truck models with 10-and 11-inch clutches, the adjustment is 1-1/8" to 1-3/8" free play at the clutch pedal. This assumes the linkage is in good condition and the return springs pull the pedal to the top of its travel.

You will find that pedal free-play figures strive for clearance between the pressure plate fingers and throwout bearing face. Despite the pedal travel specifications, make sure that at least 1/16" of free-play exists between the release bearing and clutch release fingers.

You will need to crawl under the truck with appropriate wrenches to adjust linkage at the clutch release arm or rod. Remember to loosen locknuts before attempting adjustments. Tighten lock nuts when done.

Check for throwout bearing movement by moving the release arm and observing the bearing-to-finger relationship within the bellhousing. Early Ford F-truck designs have one of the return springs at the throwout bearing collar. Later models use a return spring on the release arm.

Proper clutch adjustment and a functional return spring eliminate risk of the bearing dragging on the clutch release fingers. Adjustment differs depending on years. Clevis / pin-type on '48-'52 model adjust at the release rod linkage near the clutch bellhousing. '53-'56 models adjust (lock nuts) at end of the release arm.

On '57-'60 model F-trucks with hydraulic linkage, the adjustment is more involved. Make sure the master cylinder is full and bleed any air from the slave cylinder. The clutch pedal should be even with brake pedal in fully retracted position. (Adjust pedal stop if necessary.) Disconnect the clutch release arm spring, and do not touch the pedal at this stage of adjustment.

1 — EVOLUTION OF THE FORD F-SERIES
V-8 Era: A New Truck Emerges | 1942: Ford Trucks Forge Their Own Way | 1948: A Truck With A Firm Identity | 1953-56: A Marque Emerges | 1957- 64: The Pragmatic Years | 1965: The Advent Of Twin 1-Beam | 1967-79: Years Of Bold Refinement | 1980: An Advanced 4x4 Chassis | Poised for the Future

2 — BUYING AN F-SERIES TRUCK
Selecting The Right Truck | Anatomy of a Half-ton | F-250 Virtues | One-ton | Shopping for the Right Components | The Ten Best Picks In Used Ford F-trucks | Inspecting A Used Truck | Buying A New F-Series Truck | 1994 Ford F-Series Specifications

3 — OPERATING YOUR F-SERIES
Learning To Drive Your F-Series Truck | Operating A 4x4 F-truck | Off-pavement Four-wheel Drive | Tread Lightly Four Wheeling | Special Uses For Your 4WD Truck | 4WD Clubs

4 — WORKING ON YOUR F-SERIES
The F-truck Chassis | Front Axle Types | Steering Gear and Linkage | Drum and Disc Brake Systems | A Glance At F-truck Engines | Transmissions and Transfer Cases | Driveshafts | Repairs On Your F-Series Truck | The F-truck Owner's Toolbox | Sourcing Ford Truck Parts | Assigning Work to a Shop

5 — LUBRICATION AND MAINTENANCE
Maintenance Overview | Selecting Lubricants and Fluids | Service Intervals | Building a Maintenance Schedule | Do Your Own Maintenance | Storing Your Truck

6 —TROUBLESHOOTING AND MINOR ADJUSTMENTS
Guide To Troubleshooting | Engine and Electrical Problems | Cooling System Troubles | Clutch and Manual Transmission | Driveshaft and Axle Woes | Steering and Tire Troubles | Brake Problems

7 — COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE
Safety Precautions | Cooling System Basics | Finding Leaks | Overheating Problems | Water Pump Service

8 — ENGINE TUNE-UP AND EMISSION CONTROLS
Emission Controls and Tune-up | Engine Applications | A Closer Look At EFI/MFI Engines | Ignition Tune-up 122 Carburetor Tune-up | Major Engine Diagnosis | Valve Adjustment | Emission Controls

9 — CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION SERVICE
Troubleshooting | Clutch Service | Transmission Adjustments | Rebuilding The Warner T-98/T-18 Ford Truck Transmission

10 — TRANSFER CASE, DRIVESHAFTS, AXLES AND HUBS
Transfer Cases | Troubleshooting | Driveshafts 180 U-joint Service and Repair Tips | Driveshaft Lubrication | Driveshaft Angularity | U-joint Installation | Axle Assemblies | Differential Action | Axle Types | Axle Troubleshooting | Axle Seals | Closed-knuckle Steering Rebuild | Locking Hubs | Hub Rebuilding

11 — SUSPENSION AND STEERING
Springs | Installing New Springs | Frame Damage | Shock Absorbers | Gas Shocks | Selecting Shocks | 4x4 Steering and Front End | Rebuilding A Ball-joint Steering Knuckle | Steering System | Power Steering | Inspecting the Steering System | Wheel Alignment

12 — BRAKES AND WHEEL BEARINGS
Wheel Bearings | Front Wheel Bearing Fundamentals | Wheel Bearing, Service | The Braking System | Pedal Warning Signals | Brake Fluid Precautions | Brake Service Tips

13 — BODY AND DETAILING
Battling Rust | Body Detailing | Quick Tips to a Better Detail Job | Pickup Bed and Tub Liners

14 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BASICS
The Electrical System | Electrical Troubleshooting | Testing Battery and Charging System | Starter Motor | Starter Troubleshooting | Starter Overhaul

15 — ACCESSORIES
Winches | Electrical System Upgrades | Roll Bars | Seat Belts and Safety Harnesses | Trailering

16 — FORD ENGINE PERFORMANCE: MILD TO WILD!
Engine Performance and Smog Legal Modifications | Ford F-truck Power: An Overview | Valvetrain Modifications | Ignition Modifications | Performance Carburetion | Lubrication and Engine Oil Cooling | Supercharging | Flathead to FE F-truck Power | 460 V-8: The Ultimate Racing and Tow Engine | 351 Windsor V-8 Buildup | 302/5.0L, V-8 Tips | Engine Overhaul

17 — DRIVETRAIN UPGRADES
Performance Transmissions | Four-speed Changeover | The Clutch | Clutch Types | Aftermarket Clutches | Traction Differentials | Conversion Axles | Driveshaft Footnotes

18 — CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION UPGRADES
Chassis Modifications | State Lift Laws | Off-pavement Suspension Tuning | Upgrading Shocks | Urethane Bushings | Installing An Upgraded Suspension | Steering Gear Conversions | Tires | Tire Glossary | Brake System Upgrades

APPENDICES
Sources | Hardware Grading | Toolbox | Engine Break-in | 4x4 Trials

Index | Acknowledgments | About the Author