The new S&S and Red Repair/Restore/Upgrade Thread..part II

How do you like your HappiJac Quick loads? I bought a set for myself (lot cheaper than the Fast Guns) and other than some trimming of the threaded rod, it was a pretty easy install.

I don't keep the handles on mine, I just carry one handle with me. I should probably either rub my 97 out or take it to a detail shop and have it done.

Your red comes back pretty darn nice.

Treat those 3 point low mount Recreational mirrors like gold too. I broke the arm that holds the mirror to the door mount and had to machine and bend one from stainless. You cannot find the parts anywhere (Ford has discontinued them), I also cracked a glass and had to have a glass shop custom cut me one, thank goodness the gasket was ok.

A big thumbs up.. I'm do for a wax job also but this heat keeps me close to AC instead. Looking good!

Looks great!

Lots of great work on your TC and the old Ford looks good also.

SidecarFlip wrote:
How do you like your HappiJac Quick loads? I bought a set for myself (lot cheaper than the Fast Guns) and other than some trimming of the threaded rod, it was a pretty easy install.

I got them with the TC I bought for the power jacks and love them. I need to maintenance them too, might need a new front.

SidecarFlip wrote:
Your red comes back pretty darn nice.

Surprised me too.

SidecarFlip wrote:
Treat those 3 point low mount Recreational mirrors like gold too. I broke the arm that holds the mirror to the door mount and had to machine and bend one from stainless. You cannot find the parts anywhere (Ford has discontinued them), I also cracked a glass and had to have a glass shop custom cut me one, thank goodness the gasket was ok.

Will do........

Thanks for the support guys.

What kind of wax are you using?

jaycocreek wrote:
What kind of wax are you using?

It's a process that I've used for a few years now.

First I rub the panel down with 0000 steel wool soaked with Windex to get most of the garbage off the paint and it smooths the paint, the key is keeping the steel wool very wet to lubricate it and not scratch the paint. Then I wipe it down with a wet microfiber towel and let it dry completely...should look REALLY dull and be very smooth. Then I use Harley scratch and swirl remover, it's kinda expensive, but it the easiest thing I've found to remove when dry, but any good polishing compound works. I do the panel twice with it making sure I remove it completely each time. Then I wax it and it's done, I use Whatawax, liquid Carnauba with Tefelon, and your done.

Finished the rest of the passenger side today and ran out of polishing compound. More is on the way and I picked the easiest side t do first, I have lotsa prep to do before the other side is ready to polish and wax.

Been kind of half thinking about removing the buttons from my rear bumper entirely and going to a length of square tubing either butt welded to the receiver hitch side plate or in the receiver itself to mount the rear HJ tiedowns.

Reason being is, any pull on the rear HJ's tend to pull the end of the step bumper up on each side. It returns to it's normal position when the camper tiedown is released but it still bothers me. I don't run them that tight as a rule anyway. Most of my 'pull' is on the front set. and mine are angled just like yours... and, I've never had the camper move at all, not side to side or front to back and no rubber mat or wood underneath. Just a Line-X lined bed and the bottom of the camper on it.

Truck looks sharp. I pulled my aluminum rims last year and stripped off the clear coat (which had chipped and looked awful. After I stripped them (with the tires off of course, I buffed them out with rouge and a buffing wheel to a mirror finish. Now, every spring I go over the rims with Mothers Aluminum polish. Was a big job but worth the time. I get a lot of compliments on the wheels. Even bought a spare aluminum rim from E-Bay and did the spare too.

Living up here in Michigan I don't drive the truck in the winter, stays in the garage with the camper. I never have driven it in the winter, since new.

I'm making a note of your restoring method. I could use a brighten up on mine.

Camper looks sharp too. Too big a unit for Amy and I though. Wouldn't fit down the seasonal road to our property. Why I sold the Lance and bought a pop up. I have a height issue under the forest canopy. If I had tried to take the Lance in, I would have ripped off about a foot of the roof. As it is, I still have to 'trim' my way in, in the spring, not just overhead but on the sides as well. Pretty tight getting back there (a mile off the pavement) but worth it once you get there. No people, just wild animals and peace and quiet.