Hey everybody, I just purchased a 1986 W150 that is a project/daily driver. Im having a couple problems with it so far and have a few questions I was hoping to get some help with. 1st problem is the headlights do not turn on, signals and brakes work and I know they are fused and the headlights are not, I tried new bulbs and it wasnt that so im guessin it comes down to the control switch? 2nd question is about the second linkage on the trans that comes up near the carb, when i got the truck it already had a holley 4 bl on it and this linkage is not attached to anything. I had to replace the throttle cable and all the hardware and brackets and im not sure what this linkage does, O/D? And the truck feels like it is only getting into 3rd gear so im wondering if this linkage is the culprit or if i need to look into tranny repairs. Also I was wondering if someone could snap a picture of the windshield wiper assemblies where they connect to the motor, mine were in the bed of the truck when i bought it and im trying to find out how much is missing. And finally im wondering if anyone has ever replaced the roof on the cab and if it is possible to do without replacing the whole cab, the front lip on mine is rusted away and i see the seam for the piece and have found the piece just wondering if anybody had done it before and maybe knew about what the cost was. Sorry for the length and Thank you in advance for any help anyone has for this 4 time Iraq veteran/ rookie mechanic.

 

The linkage is the kickdown linkage but it also controls the throttle valve pressure in the trans and it must be hooked up or your trans will not last long.

Yes the roof can be replaced.
http://ramchargercentral.com/project...f-replacement/

If you search the images on ramchargercentral you can see images of the wiper linkages and how to replace the bushings.

 

How would i go about connecting that linkage? does it connect to the carb somehow? And thank you for the help and link.

 

It does connect to the carb and my truck is an 85 Shortbed 2wd and it wasn't until 89 that they switched from 3 speeds without overdrive on the lockdown it goes to the throttle I'm pretty sure

cole

 

Just replaced my 89 W100 windshield wiper bushings (on the arms) this weekend because the bushings cracked and my winshield wiper arms fell apart. (not at home to take a pic though) I still have the body piece where the nozzles attach off so I will take a pic tonight and post it tomorrow so you can see it looks like on my 89. By the way, be careful with your nozzles...mine broke on both of them and to get originals they are about $65/piece (autozone universals are $10 for 2) If you dont already have them...you will want to go to autozone and get 4 bushings for the arms...mine were cracked pretty bad which is why my arms fell apart to begin with. They come in packets and have multiple styles in them usually on the back wall somewhere near the batteries, but there are only 2 in each packet that i needed so I had to buy two boxes...they were pretty cheap.

Other than that, the small bar connects to the motor and the linking bar(much longer) for the two wipers. The side of the linking bar (the long one) that has a stub on it and a hole for the bushing is the driver's side and passenger side only has the hole for the bushing. The linking bar is bent slightly by design and mine bends in towards the cab.

The small motor arm has two different ends on it both for bushings...one is long and flat and the other is short and slightly bent. I honestly cant remember which side went where, but I can tell you if you get it backwards, it will knock off the bar from the motor so it has to clear the motor to rotate.

I will try and take a pic tonight and post it on here for you since I still have the cover off.

 

Thank you for your help. So the trans in the 86' is only supposed to be a 3 speed? And my carb is an aftermarket holley that was installed when i bought the truck so the linkage should just connect somewhere on the throttle cable area of the carb?

 

@buzzkill, thank you for that, i have most of those pieces except one wiper arm mount and i was trying to figure out what went in those holes to hold it all together. So its a bushing set that holds it all together?

 

That is correct...and there are 4 of them. below is a pic of them. Autozone calls them Dorman Windshield Wiper Linkage Bushings. They are rubbery...but mine were so old they had become very brittle and cracked apart. Was easy to fix, but basically you push the bushings into the holes and the studs on the wiper shafts push onto them. I put a little lithium grease in mine to help it push on easier. I will still post a picture of it later on when I get home

 

Thank you , i appreciate it. I now have a new problem for the board. I just changed my fuel pump out and when i restarted the truck it sounded so much better than before and i checked the timing and it was way off so i adjusted it into range and now am having problems starting the truck and it shot a flame out of the carb. What did i do wrong?

 

when you set the timing did you plug off the vacuum advance hose going to the distributor?? it is a must. and i'm pretty sure its 10 degrees before top dead center on the 86 318. as for the headlights, get a test light light and check for a hot wire going in, and then check all other wires with switch off, then turn the switch on, and check all wires again, if no wire shows hot for the headlights, the switch is junk. if it does show hot, or the test light lights up the switch is good, and there must be a broken wire, or they are unhooked someplace along the harness. nice looking truck!! might be easier to check for power on the headlights at the lights themselves, and also the switch. it will also tell you if it has a broken wire, or connector not plugged in.