In reply to stuart in mn :
that is cool.
In reply to stuart in mn :
that is cool.
In reply to AngryCorvair :
yep. the red one had to go. I bought a ignition switch and key today at the junkyard so my hotwire kit is back on the shelf.
There were a few couriers at my local junkyards. One was this 1980 with disc brakes 
not sure how to tell if this one is a suitable donor? There were also a couple of first gen trucks with much better fenders and bumpers. I love me some junkyard time! 
I also scored a Weber 32/36 manual choke carb from the carb barn of the yard
I remember always struggling with the factory units on my LUVs and Troopers until I did a Weber conversion on the last one. It was so much better and easier.
If it has disk brakes, its a suitable donor. 1978-84 Courier/B-series should all work. It's a pretty straightforward swap and a good chance to freshen up the whole front end while you're in there (ball joints are ~$9 each if I remember right??)
I can't believe a junkyard near you has Couriers! I've only seen one other one in person, ever.
In reply to classicJackets :
I found 6 today! Thanks for the info. I will most likely go through with the conversion it seems like a good idea.
That's incredible. I need to make a trip out that way! I want an early tailgate ('72 and 73 are stamped with Courier instead if Ford), and an extra pair of fenders and passenger door.
Disc brake is well worth your while. Not very expensive and it makes you at least feel a little more modern.
I'll be the first one to say MAZDA 12B
I put some gas in the carb via a jerry can and an electric pump and what do you know? It ran. Sort of. 
It certainly did not want to idle and it was because of this giant vacuum leak. 
I don’t know what was there and it doesn’t really matter. What is there now is a very large vacuum cap that is actually the shipping protection from new bicycles equipped with a Fox front fork that has a 15mm through axle. Read: free trash from work. 
With that sorted the motor actually idles pretty well. Sounds fine maybe a touch of valvetrain tick. I haven’t investigated, just assuming that there are lash adjusters in the system. The electric fuel pump mounted on the frame makes quite a racket; like a mini jackhammer. I need to see if it is capable of doing anything other than making noise.
I stuck the endoscope into the tank and it looks pretty good considering the fuel cap has been missing for at least five years. Part of that may be because the filler is blocked with the screw part of the cap. No picture because my battery on the scope ran out. I also put the junkyard Weber through the parts washer at work and have a rebuild kit on the way. Pretty:
a few very interesting engines to consider as swap candidates have recently presented themselves. For now the plan is to do some repair work and get this little truck driver status and see how it fills the roll of our dump runner/recycling/etc truck.
In reply to Agent98 :
I actually am kind of into that except for the lack of any free rotary engines in my possession. I plan to drive with the stock motor for a season and then re-evaluate over the winter.
In reply to classicJackets :
I can put up some pictures from my next trip to the junkyard. I don’t know if there are any 72 or 73 trucks but I sure can check. Let me know if you are coming to town and I can set up the grand tour.
A buddy here in Missouri just got a title for a car without one. A lawyer had to file paperwork with the court. It's not something you can do at DMV. But anyway he has a title now.
You might check with a lawyer in your state. The initial consult is usually free.
It did cost $350 but you got the truck for free so that's not too bad I guess.
In reply to Bent-Valve :
I had to go through the process with my Fiat
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/ (also dragged home free and sans title). They basically require a surety bond for 3 years to cover payment of a legitimate claim to the vehicle. After the 3 years the title is free and clear. My Fiat just hit the mark this month.
tdrrally said:miata power!?
https://www.motorecyclenow.com/title-service.html
Isn't Miata always the answer?
Cool truck.
dang, *six* couriers in local JY's? You could probably make a few bucks reselling bits and pieces, and make a lot of courier people happy in the process. i think i'd grab the slot mags off that puke orange one if there's a full set. if you do, be sure to keep the lug nuts and washers.
AngryCorvair said:dang, *six* couriers in local JY's? You could probably make a few bucks reselling bits and pieces, and make a lot of courier people happy in the process. i think i'd grab the slot mags off that puke orange one if there's a full set. if you do, be sure to keep the lug nuts and washers.
Or you can take them all out, send notes to those of us in the area there are zero, and we can come get them....
If a Courier body is good, and the core chassis is all there- powertrain choices that we still can get are abundant.
Also fair warning, totally forgot to mention this - driver's side lug nuts will be opposite thread, righty-loosey. Save yourself a few broken wheel studs with that.
In reply to classicJackets :
Excellent tip. Thanks!
In reply to AngryCorvair :
I do like those slots. Any idea if they clear the disc calipers? I suppose I will have to try it anyway. For whatever reason that orange truck is full of a large quantity of cat food. I can try and get a picture when I go back.
I am pretty much at parts vehicle capacity at the GoLucky compound at the moment but if anyone here has an urgent need I will entertain a pull and ship trip.
Removed filler neck blockage.
This is an interesting way to get gas in. 
I have not found a new replacement yet but I took out the rubber elbow and hopefully can match it up with something at the parts store.
I added fluid to the clutch master and after only a couple of pumps it was obvious that the slave cylinder was shot. Ordered one from NAPA and it arrived the next day. Old one has a mount for the return spring; new one does not. Grumble. 
After a few minutes of measure and bend I had this bracket 
It is in and now the clutch works.
Mine wasn't so catastrophic, but had the same fuel filler next problem. Don't remember what radiator hose I ended up using, but it was a pleasure to get in.. nice job on the space! I had a new one fail within about a month of replacing it so if you see issues don't be surprised..
First drive was last night. Brakes bled and adjusted and now they feel, uh... marginally ok? But it does drive.
Well, it did but the carb didn’t work flawlessly so time to throw it out and make the Weber go on instead.
The carb bolt pattern unfortunately did not match the Datsun adapter I got from the junkyard and the Weber linkage looked like it would foul if I did a simple one piece plate. Compound adapter coming up. Low tech sharpie scrawl and cut some alloy scrap on the band saw .
Got some help from my stepson (14) in the form of some smog parts removal and a refresh of the “COURIER” lettering on the tailgate. He had some pretty solid ideas for upgrades and repair as well. It feels good to do some shop time together and hopefully we will get to work on something for him to drive soon. Or maybe he can learn to drive stick on this? 
Got the adapter into shape. 
And preview of Weber goodness to come. 
next up is some paper gaskets for the adaptation, egr delete and then hopefully another test drive in the near future.
At lunch time I made some brackets to adapt the throttle linkage to a cable. 
Also, the Fourteen year old has been shining up the exterior panel by panel. 
He also cleaned out the cab and we test fit a third row seat from my parts suburban. It really isn’t half bad and the integrated seat belts are appealing. 
It will require some mods if we end up going this route but I am stoked for the shared experience either way.
Thats looking nice!
I usually dont like newer seats in vehicles but thats looking pretty good.
Integrated seatbelts are a big plus for sure, and it looks like it fits the truck fairly well. Not too far forward?
Love the time with your boy too. Good job making space for that. I try to include my daughter in the shop as much as possible even when it usually means more work and/or less efficiency.
In reply to Mezzanine :
It is in fact too high and far forward for me at the moment. A mock up of sorts, done largely due to the request of my “assistant “. The original seat is pretty terrible and really bugs him. We were just exploring with what was on hand. Yep: More work less efficient. So worth it.
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