Fixing Ford f-350 problems so its ready to go Jeeping!

It's time for Easter Jeep Safari again, and my Jeep is still broken from last year. Time to start preparing my 1991 Ford F-350 Mom's Spaghetti for the trip to Moab Utah. I tackle some issues with the transmission, rear suspension, and even add a little Bling with a metalflake steering wheel.
If you are in Moab for EJS 2024 make sure to stop by the Bestop kickoff party March 25 in the parking lot behind the Food Truck circle downtown. Fred Williams and I will be down there hanging out.
Brought to you in part by the folks at Bestop. You know them for their Jeep soft tops and 4x4 accessories.
www.bestop.com/
other brands in the Bestop Team.
Baja Designs Lights
www.bajadesign...
PRP seats
www.prpseats.com/
Tuffy Storage
tuffyproducts....
SPOD
www.4x4spod.com/

[@AutoEdits]

I'm really enjoying these videos feeling like just hanging out in the garage with you while wrenching!

[@thedirtheadshed]

We are totally hanging out Jason!

[@Nevermind_Im_Lost]

That's what it's like watching yours too, Jason! Love your channel and pup!

[@toddcovell7288]

That truck is coming along great hope you have fun Whelan👍👍👍

[@mazevx2451]

Woa Jason, you're here 😮 looks like we're all just a big community in some way

[@CLGravy]

Did we just become best friends?

[@RickBallantyne]

I have total respect for someone who truly does it their way. Putting a 70's metal flake steering wheel on a bad ass home built dirt rocket??? And that's just one reason why your channel rocks.

[@thedirtheadshed]

I appreciate the support!

[@KC-7mm]

Dave your personality cracks me up. I don’t mean that in a bad way I truly enjoy watching your videos.

[@thedirtheadshed]

I appreciate it .

[@ianmankersen]

Love this truck. Glad you keep taking the time to work out issues that make you not completely happy with it.

[@thedirtheadshed]

As I get older I am realizing it’s easier to fix them than to start over

[@ZanalJT]

Just passed you on the freeway in the gold TJ!! Highlight of my day to see mom’s spaghetti and ya in the flesh!!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Ha! Nice!

[@big3fan916]

People who do nothing will never know the feeling of ACCOMPLISHMENT !

[@Bobby82568]

Man I remember when you first showed us mom’s spaghetti on Dirt Everyday and now it’s going to EJS. They grow up so fast 😢

[@thedirtheadshed]

Yep. Pretty soon it’ll be all grown up

[@adamcochran6323]

Love the video! Its always so nice to eliminate the annoying noises... great little truck!

[@danvanwormer3543]

No matter what you are working on, I learn something new.

[@MarkBrighton-nb8je]

That's what a truck SHOULD look like !! 😅😅😊

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks

[@ambrosebrower8760]

It’s a miracle that there are hot rod shops still around and actually have parts in stock. Those places should really be celebrated

[@thedirtheadshed]

I totally agree

[@JimPenix-u1v]

So much good content.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Glad you’re digging it

[@fv6927]

I know you're a huge truck guy but I have never owned a really cool lowered car and I just want to see you finish up the mustang....... I'm 53 years young and I respect the knowledge and skill that you have.

[@slooooendurooo7989]

I like the flare side

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks

[@mattf6397]

See you soon here in Moab!!!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Right oh. Come by that kickoff party on Monday

[@hblide]

Your videos are getting better. better sound, more camera angles.. just better production in general .... really good stuff Dave!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks! I’m trying to work on that side of things more

[@richardharvey8939]

Fun video as always

[@thedirtheadshed]

Glad you liked it

[@HackeryGarage]

It is always an awesome feeling when you fix something that has been bothering you for awhile. Rad to see the truck coming along!

[@papercut138]

Vomit on my sweater! Who doesn't love Mom's Spaghetti!!!👍👍👍

[@thedirtheadshed]

Exactly!

[@JeepnJeff]

I want to try out those Holley Retrobrites. I wish more companies would make their LED's look more like sealbeams. Hate the look of most LED's on older rigs.

[@thedirtheadshed]

I can’t stand most of the LED lights out there either

[@AS-ng5pi]

Dave, you should get an AWD Ford Maverick and do an air bag set up on that. Something that would be fun and doable but not kill the pocketbook.

[@thedirtheadshed]

That would be a good cruiser

[@rabidcoyote97]

Taking care of the little things, good to get them crossed off the list and one step closer to Moab.

[@thedirtheadshed]

One bite at a time

[@moabwheeling1305]

I love Mom's Spaghetti and what you have done with it over the years Dave . It has to be one of my favorite builds of all time. Keep up the great work brother.

[@bassettraceengines]

Great job!!!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thank you

[@speedyforde3404]

Looks like it will be so fun in the rocks at Moab!

[@thedirtheadshed]

I can’t wait

[@gamblerspec]

I like the step up idea for welding without weld sitting on top. Super cool

[@thedirtheadshed]

Glad you caught that. Works great

[@Foxcanfixit]

The dash lyrics. Perfect

[@thedirtheadshed]

Details

[@adamdevries3734]

Should change the lettering on the hood to FEEP. Love your videos

[@thedirtheadshed]

Haha. Thanks

[@babyduckmilitia2186]

Love this truck, great video as always

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks so much

[@JoeReese-kh1jc]

A day without Dirt is like a day without sunshine...

[@thedirtheadshed]

Yep!

[@chrisurfer83]

Keep truckin' you are gonna clear 100k subs soon!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Heck yeah! I’m excited to see where it goes

[@Str8sixfan]

My 95 F-150 had the same noisy transmission and it was only an M5OD. Makes me curious because I didn't think that transmission and the ZF shared a single thing in common. But appears they did; noisy in neutral. Also always feels so good to get rid of a noise like that!

[@thedirtheadshed]

I’m pretty sure the trans will always be louder than i would like

[@gregthompson1609]

That sweet sweet vindication of fixing something that's annoyed you for far too long. Love Mom's Spaghetti!

[@thedirtheadshed]

I still haven’t driven it yet… it still has time to let me down

[@mavericksteer831]

Nice work finding the clunk! You’re the man Dave!

[@thedirtheadshed]

I’m trying!!

[@jonhill9564]

Support

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks

[@brendonhearn8778]

Nice! Always a good time sorting out those "smaller" annoying problems, noises etc. Thanks for sharing. cheers

[@thedirtheadshed]

They just make the right more fun to drive

[@colubrinedeucecreative]

Nice work!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thank you!

[@FergasaurusRex]

Always love your videos man. I totally understand always doing things by yourself as sometimes a helping hand isn't always available. also working in my garage on my mini truck I have to be half contortionist to work on stuff but love your stuff and keep on being awesome.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Haha. It’s a struggle sometimes

[@johngeary8534]

I’ve got a F150 cab in excellent shape. 100% new interior. 1985. Strait front fenders and straight side beds…

[@thedirtheadshed]

There ya go. Winning combination

[@johngeary8534]

@@thedirtheadshed Frame is strait also. Would you be interested? Amazing price for you!

[@mapyzer]

This is my favorite truck on the internet.

[@shanewright6958]

Another great video 👍👍

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks!

[@hendo337]

I've had a '97 F250HD 351w ZF-5 S47 and I have a '94 F250 393w ZF-5 S42 now. The 351 with just bolt ons, true duals, smog delete, UDPs, electric fan, ecthad 220k with he original S47 and it still shifted perfect up till the day the truck was totalled. The 393w stroker with AFR 175 heads, lightning lower, explorer upper intakes, 70mm TB, Cobra MAF, Doug's long tubes, 5.0 HO camshaft, converted to SMPFI makes crazy tq, the HP is gone by 5k, the S42 has been rebuilt and it's shifting a little hard when you try to shift it fast so it's probably that you have the S42.

[@thedirtheadshed]

It definitely doesn’t want to shift fast

[@mnovak85]

I dig it! Makes me want to cannonball the 29 hrs to Moab this week to see it in action.

[@MrBdiggiti]

I love it nothing like fixing irritating noises! Dave Rocks!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thank you

[@CoyoteFTW]

love the truck it’s perfect

[@thedirtheadshed]

It’s kinda junk, kinda great

[@music10293]

As a dodge guy it's common to put gear oil in g56 transmissions to reduce noise instead of the atf as recommended

[@thedirtheadshed]

Yep! That is one of the reasons I didn’t hesitate putting gear oil in this one

[@iToy80]

I forgot how cool the suspension on this “Jeep” was. It’s a really awesome truck! Almost as manly as Louisvitten 🥰

[@thedirtheadshed]

That truck is cool too… but not sure it’ll ever be Spaghetti Cool

[@ronizard1674]

Shoulda put the hiem joints in the vice and pivot the arms so that you could verify the source of the noise.

[@thedirtheadshed]

They don’t make the same noise in the vice. Need all the other pressures on it.

[@yermoffroad]

Ive had two zf5s, seems like the sycros kinda get shitty after 100k. Some shops didnt want to work on them for some reason to I found. The small block verson is aslo kind of hard to find, f100 guys love em.

[@thedirtheadshed]

All things I’ve found as well!

[@grahamgeiger3206]

I love the close ratio diesel ones. I just wish they had removable bellhousings.

[@samuelnoller1565]

Small block ZFs are the most desired because bronco and f150 guys want em. Just gotta watch the junkyard inventories and jump on one when it shows up. And yeah, the 2-3 synchro especially likes to wear out.

[@vanstechcorral]

We were at that Moab food truck circle a year or so ago, had coffee early morning with the director of a Costner movie project, on an 84 VW Westfalia cross country trip. Yep, a Grant style steering wheel installed on that one too. Electric power steering next.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Nice! Sounds like you’re doing it right

[@Gerry-K]

That Gold flake steering wheel is so 60's. Love it! 😎 I had one in my 67 Camaro with MoonEye tach back in the day.

[@thedirtheadshed]

That’s great. Mooneyes has been such a great company

[@Fparrish]

Dave, that’s awesome you figured out that darn cluck, must feel so good. Also hey if you sold ALL you tucks/cars you might be able to afford one Gladiator 😂

[@thedirtheadshed]

I know. That one is probably pushing 110k

[@Fparrish]

@@thedirtheadshed must have tons as well. Crazy how expensive those gladiators can get.

[@fv6927]

Love Mom's spaghetti such a beast but I'm going to keep bothering you for more slammed mustang content... please. I really really love the mustang and how you have it looking.

[@kailuagarage]

I seem to have the best luck with Pennzoil Synchromesh for reducing noise in my NV3500, which is just old school dino oil.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Good to know. Heard about it, but never used it

[@abcsd1254]

So awesome that the redline and the missing bolt fixed that transmission; love Mom’s Spaghetti

[@bubbacomputer]

That truck is getting better and better, great job!

[@TheMerc1950]

No clunks for the win!

[@OjaiBonsai]

Mom spaghetti is such a great name

[@thedirtheadshed]

It’s a good one!

[@rjfreimuth]

I learn so much stuff from you Dave. Thanks for sharing the goods.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks for watching! Tell your friends

[@Hillbillypunk]

"grinds between 2nd and 3rd" It's a Ford!🎉

[@mrmeyers26]

I really hope you can go back to doing this full time. I will do whatever I can to support this channel to make that happen 🤘

[@thedirtheadshed]

I appreciate that!

[@1320Jason]

When you were putting on the tire, you used the jack to do something…curious what you did? I have a hard time putting my big wheels back on my rig and always looking for tips. Mom’s spaghetti is a rad truck!! You the MAN Dave!!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Usually I’ll sit down, pinch it with my legs and lift. This time I just lowered the axle to the right height and lucked out of rotation

[@1320Jason]

@@thedirtheadshed …thanks Dave. I do same

[@peterrehrmann9196]

Pocket full a shells

[@thedirtheadshed]

Rage

[@AKDONURSE]

This is my favorite truck on the internet! You rock! Keep it up.

[@frosty_silver_fox4292]

With my trans fresh out of the trans shop, with zero miles on the rebuild, i couldn't & still can't downshift my Zf5 from 3rd back to 2nd without grinding. Sooo frustrating. The only way i could do it without grinding was to be barely rolling. Sweet truck Dave. Also, i really enjoy the intro to your vidya's. 🍻

[@thedirtheadshed]

So frustrating! I wonder what the solution is.

[@matty86suk]

I swapped out all the hiems for enduro joints from my 2 rigs over the last year

[@thedirtheadshed]

Some reason my Mazda is on heims and it’s quiet. This one I have had nothing but problems with

[@josephprentice8354]

We love moms spaghetti 👌

[@thedirtheadshed]

Same!

[@michaellauer3397]

That truck ought to be worth rebuilding the transmission in. It’s cool how i that ZF5 S42 comes apart. You might find it fun.

[@thedirtheadshed]

I need to look up some videos on it

[@michaellauer3397]

I have a 97 F350 4wd regular cab, 460, ZF5 that I bought new in 97. Has 250,000 miles on it, working great. I also have 2 “small block“ ZFs, one with the transfer case on it and one 2 Wheel Dr. for projects. It’s really pretty cool to be able to run a 410 gear without a doubler, using the granny gear. Then overdrive to get home. I’m gonna put a 205 on the four-wheel-drive ZF which will shorten it up like 10 inches. Plus it’s overall more compact than the chain drive case.

[@MontanaDirtRoads]

Torque king 4x4 carries these bad ass coolers that go on where pto covers are and also contain a filter aswell, i have that same zf5s42 trans in my eddie baure f150...its got some upgrades and has killed many m5odr2 transmissions

[@thedirtheadshed]

Hmm. I’ll check that out. Thanks

[@dogpotter]

Good Video Dave! glad you were able to chase down and eliminate those annoying noises. and the metalflake wheel is just plain cool!

[@dougmorris9107]

Dave, i agree, the steering wheel is rad. :) keep up the good work!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Wait till you see the next round of mods!

[@ianfosbrook8406]

love it when you fix a repair...good day in the shop❤

[@thedirtheadshed]

Nobody likes doing work twice!

[@HoundofWar]

YOU CHANGED THE STEARING WHEEL?!!! That was my favorite part.... great video Dave.

[@thedirtheadshed]

You can’t be serious…. Thanks!

[@TurboDog73TX]

Rad stuff! I love Mom's Spaghetti.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks! It just keeps getting better

[@adrianw3985]

We are going to Easter Jeep Safari, will be rocking a LC100. Just doing easy trails this year. Hope to bump into you. Cheers!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Nice! It’s fun in any rig you are in

[@adrianw3985]

@@thedirtheadshed we will try and attend that Best Top kick off event.

[@ssarkees]

Thanks Dave! Mom’s Spaghetti has a special place in my heart!

[@samuelcookphippen]

awesomeness

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks for watching

[@hunterbrock2347]

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get to work on my brick nose Ford looking stack of parts. The 302 spun a rod bearing and the M5OD clutch is almost non-existent. Naturally to fix it I'm going with a 300 i6 and ZF5 from an F-250. If I can ever talk my dirt track racing buddy into helping me, I want the engine to make an HP per cube but I'm at least on the way to a hot rod intake and header hopefully sucking wind through a Holley Sniper.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Nice. My friend is in the process of doing a 300/zf5 in his early bronco

[@hunterbrock2347]

@@thedirtheadshed oh, I've had those grant steering wheel parts sitting around for a while too but the wheel I got is wood and the center is anodized black. I pulled the horn button out of like an F-800 bucket truck. The engine having catastrophic damage really set my plans back but a 3/5 lowering kit is the plan and 20" Ram steelies with vintage Ford hubcaps.

[@brandonlea8299]

I put a ton of miles towing too heavy with a 89 F250 351 with a zf5 and it was always noisy but always worked. Liked that combo, was a solid truck

[@thedirtheadshed]

I always wanted to find this combo and make a trail rig out of it. So far so good

[@brandonlea8299]

Digging the new mods! Looking forward EJS vids and the fresh wheels and tires

[@bobbolieu9013]

You've got a lot of travel in the rear-end. That's pretty cool. It is pretty rad when we can fix things that have been annoying for a long while. Great work Dave.

[@ANotSoHotRodGarage]

Dave after years of working on a dirt car, we would take the hiems joints, coat the ball with Lucas oil treatment then spin them making sure to get it up in the channel inside, put t all back together and spray with wd. 40. Makes them smooth and quiet.

[@thedirtheadshed]

They can make a few comebacks. But always seem to be a problem later on

[@KyleC2OO7]

Cool truck, hope my 86 F150 can be one day be this capable!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Just gotta put in the work

[@jakengle]

Always great to see new videos from you!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks for watching, and commenting

[@matthewschneider2089]

Dude!!! I love when you work on the rear suspension!!! The trailing arms are so cool with the air suspension!!! The yellow wheel ain't bad either!!!✌️

[@jimanderson4495]

Thanks Dave. Still watching, just not commenting.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Hey. You commented here. I appreciate it

[@ricksshop]

I ran half a quart of Lucas in my ZF. Fixes 90% of the noise, makes a man out of you until it warms up. I replaced the syncro blocking rings as well, that's not a fun job (syncro hubs are pressed on the shafts).

[@thedirtheadshed]

I hope I don’t have to tear into this transmission ever

[@saturnfivehynrgrc581]

Good stuff Dave. Like button energized

[@thedirtheadshed]

Thanks again!

[@Roy-h4z4y]

Have the same problem with my zf5 will definitely give that a try 👍🏾

[@thedirtheadshed]

Let me get some miles on it first… in case it doesn’t work

[@Jim_Lawrence]

I sharpie mileage and date on the oil filter. Redline MTL worked wonders in my ZF6.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Nice! Good to hear

[@mh-qq2hj]

I’m really glad you fixed that suspension noise! It was driving me nuts too. I know how hard it is to try and find that kind of stuff by yourself. When I worked at the ford dealer years ago, we used to put gm synchromesh fluid in those zf 5 speeds to make them shift better and try to quiet them down. There’s a needle bearing on the reverse idler shaft that goes bad and makes a bit of a racket. They’re really not that bad to work on but if you don’t have the special tools to pull the sychronizer hubs off you end up ruining them. They also have stout little coil springs with little ball bearings in those sychronizers that fly out never to be seen again when you move the collars a little too far. I used to hang onto the springs and balls I took out because you’re always losing them.

[@andywagoner4869]

I love this truck. I think it’s my favorite truck.

[@thedirtheadshed]

It’s one of my favorites too

[@RCJesus420]

I've got a ZFS5-47 I'm going to put behind my 460 in my 79 Bronco. However, that 460 already has good power and will be quite a bit more powerful when I build it further, so I'm having the whole tranny rebuilt and beefed up. I'm a little concerned about the case since I'll have 700+ ftlbs of torque, but it is what it is. lol

[@thedirtheadshed]

It will probably be fine

[@RCJesus420]

@@thedirtheadshed I hope so They're supposed to be tough, but I know blowing the cases up does happen on rare occasion. I just have to watch my foot I guess. lol

[@quadbilly2106]

Just watched ur episode of roadworthy rescue. Then went amd watched you and Fred on dirt every day. You guys had great chemistry together. So disappointed in motortrend cancelling ur show! Hoping ur channel blows up!

[@chrismorris177]

“I gotta work on the drivability” proceeds to install a gold flake steering wheel.😂😂😂 I like your style!! I almost put an old school budnick billet wheel on my crawler.

[@thedirtheadshed]

Ooohhh. That would be a nice touch in the Mazda

[@fv6927]

The bags are so darn awesome!!!!!!! Way cool

[@tree18is]

these two fords take some serious cake in my book

[@thedirtheadshed]

I keep forgetting I have the super duty…

[@thomasbyrne7770]

Good diagnosis, Great fixes. Very satisfying to see the step by step stuff. Spagetti yum. Tom Byrne

[@b-lopez394]

Problem Solved!!!!👍👍👍👍👍 Cool steering wheel. Good job Dave!

[@matthewmcclelland709]

Can't wait to see the wheels on with the steering wheel!

[@thedirtheadshed]

Yeah buddy! Me too

[@rediron44]

Love that truck. Kinda old school cool, combined with cool fab work. I love it too, when I find a problem and actually fix it. It's an awesome feeling. Funny how a simple steering wheel can make a truck or Jeep fun. I did the same thing on a '77 Jeep Honcho pickup once..