'71 F-250 Diesel conversion and more 01/10 starting back in

[Ranchero50]

Ha, I'm still working on last winters projects. Honestly I don't see this moving forward until winter or maybe next summer. Lou is sitting out by the alley with the big aluminum bed slowly sliding off the frame. The blue one is at the farm, probably full of mice or birds, chickens probably...

I did sell my big boat so I have some cash to get the river Seadoo jetboat conversion further along;

http://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=8385

Jamie

[1971ford]

wowza, just spent half an hour in that boat thread. I don't know awnything about boats but that was cool

[1967 F350 Turbo Diesel]

Ranchero50
That's to bad You are really at the point things start to move along fast.
Two months ago I would not have thought My Son would be driving His 6.9 powered 74 F100

[Ranchero50]

Well, as most folks on here realize, I always seem to be in the middle of several projects and nothing ever gets done. My new years resolution was to try and finish something this year. Seems I need the boat more than a truck for my sanity and the boat parts are taking up a lot of time and space so I'm trying to get it finished. Currently I'm doing a motor swap and trying to finish the insides. The '70 and '71 are in good places. The rest of the parts are stashed away waiting patiently. I've given up pretty much all the side work until the boat is done as well. Funny how folks stop calling after you refuse to do anything for three months...

Jamie

[1967 F350 Turbo Diesel]

Some encouraging words. My Son's 74 F100 with 6.9 C6 2.75 ring&pinion is making 24mpg on the highway.

[89Suburban]

Good job on all the projects buddy.

[FormerMarine1981]

Just started reading this thread again, thought I would comment so I could find it again. Looks like an awesome build

[Ranchero50]

Well, it's all rather sad. The poor thing is sitting down at my friends farm with a sheet of roofing rubber over the engine and no glass in the cab. The paint has faded and grown black mold. Since the door shells don't have glass in then there was a cat living in it most of the summer. Honestly the 6.9 has fallen out of favor and the longbed has terminal seam rust so I'm going to part it out or sell the frame and suspension.

I do have Lou, my 66k mile '70 long wheel base F350 camper special dually up at the house. I have the aluminum dump bed in the garage upside down getting the dump mechanism and light mounts installed now. I have 3/4 of a '93 6BT in a shed and a Fordcummins adaptor plate to copy so I can make myself a 6BT - ZF adaptor. Lou starts and runs pretty good as a 360 4 speed. The cab has rust so I plan on swapping the blue sheetmetal onto this frame, run the 6BT and ZF with aluminum dump bed. I'll probably run the black '69 comfortweave seat and black Sport custom door panels. Not sure about the cluster but I will be using the Bluebird bus tach and probably make some other guage holders for the pyro and boost.

I really need to get these threads updated more often...

Jamie

[1971ford]

[averagef250]

What happens to project vehicles when family, work and life factor in? I know how you feel Jamie. My '70 has '07 tags on it now and it's guts have been moved around the shop so many times it would take awhile just to find the big parts. I regret ever taking it apart at this point. If I could focus on it it could be back on the road in a couple months of late nights and burning up some savings, but then I remember I work 70 hours 6 days a week and have work to complete on the family expedition, an old 4x4 diesel tractor I use everyday that needs the loader repinned and new lines before I drop something expensive and a 17,500 pound D4 cat with a dead pony mag that needs moved 20 miles within the next couple months. Oh yeah, almost forgot self learning CNC programming.

Give me a little time on the starter location dimensions. My scanner is not getting along with my home computer. I suppose I could just take a picture of the print and see if it's readable that way. Worst scenario I'll copy it and mail it.

[FLATBEDFORD]

What happens to project vehicles when family, work and life factor in? I know how you feel Jamie. My '70 has '07 tags on it now and it's guts have been moved around the shop so many times it would take awhile just to find the big parts. I regret ever taking it apart at this point....

That's why I have been afraid to start any major work on my F350. Of course as I do nothing, it continues to slowly rust away... If only I were a rich man...

[FormerMarine1981]

It sucks to get so far behind on your projects, I just read the entire thread and you made some great progress. Glad you are still going to use the cab you put all of the work into though, that would be a shame. Hope you catch up soon, Ben

[Ranchero50]

Man, you guys are all too morbid. The whole rebuild the truck project was to get better at doing body work so I can finish restoring my '69 Mustang or start the '64 Fairlane I have. Of course I wanted a diesel that could go anywhere with the express purpose of being able to get firewood. The F250 vs. Ranchero argument went in favor of the F250 once I brought the new refridgerator home the other year (got the wifes stamp of approval). I have almost no money wrapped up in the truck and pretty much everything except the frame will go into the F350. Now for the F250 vs. F350 argument. I needed to raise the pickup bed 2" to clear the 6.9 / ZF combo and that makes loading wood a PITA. The F350 is a true 10,000lb disc brake power steering dually. The aluminum bed will tilt and will hold a lot more wood vs. a pickup load.

I've been working on the bed today, will post some pics later.

Jamie

[FLATBEDFORD]

Once you move firewood with a flatbed, you will never want to go back to a pickup. Side loading is very handy, and if your's doesn't dump (mine), side unload is nice too. The F350 is the way to go.

[averagef250]

Once you move firewood with a flatbed, you will never want to go back to a pickup. Side loading is very handy, and if your's doesn't dump (mine), side unload is nice too. The F350 is the way to go.