The chronicles of Lou, '70 F350 dually Cummins project

[Ranchero50]

Ok, got the rear installed, seems the pass side brake is frozen now that it's ont he truck so I'll pop that apart tomorrow. I got the cab back in place and bolted the fenders on. Started on the doors but that's a train wreck in the making, need some light to even start lining them up. For the tranny cooler I just ran the two hard lines together and hosed them for now. I'll probably end up with another cooler down the road and all I'll have to do is rotate one of the hard lines so they are parallel.

Good day
Jamie

[basketcase0302]

I love that pond Jamie! You've made a lot of progress on Lou considering you've got your hands in so many projects.
I too have to race now as ol' man winter will be here before we know it...

[Ranchero50]

The pond is great but my rosy reds had babies and now I have a million little fish in it and another algae bloom. The boat is going away for the winter soon, doubt I'll work on it much more until this truck is further along. Finances are looking gloomy but that's normal too. I only have about two cords of wood for the winter so I'm thinking a little saw is going into the Ranchero for roadside grabs. The state trimmed a bunch of nasty throny locust about amile from the house for me to gather.

On the truck I pushed it into the garage before the rain really came down, got the drivers door adjusted so it'll close and the rear on stands so maybe I'll take it apart and hope the dana 70 stuff will cross over depending on how bad things are. Once the kids are off school I want to get the other door on, then a trip to the farm to get the inner fender cab mounts and steering column with the auto shifer for this truck. I need to find or make a bunch of shims for the body mounts to get everything sitting level at some point.

The truck will fit in the garage if I shove it against the back wall but I'd rather have the doors open since the humidity is kicking my butt today. Why does it have to rain on my days off?

Jamie

[Ranchero50]

OK, been slow going. I'm off this week, work next, then another off, rinse and repeat until Thanksgiving. Current pain is rebuilding the brakes on the 10.2 Ford Sterling rear I swapped into the truck a couple weeks ago. I got another single wheel axle on the table outside stealing all the goodies off it (it suffered from and oil leak so the brake mechanicals are still nice). Been slow going otherwise since it warms up and rains, then cools off (three times today)... Currently most of the junk is in the garage and the sun is warming things nicely. I just noticed I can buy new drums for $67 each so I'm going that route vs. derust and recut the junk I have... Might even wire brush the rear and paint it sometime.

Jamie

[Ranchero50]

Made a few calls and a road trip, bought new drums and a new drivers side short cable for the pass side for $120 with a discount. Not a terrible deal for China made parts even if the drums do wear quicker than normal...

[flyboy71]

Not a terrible deal for China made parts even if the drums do wear quicker than normal...

Id be surprised if they are actually round.

[Ranchero50]

Well, the brakes are almost done. Found out the hard way the the backing plates are different between single and duall wheel axles so I had to swap out one of those back to the dually part. Ended up with new bearings too but at least they are back together. I did get tripped up by one of the brake lines falling apart as I was putting it on and the new brake hose I have for the '89 F350 seems short so I'll either be after another or relocate the frame bracket lower. It does feel good to be out of the hubs finally...

Dana 70 leaving, note the cab is sitting way back on the frame...


customs tranny cooler lines. I heard the other day I'll be getting the factory Dodge frame cooler from the other '93 donar.


Sterling in with nice $25 each U bolts...


This morning, new drums painted up, old junk piling up, truck been in the garage for weeks waiting on me it seems.


Donar single wheel 10.2 rear.


New stuff on the wrong backing plate...


Now...


Jamie

[FLATBEDFORD]

Jamie,
Is the Sterling a straight bolt in swap? Spring pads and all? You just have to be sure that you have one from a cab&chassis, not a pickup right.

[averagef250]

Jamie,
Is the Sterling a straight bolt in swap? Spring pads and all? You just have to be sure that you have one from a cab&chassis, not a pickup right.

Even better... If you get a cab chassis F-350 not just the sterling axle, but the leaf springs and all hardware will bolt right under a bump.

[FLATBEDFORD]

I always thought it would. I had an '86 F350 for a while and just about everything under it looked about the same as my '70.

[Ranchero50]

Yep, so far everything looks the same. Hardest part was finding the right spring perch width rear. I opted for the '70 shock mounts and other than the hose being too short and dealing with the different U joints between Ford and Dodge it's been going well. I hear there are even factory posi units around for these rears. I have 2 3.55 gearsets now as well. The weak link seems to be the hub oil seal leaking and ruining the brake shoes. The seal is $33 a side, the brake shoes are $19 for all four.

Off to find a longer hose...
Jamie

[Ranchero50]

Ended up with a '79 F350 hose with the same sized ports since I broke the short axle tube with the oversized fitting. Everything dressed in nice. Torched loose the carrier bearing mount and milled it smaller to fit the Dodge carrier's bolt spacing. Still have to grind and weld the driveshaft yoke to the shaft. Took a couple minutes with a 5/16-24 tap to clean out the 10.2 yoke threads. Got new straps at NAPA too. Everything looks good so far.

Jamie

[basketcase0302]

Got me convinced on a Sterling.
Hopefully someday anyway, and before the D70 gives up on me.
Nice work Jamie!

[Ranchero50]

Oh yeah, did I mention that the drums slide over the hubs? E-brake cable was $19 each too.

Jamie

[flyboy71]

Looking good! You got another decent day today to get more done then its snow tomorrow.