Manny's 67' F-250 Highboy Restoration

[Lone Ranger]

Good job manny, that's gonna look like a factory box when you get it done!

[Manny]

Good job manny, that's gonna look like a factory box when you get it done!

Thanks i got it ground and checked it all withing 1/8th inch. Perfect for lightweight filler i'm happy. Knew it would need a lil mud.

So you are keeping the closed knuckle axle in the truck? I figured you would swap to one of your High Pinion axles.

I had the 79 d44 disc and it was the plan. But i was given 2 dana 60 closed knuckles from the mid 70's crew cabs. I love those huge hubs and can't get away from them. Think about disc but i am also not scared of the drums once they are set up and done right... I still love them massive hd hubs... after all the other stuff i just drool over that


Well the goal is set. My wife said our 10 year anniversary is June 5th 2020. She said we better be able to go on a date.... in the truck! So here we go its actually very reasonable.

[popeyes71]

June 5, 2020 it is! It's always good to have a finish date in mind; it will keep you motivated! Also, I understand why you like those big hub front ends; they look beefy! I have HD44 out of a 77', that I'm installing in my Highboy over the winter.

[Manny]

Well keeping on the move i have made some good headway. The tubing for the steering box bolts was not heavy enough to take the bolt torque on its own so reinforcement it be. The spacers are 1-3/4" tall. with a 1/4" plate that sets the mounting point 2 " from inside the outer rail.



Was a fun little project to mess with the welder too, and get it where it runs the best and try different angles.


Now to get them welded in.

[Manny]

I keep finding more cab rust especially after i got the windshield out.. It's all right though got a method and will get it sorted..











Now i know why the windshield leaked

[Lone Ranger]

Woof... that rust above the door looks like cake but the rust above the windshield will be a bit more involved. I know you can work it out. Good luck

[cdnwillyg]

Not for the weak at heart here Manny!
I will be following this truck of yours for sure...this is going to interesting!

[hfdco4]

Manny have you thought about sectioning in a new roof?

[Manny]

Woof... that rust above the door looks like cake but the rust above the windshield will be a bit more involved. I know you can work it out. Good luck

Got a method here is the play by play on what happened Friday and Saturday with the roof.
I cut the roof back to get a scope to my fear the inner panel that is so rusty was the only thing holding it together. Before cutting it out the outer needs to be fixed. Also it's the worst spot so take it down first.

The patch panel you see is heavy gauge to create the inner structure back.


All cleaned out and ready.


The heavy gauge was welded to the back side to get the strenth back.


After the strength was in was cut out the bad area in the windshield by tapping around i can weld the rest up.



Remember the bed side i cut out for the tool box. I'm getting extra mileage out of the spare metal. Hey genuine Ford metal.









That was Friday i will post up Saturday here in just a minute..

[hfdco4]

Dude you are very resourceful. Make sure you coat everything with a good rust converter once you get it shored up.

[Manny]

Dude you are very resourceful. Make sure you coat everything with a good rust converter once you get it shored up.

Thanks means a lot. I have been on the zinc weld thru primer. Also once the outside it all wrapped i gotta replace all the inner panels inside. Getting them out of a 70' truck. Point is while the inner panels are out i will have prime access to the rear of these areas and will coat them with KBS rust seal. Think POR but my chosen brand.

Here is saturday. First a small patch to sort the corner and lots of patient welding to burn thru the bad and get into the solid also did some spots to touch up. Also you see here i got a bead on the bottom of the drip rail after holding the side solid.


Side drip rail stable.


Weld thru primer for ya HFDCO4


Next it made two little foot patches. Again bedside cut and shaped and then a bend where it would sit on top of the drip rail as the factory drip rail was formed.


Add the second and then a small piece to back the drip rail. Then 47,000 spot welds.


Here you can see the two pieces sorta ground down.


Needs more grinding and mud but solid.


Finally another piece of bed side cut shaped and then weld thru primer applied and i got this corner handled.


I all i can say that was very rewarding to see. Now i can go down the driver side. Hit passenger corner then passenger side. Finnally work across the front. But after that i feel as if the rest is easy

[hfdco4]

EASY, you must have been sniffing too much of that primer my friend.

[Manny]

EASY, you must have been sniffing too much of that primer my friend.

nope weld thru primer has no effects......... Not easy but doable. I have ended the hunt for a cab.

[cdnwillyg]

Good stuff Manny, it's looking good and not an easy fix. Keep at her!!

[Manny]

Good stuff Manny, it's looking good and not an easy fix. Keep at her!!

Thanks will do. Didn't get far today just serviced the wifey's car. Did cut the rear drive drip rail off. Got my spot weld cutters and found more rust. But not as bad we will solve it out. Have pictures up tomorrow.