'78 F350 Dually Project

[RivennHewn]

Signal,

I've seen your thread, and love the story of your truck/family.
Thanks for taking the time to post a pic of your great looking truck!

 

[RivennHewn]

I spent the morning hanging out with a guy in a high tech shop while he did some work for me while I waited. Really didn't take that long, and he had some really cool tools. Kind of a safety freak, as he always wore gloves and even made me wear safety glasses while in his shop.

For some reason, I didn't feel like going to work after that, so I took my truck to the car wash. Mostly to blow the green, slimy mold and spider webs off the new bumper.

 

[RivennHewn]

The Novocaine finally wore off, and no pain of any kind! Guess I won't get addicted to opioids this week.


Say what you will about the HF lift cart, sometimes it's just the F'n ticket!
Worked out great holding the bumper mount in position while I drilled the mounting holes in the frame.

I took the top guard off, mostly to make it lighter to work with. But, I'm thinking I like it better without it. I can always add it on later.

Off to the hardware store for 4 new mounting bolt, so I can call this one done!

 

[RivennHewn]

Earlier today I found a partial sticker on the bumper. Holmes.

I guess they make tow bodies, bumpers and such.

Ripped a couple pics off the webs:

Revell even made a model kit:

I'm happy to have found a period correct bumper.

 

[bp460]

The bumper looks great! And just out of curiosity, what was previously mounted up front... I notice the center of the grill shell has been cut out.

-Brad

 

[Ray-CA]

From what I've been told they've cut the zddp in diesel oil to almost nothing also.
I always dump a big bottle of stp in when changing oil on flat tapped motors.

I just use Valvoline Racing oil in mine. It has ZDDP in the oil already.

Ray

 

[theoldwizard1]

Now THAT is a front bumper !

 

[RivennHewn]

Brad,

I have the original grill insert,but the one piece aluminum trim was pretty much hammered (like the bumper and quarter) so I just cut it out of my way.

I'm on the hunt for replacement parts, without killing my budget.

Ray,

Thanks for the recommendation. I've been reading up on oil, and I now know that there is a lot I don't know.

Thanks oldwizard.

I'm stealing this goal from Dan in Pasadena's '55 Chevy Big Window Truck thread: "keep-it-mostly-original-drive-it-while-I-work-on-it"

 

[Westozfixer]

Is the front of that bumper made from rubber? There is a guy on youtube called classictruckrescue and he has a Chev with a bumper just like that.

 

[RivennHewn]

The mounting bracket and the bumper are 1/4" steel.
There is 1/2" rubber riveted to the face.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Subscribed!

 

[nh_yota]

Earlier today I found a partial sticker on the bumper. Holmes.

I guess they make tow bodies, bumpers and such.

Holmes was the first company to build wreckers 100 years ago. They got bought out by Miller Industries a while back but the name lives on.

http://www.millerind.com/brands/holmes

 

[drivesitfar]

RIV: other than having to go get 4 new bolts was there any other fabrication or issues swapping the bumbers?

i've been sort of looking for a lift table for a while now cause my Jet pallet jack lift just won't fit into small areas as well.

looks like you have a lot more teeth than i do. i'm due for a couple implants one day in the near future cause i'm not buying into the CROWN, ROOT CANAL and then BRIDGE SAGA.

cheers and truck is looking better every time i check in on you. do you need a pair of coveralls? pretty handy to have in the truck or car when you are doing a professional PICKING JOB like you did. of course mud and water could still be an issue.

 

[CRXPilot]

Enjoy it! I bought mine before I had any real experience or money and sold it out of frustration. Keep it running and make it just what you want.

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks GLTHFJ60.

And thank you nh yota for the info on Holmes.


Drives,
Both trucks were Cab & Chassis, so the frame widths were equal, making it a really easy swap.

CRX,

Nice looking old truck. would have hated to part with that.
I've been thinking about that style of mirrors, but with the reflective chevron pattern on the back.

Also, anybody ever install one of those spot lights? I think I'm going to need one of those too!

 

[dwysywd]

Riv...I hate to say it, BUT it looks like you might have a thread here that COULD making a table a run for its money...just saying, I'm the first to point it out...


Sent from my quanset hut facsimile machine

 

[RivennHewn]

dwysywd,

Thanks. But I think I've got a long way to go, and seem to be moving slower than I would like to.

Wishing I had a nice quonset hut to work on it in!

 

[dwysywd]

Well, I'd say "take a road trip" but Wash to Mich... lol, yeah that's not gonna happen. But the offer stands if you ever make it out here! And I know a guy selling a nice 20x24 kit that is still palleted up. I think he's asking $3000 which is about $5000 less than he paid new.


Sent from my quanset hut facsimile machine

 

[Toolfool]

So , how did you break the tooth ?

 

[mrpowderkeg]

Cool truck, I dig the dulley, I picked up a 76 f150, reg cab 2wd 460 last year, these trucks are the bomb diggity!

 

[RivennHewn]

So , how did you break the tooth ?

I don't really know.

I was really drunk at the time.

It was back in 1979

 

[RivennHewn]

Cool truck, I dig the dulley, I picked up a 76 f150, reg cab 2wd 460 last year, these trucks are the bomb diggity!

We're going to need pics!

 

[C_F]

We're going to need pics!

Agreed!

Congrats on landing that cool bumper, RH. Those things always look so tough!

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks C_F.

I didn't get much time to work on the old beast this weekend, just enough to remove the headache rack/lumber rack.

Time to start thinking about what I'm going to replace it with.

 

[Toolfool]

You need a headache ?

 

[RivennHewn]

You need a headache ?

No, no I don't.

I have an idea, but haven't quite got it all worked out in my head yet.

It's kinda giving me a headache.

The plan is to design/place a davit arm on each side of the front of the bed. When retracted and turned toward each other, they will lock together and become my ladder rack.

Then I'll be able to swing them out from each side, and pick heavy loads off the ground.

I'd like to have electric winches on each, but that most likely will not be in the budget. I'll end up with hand crank units.

I'll get something sketched up. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[James E]

You could mount one winch in the middle and use the cable interchangeably on either davit.

 

[RivennHewn]

You could mount one winch in the middle and use the cable interchangeably on either davit.

I like that idea.
I could hide the elect. motor under the bed. Only the cable and the control wire would come out above the bed.

You might be onto something........

 

[Strouty]

Don't forget your dumping goals.

 

[RivennHewn]

Strouty,

Are you moonlighting as a Gastroenterologists these days?

I'd really rather not talk about my dumping goals on this forum.


Actually, a dumper is still the main goal. Might have some engineering challenges to get everything I want out of this old Ford

 

[Strouty]

If you want a crane setup, I would suggest having the crane mounted right behind the cab on one side, then when it folds up it would store like the headache rack. Then the dumping section of the bed would be separate from the headache rack/crane.

 

[RivennHewn]

Never thought about that, but it kinda makes sense.

I used to drive a dump with a tool box between the cab and bed.

That would make for a more positive connection for the crane to frame, than the crane to a flexible bed.

This is why I love GJ.

Thank you all for your input.

 

[Strouty]

Those were my thoughts too. I want a knuckleboom for my truck and that would be the plan for the dump bed.

 

[wmrra13]

Don't forget your dumping goals.

Words to live by.

 

[RivennHewn]

Hmmm.........

Things may just have taken an interesting turn.

Stay tuned.

 

[RivennHewn]

Well, I'll be......

I done brought home another dang truck.

I've been watching this one on CL for months. Seller started out asking 7K (typical crack smoking CL seller), then it dropped, and dropped, and dropped, and dropped.

It finally got into reasonable range, and I brought it home.

Well, almost.

I got within a few blocks of my house, and it ran out of battery. Hoping it's an easy fix.

'77 F350 dually with PTO dump bed. 460 4 spd.
It's actually in better condition than truck number 1.

I really don't like the gas tank behind the seat on number 2.

I'm going to have to do some comparing, and see which one wins out, and which one just became a donor.

Way to much work ahead of me know.

Dang the neighbors and wife are going to think I've lost it.

 

[brewchief]

Thanks GLTHFJ60.

And thank you nh yota for the info on Holmes.


Drives,
Both trucks were Cab & Chassis, so the frame widths were equal, making it a really easy swap.

CRX,

Nice looking old truck. would have hated to part with that.
I've been thinking about that style of mirrors, but with the reflective chevron pattern on the back.

Also, anybody ever install one of those spot lights? I think I'm going to need one of those too!

I've got a set of those spot lights on my 78 f250, unity made them, IIRC you needed a 12" long drill bit to drill the holes.

 

[RivennHewn]

Brewchief,

If you get a chance, I'd love to see some pics of the lights installed, and any info you have on the install.

I know they come in different lengths, do you know how long yours are?

Thanks

 

[brewchief]

I'll see about some pics next time I'm where the truck is, Unity still sells the parts, kinda hard to look up but the install kits should be 110 and 110RH, I would think a call to Unity would get the proper length but I can measure mine if not.

 

[C_F]

Well, I'll be......

I done brought home another dang truck.

Dang the neighbors and wife are going to think I've lost it.

They're multiplying! Looks like they are even the same color?