'78 F350 Dually Project

[nsula_country]

The front shocks are just Monroe Magnums, off EBay.
The stabilizer is a Moog from Amazon.

Both seem to have made a positive difference in the handling and wheel play.

The truck didn’t come with rear shocks.

Did not come with shocks when you bought it?

Or did not come OEM as a cab/chassis with rear shocks?

CT

 

[RivennHewn]

Did not come with shocks when you bought it?

Or did not come OEM as a cab/chassis with rear shocks?

CT

Some of the cab & chasiss trucks came w/o rear shocks.
Not sure why

 

[Strouty]

Any updates?

 

[RivennHewn]

Hey Strouty!

Been struggling to find uninterrupted time.

I’m coming to the realization that I need to go back and adjust the doors and quarters.

They looked good, until I installed the new weather seals.

Oh well, just another step backwards. I’m quite used to them now.

Starting a project at work that will require a month of night work. That gives me days were I can turn my phone off!

 

[Strouty]

Looking forward to the progress for sure.

 

[RivennHewn]

Looking forward to the progress for sure.

I just got caught up with your thread. You’ve been busy!!

 

[Strouty]

Not working on things that I want to.

My brother is trying to convince me to not build my crew cab ford, he wants me to use the cummins diesel for something practical, like my knucklebone truck. Why would I want to do that?

 

[RivennHewn]

Not working on things that I want to.

My brother is trying to convince me to not build my crew cab ford, he wants me to use the cummins diesel for something practical, like my knucklebone truck. Why would I want to do that?

Ya, I don't listen to my brother either

 

[1/2 Cup]

Riven, just checking in. Looking forward to seeing how things are going when time permits..

 

[RivennHewn]

Riven, just checking in. Looking forward to seeing how things are going when time permits..

Thanks for stopping by!

Progress has been a bit slow lately.

I'm just finishing up a new clinic for the Veterans Affairs, so that is taking up my days.

I'm also just getting started on a school remodel. Since school is still in session, that work has to be done after hours.

Doesn't leave any "Me" time.

I'll most likely be working nights for the next month or more

I did mange to pull the fenders off the truck to gain access to the hinges, so I can start to re-adjust the doors to accommodate for the new rubber seals.

Will post more pics when I can.

 

[nsula_country]

Your "available truck time" sounds about like mine has been the past few weeks.

CT

 

[RivennHewn]

Your "available truck time" sounds about like mine has been the past few weeks.

CT

At least your thread is showing more progress than mine

 

[Toolfool]

What is this "Me" time you speak of ??

 

[RivennHewn]

What is this "Me" time you speak of ??

Glad you asked.

It's the time I use to get things done while you sleep.

 

[RivennHewn]

I need some GJ help finding some old school aluminum truck steps.

Haven't been able to find anything on the interwebs for sale.

All they sell the Bully hoop style ones, but those ****, and are stupid.

And another little rant: I used to use gdURL.com to host all my pics here on GJ.

Seems Google, in their infinite wisdom has made changes that won't allow me to do this anymore. Anybody familiar with gdURL/ permalink ?

 

[RivennHewn]

Got a few items checked off the list this weekend!

All glass and seals back in. Did a water test with the hose, and cab remained dry.

All latches/ key cylinders/ handles/ lights re-installed.

All doors and fenders adjusted to "close enough to perfect" for this old truck.

Doors are still tight from the new rubber, and I have to really slam them to shut completely. Hoping the rubber seals will relax a bit over time.

Need to order new door cards and arm rest, and maybe some wheel simulators.

Waiting on some cash to fall into my wallet first.

Still working on my image hosting problems

 

[HOTFR8]

Great progress.

 

[kbs2244]

You keep this up and it will be too pretty to use for work.

 

[RivennHewn]

Great progress.

Thanks,

It nice knowing it's water-tight, and secure. Now I can park it in the yard, and get my boat under cover!

You keep this up and it will be too pretty to use for work.

Never gonna happen........

Still on the hunt for some old style aluminum cab steps.

Somebody on here has to have a set sitting on a shelf somewhere.

 

[HOTFR8]

Thanks,

It nice knowing it's water-tight, and secure. Now I can park it in the yard, and get my boat under cover!

You need it water tight to wash it so inside the doors does not hold moisture other wise all that hard work will have been for nothing.

 

[RivennHewn]

Hotfr8,

Good point. We get a lot of rain here in Seattle.
The seals were a pain to get installed correctly.
They got shipped coiled, and needed to be straightened out a bit prior to install.

I ordered the new door panels, but want to know I’m 100% dry before I install them.


Also, a pair of tedco truck steps showed up on CL! Working out a pick up time now.

 

[WoodsTruck]

Do you keep your windows down slightly when closing the doors? With new tight seals the air needs somewhere to go so the doors will latch well.

 

[RivennHewn]

Do you keep your windows down slightly when closing the doors? With new tight seals the air needs somewhere to go so the doors will latch well.

I’m going to have to try that.

Never thought about it.

Thanks

 

[nsula_country]

Rivenn,

I'm new to the Ford game, but been trying to catch up.

Curious to notice that your truck is a 78 with an in-cab fuel tank. My understanding was 77 was the last year for in-cab tanks and they were the 4WD trucks. Something about the frame was narrower than the 2WD and the rear tank wouldn't fit. And you have square headlights, which I believe started in 78.

Anyway. The paint looks awesome! And new rubbers make it like a new cab.

I still need to swap steering gear and master cylinder...

CT

 

[RivennHewn]

nsula,

It’s been a bit confusing.

I started this thread when I bought the 1st truck. It was a ‘78.

Then I bought another one, because it already had the dump bed on it.

It was a ‘77.

Then I got a good deal on a ‘79 grill shell.

So, currently a ‘77, with ‘79 headlights and grill.

Not so sure about the years on the doors and fenders.

Pretty much a Franken-truck at this point.

 

[readhead]

The XLT's had square headlights in '78 and all the trucks had square headlights in '79. Great progress.

 

[nsula_country]

Ok, make sense. I just had a squirrel moment when I noticed the filler cap.

I have read this thread in its entirety, about 40 pages ago. Now just follow when updated. Had forgotten about the 1st truck. Still looking sharp!

CT

 

[RivennHewn]

The XLT's had square headlights in '78 and all the trucks had square headlights in '79. Great progress.

I knew they started changing to the square lights in '78, but was unaware that is was the XLTs only at first.

Thanks for the info

Ok, make sense. I just had a squirrel moment when I noticed the filler cap.

I have read this thread in its entirety, about 40 pages ago. Now just follow when updated. Had forgotten about the 1st truck. Still looking sharp!

CT

I tried to find a way to get rid of the tank behind the seat, but with the PTO and the Hydraulic ram there wasn't any room.

As far as squirrel moments go...............................what were we talking about?

 

[RivennHewn]

Got my Tedco aluminum truck cab steps in the mail today, delivered straight from 1977.

Had some minor alterations to do, but they’re all fitted.

Previous owner had painted them, but I want them bare aluminum.

Will get them stripped tonight, and mounted tomorrow.

I also got the door shell interiors lined with some sound insulation this afternoon.

 

[sberry]

I actually added a cab tank to one.

 

[RivennHewn]

I actually added a cab tank to one.

I’d love to have the space behind the seat for storage.

There is so little usable space in the cab.

The under bed toolboxes sure help!

 

[sberry]

I could have just as easy added a rear tank. They used the same one for a couple decades, maybe more. I found that one behind in the junk and it was in great shape.

 

[RivennHewn]

Got another package from LMC today

Door panels, armrest, striker post for the latches, and some parking brake parts.

Door panels went on easy

 

[dwysywd]

Man that looks amazing!



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[RivennHewn]

Man that looks amazing!



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

Thanks,

I'm pretty happy with the new parts. They aren't perfect, but for reproductions they are pretty good.

Definitely better than what I started with.

 

[Toolfool]

Making progress and looking good !

 

[nsula_country]

Amazing the little things like door panels and armrests complete the project for the "finished" look. Truck is on its way for another 40 years of travel!

CT

 

[RivennHewn]

Making progress and looking good !

Thanks.
Spent a lot of time on it this weekend.

Turns out the intermittent cut out problem I was having was the pick up coil in the distributor.

Been driving it quite a bit, trying to "Stress Test" and see what's going to fail next.

Amazing the little things like door panels and armrests complete the project for the "finished" look. Truck is on its way for another 40 years of travel! CT

I've just about gotten all the accessories back in, after having removed them for paint. Need to start thinking about what's next, cuz it ain't finished yet.

I did get the CB re-installed, and operational! Still no handle though.

 

[RivennHewn]

A few pics from today

 

[1Garageman]

It is so amazing how great that truck looks! Amazing all of the "things" that you have done to it, Great job!