1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Looks like your going to have to go clear down to bare metal on the hood!!! Nice photo of all the layers hiding underneath thereIt will be worth it in the long run though
Endorsed.
'78 F350 Dually Project
- Thread starter RivennHewn
- Start date
Endorsed.
I sent an email into a company that specializes in media blasting auto panels.
Will be interesting to see what they come back with.
I managed to get the little switch panel installed today. Kinda looks like a WWII bomber
panel. The metal came off my old oil burning furnace, circa 1948
It all runs off an auxiliary fuse block off the 2nd battery.
I still have a few projects with the wiring.
First, there is a little light/socket behind the bezel between the light switch and the wiper switch that illuminates the labels. I don't have the socket or any wiring there. On the hunt for that part.
When I find it I need to wire in the tach light to the same wire, as they both feed off the dash lights.
Last, I don't have any back-up lights when I hit reverse. The existing tail lights don't have provisions for that. I'll need to add some lights, and figure out where the switch needs to mount. I haven't even begun to look into this as of yet.
Then, maybe I'll really be finished with the wiring / lights.
You have a Borg Warner T18 right? Reverse light switch is on the shifter tower on the drivers side.
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Dang that's a good looking truck = Goals!
1/2 Cup,
Thanks for confirming my nightmare
Bluebolt,
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
I still haven't had a chance to look into anything.
I wonder if they came standard on a cab and chassis truck, or if mine was removed by the previous owner. Maybe I'll find original wiring once I get into it.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Riv: keep up the great work and the new panel with the switches looks pretty cool.
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
zkdiesel
Well-known member
Anyway you can post up more info on this truck in another thread? I don't want to hijack this thread.
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
It may not be everybody's favorite, but I like it.
ZK/Lightn95,
Feel free to post up them pics! I love food for more ideas for my old ride.
zkdiesel
Well-known member
Not mine, just a friends that I got hired into with my oem ford laptop to go do things to it to make it work. Truck could have 40 page thread on itself
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Strouty
Well-known member
Riv, I think that what you are doing with the truck is great. When you get done, you will know exactly what you have and be able to fix about any issue that comes up in the future. This is why I don’t drive a new truck, I don’t like having to rely on someone to fix my vehicles just because of the software, especially the vehicles that I own because of the hardware they have.
Strouty
Well-known member
Very crappy pictures, but this truck is tucked away so well, it is going to take some serious effort to get it out.
And yes, that is an old Mack next to it.
And yes, that is an old Mack next to it.
Strouty
Well-known member
Nope, backed in and climbed out the passenger side door.
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Thanks,
The goal is to learn/know just about everything on these old trucks. Maybe someday.
That 700 is a beast, and by that I mean a thing of beauty.
Gonna need to see more.
It needs some sunshine and some road time.
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Found this 750 on CL in Port Orchard, Wa. $6500
https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/d/1976-ford-750/6594640493.html
https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/d/1976-ford-750/6594640493.html
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Strouty
Well-known member
I agree, I am honestly thinking of shortening it up and making it into a really cool truck to drive rather than a real work truck. It steers poorly and I am not sure anything can be done to make it better, at least not without upgrading the front end. Most likely things will get expensive when I figure out the gears are some crazy low ratio and the truck will only do 40 MPH once I put the lower RPM diesel engine in. I know I can add taller tires and the trans I will use has double overdrive so it will help a lot too. There is a possibility that we could dig it out next week, I am also taking possession of the volumetric concrete truck, this one is a Diamond REO, a bit custom to say the least.
HOTFR8
Banned
An Ex Fire Truck should be well maintained.
Strouty
Well-known member
That would make a cool ramp truck.
Strouty
Well-known member
For the dodge fans:
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Dang.........That's a truck.
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Cool Dodge!
I like the old fire truck too, someone had a good idea when they made that flat bed.
I like the old fire truck too, someone had a good idea when they made that flat bed.
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Feeling like I found the Holy Grail of light sockets. At least as far as old Ford trucks go.
This one takes a normal incandescent bulb, and turns it into a blue spot light that shines on a prism that illuminates the labels on the headlight and wiper switch.
Cleaned it up a bit and added a new bulb. Hard part was deciphering the wiring diagram to figure out which wire to tap into.
Installed, and functioning!
This one takes a normal incandescent bulb, and turns it into a blue spot light that shines on a prism that illuminates the labels on the headlight and wiper switch.
Cleaned it up a bit and added a new bulb. Hard part was deciphering the wiring diagram to figure out which wire to tap into.
Installed, and functioning!
Toolfool
Well-known member
Have the same on my '75. After changing my bulb, the blue diffuser wouldn't stay on so I used a little silicone.
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Not a readily available part from what I can find.
None of the old truck catalogs have them.
Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy.
Now, where are we at on the Van?
,
Toolfool
Well-known member
No progress. Took it to a local cars and coffee (first Saturday of the month). Mostly antiques, porsches, MG's. Got a lot of dirty looks as I drove in. Not one person even checked it out. I'll be going back this Saturday.
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
It's kinda fun being "That Guy" once in a while.
I took the truck out for run this afternoon. The hood is off right now, as is the grill.
Total road menace look. Got some strange reactions. Made me smile.
I took the truck out for run this afternoon. The hood is off right now, as is the grill.
Total road menace look. Got some strange reactions. Made me smile.
Very crappy pictures, but this truck is tucked away so well, it is going to take some serious effort to get it out.
And yes, that is an old Mack next to it.
Well it definitely had a 370 "Lima" engine originally! The easiest swap would have been the identical on the outside 429 industrial truck motor. Look the exact same, just 59 cubic inches bigger. The 370 has a 4.05 bore, the 429 a 4.36 bore. Both have the same stroke crankshaft at 3.59 but the 370 is usually cast iron and the 429 forged steel. If you get a chance take a picture of the engine.
And by the way the truck is AWESOME!
This reminds me of when I took my 1966 Fairlane GTA everyday driver ( faded original white paint, replacement green door, primer areas) to the car show they were having at the big air show at Barksdale AFB about 20 years ago. The Corvette guys apparently complained about having to park next to the junker LOL.
Not a readily available part from what I can find.
None of the old truck catalogs have them.
Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy.
Now, where are we at on the Van?
,
They sell color coded LED replacement bulbs for those that don't need a diffuser.
HOTFR8
Banned
1Garageman
Well-known member
I think we need to stop calling these trucks OLD!
These are awesome classic trucks that worked very hard back in their days, and some still do today. I think OLD is an insult.
These are awesome classic trucks that worked very hard back in their days, and some still do today. I think OLD is an insult.
Offcenter12
Well-known member
My 1979 F-350 "Institute of Higher Learning". Came home on the back of a wrecker twice years ago before the last tow truck driver called a Ford friend who suggested I check the pick up coil and that was it. Didn't know such a thing existed before that day. Am a confirmed follower of this thread.
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OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Fr8,
That'd get some looks driving thru downtown Seattle!
1Garageman,
Just like my truck, I'm starting to wear the term 'old' as a badge of honor.
Offcenter12,
My tow bill is higher than I'd like to admit. Thanks for following along.
OP
RivennHewn
Well-known member
I've heard that vintage jewelry is all the rage with the ladies this year, so I thought I'd buy some.
Looks period correct to me.
Haven't hooked it up yet. Not sure just how i want to use it.
Any ideas on how best to hook it up? I haven't looked for a wiring diagram/instructions as of yet, so it's just bling for now.
Looks period correct to me.
Haven't hooked it up yet. Not sure just how i want to use it.
Any ideas on how best to hook it up? I haven't looked for a wiring diagram/instructions as of yet, so it's just bling for now.
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Offcenter12
Well-known member
Can't offer any good advice on the hook up, but we had an old 60s Dodge dump on the farm for running beside the combine and that sure looks familiar. Think that one was all mechanical linkage.
I had a '72 Monte Carlo that was mechanically perfect with a "slightly"
modified 350 in it with what we used to call triple chamber flowmasters. It needed paint. I used to get my wife to drive around with me in the fancy neighborhoods and when we saw a house for sale we would get out and get a flyer off of the for sale sign just to scare the hell out of anyone watching. That car would run like a scalded ape. Sorry for the sidetrack...back to the great vintage trucks.
modified 350 in it with what we used to call triple chamber flowmasters. It needed paint. I used to get my wife to drive around with me in the fancy neighborhoods and when we saw a house for sale we would get out and get a flyer off of the for sale sign just to scare the hell out of anyone watching. That car would run like a scalded ape. Sorry for the sidetrack...back to the great vintage trucks.My 1979 F-350 "Institute of Higher Learning". Came home on the back of a wrecker twice years ago before the last tow truck driver called a Ford friend who suggested I check the pick up coil and that was it. Didn't know such a thing existed before that day. Am a confirmed follower of this thread.
Judging by that oversize passenger side wheelwell do you have the spare tire mounted in the side of the bed?
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
HOTFR8T, that Mad Max truck is great!
Those trucks were called Super Camper Special, designed to haul large heavy campers. The rear axle is moved toward the back end further than usual & the spare tire mounts behind this secret "door".
Here is a couple photos I saved years ago from an Ebay ad, for an example...
Sure enough.
Those trucks were called Super Camper Special, designed to haul large heavy campers. The rear axle is moved toward the back end further than usual & the spare tire mounts behind this secret "door". Here is a couple photos I saved years ago from an Ebay ad, for an example...