'78 F350 Dually Project

[RivennHewn]

Thanks Bears,
Somebody has the makings of a great truck!

Two door,
Best of both worlds. Yard art today, killer project tomorrow

 

[Citation]

It's interesting to see many of these pictures. While I have strong memories of my father's F350 (it was sold perhaps just over a decade back), many of these trucks have different details that I'm noticing.

One example is the factory steel wheels. Dad's truck started off as a crewcab non-dually so it didn't have the deeply dished front wheels or extended hubs. This is the wrong color but otherwise looks a lot like Dad's

At some point Dad had it converted to a dually. Perhaps because it started with the standard axles the rear wheels were offset inward. A typical dually has the inside rears inline with the fronts and the outer wheels just stick out. With Dad's I'm guessing the inside wheels were moved 1/2 a tire width inboard. Net result was he had to cut holes in the bed and add some heavy rubber material to make a larger wheel well. At some point the entire bed was replaced with a work/utility type bed.

I still remember how far you had to move the shifter from 1st to 2nd. Longest throw ever!

 

[RivennHewn]

Citation,

I know the trucks sold as dually/cab and chassis had frames that are narrower.

I believe the axles are narrower too, but I may be wrong on that.

As far as the shifter throw, that’s half the fun of driving these old trucks!

 

[Monza Harry]

Citation,

I know the trucks sold as dually/cab and chassis had frames that are narrower.

I believe the axles are narrower too, but I may be wrong on that.

As far as the shifter throw, that’s half the fun of driving these old trucks!

There were some trucks built with the rear dually's as narrow as the single tire version's [~3" maybe wider] for things like "Glass Trucks" where their whole load was basically outside the wheels. That long first makes me think that ****** was a 3 speed + Creeper gear, like a SM420 or SM 465 [sub 6:1 creeper gear, first was in the 3:1 range that throw was to remind you if you let out the clutch you were going to stop LOL] Our neighbor had one like that with the 300 inch six and an off-road package that truck was tall probably 2' to the rockers, it was a stick but I was young and didn't know anything about it then except Ohhh. 4 Speed. Harry

 

[Citation]

The 1st gear was certainly optional when the truck was empty. I don't know the rear end ratio but it was long. I believe it was what ever 4spd that would have come with the ~400 CI V8. It's just that the rear end ratio was setup for heavy trailer work. I think the duallies were added when Dad got a 5th wheel trailer. Even that was a bit unusual as most 5th wheels have a pin on the trailer and the hitch plate in the bed. This one was reversed. That was handy as it meant you only had to fold the pin into the bed vs having to remove the hitch assembly.

BTW, while noting the very long shifts, I really liked the mechanical feel of that old transmission. It didn't want to be shifted quickly but had really gratifying clicks and notches when you worked at its pace.

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks Monza and Citation,

Long term goal is a 5 speed ******. Most likely a ZF5.

I think I’ll miss the feel of the shifter, and I don’t care for the straight handled shifters of the 90’s trucks.

Going to have to find a way to keep the original bent shifter handle.

Sure will be nice to have another gear!

 

[Toolfool]

I've been hoping for another gear ever since I hit 60.

 

[RivennHewn]

I've been hoping for another gear ever since I hit 60.

I see what you did there!

Ain’t that the truth?

 

[Monza Harry]

I've been hoping for another gear ever since I hit 60.

You'll get another @ 70 it will be even lower than 60. I haven't hit 60 yet! Harry

 

[RivennHewn]

Got bored working on the house, shop, boat and yard work.

Decided it was a nice day for a drive.

There’s a great lookout from the top of Mt. Erie near Anacortes, about half an hour from the house.

Fairly steep and curvy road to the top, and a great view!

 

[1Garageman]

That is one hell of a view, thanks for sharing!

 

[RivennHewn]

Erie is only about 1300 ft.

Picture is looking South, but with a little hiking you get spectacular views all the way around.

 

[Toolfool]

We used to have lunch on Erie whenever we had visitors. Walk Deception Pass bridge, then lunch.

 

[RivennHewn]

We used to have lunch on Erie whenever we had visitors. Walk Deception Pass bridge, then lunch.

I may have to follow your tradition!

 

[RivennHewn]

Thinking I might need some chains.

 

[Rock knocker]

9.5” in Woodinville, more north, south and east.

 

[Seagoon]

Nah! Just stay at home till it melts

 

[RivennHewn]

Knocker, Seagoon,

As a kid in Alaska, I used to chain up my dad’s old flatbed and plow driveways.

Felt like that truck could do anything.

400/4spd. With a load of frozen sand on the back.

Easy money.

 

[Toolfool]

What !? Your wife hasn't plowed the driveway ?

 

[RivennHewn]

I handed her a shovel, does that count?

 

[Seagoon]

Did she hand you, your ***?

Mine would

 

[RivennHewn]

Did she hand you, your ***?

Mine would

Nah.

She came out, we had some fun, then I finished up while she fixed lunch.

Good teamwork, good lunch!

 

[danski0224]

I handed her a shovel, does that count?

Smaller carbon footprint compared to converting a dishwasher into a snowblower...

 

[RivennHewn]

Smaller carbon footprint compared to converting a dishwasher into a snowblower...

Love me some redneck engineering

 

[RivennHewn]

What do I got going on here?

Been a bit of a hard start lately, but I’ve never seen this before.

 

[txvwnut]

Loose cable that got baked, had the same issue on my forklift.

 

[danski0224]

What do I got going on here?

Been a bit of a hard start lately, but I’ve never seen this before.

Time for new cables.

I had some custom made for less than it would have costed me to get the parts, and they did a better job.

 

[nsula_country]

Got HOT!

I have a lifted electric golf cart. Have had vertical learning curve with batteries and cables over the years.

Parts houses (around here) only carry small, 4 ga cables.

I keep a supply of 2ga welding cables and lugs. Roll my own!

CT

 

[bulletpruf]

I'm always buying battery cables and tired of paying too much for something I can do myself, and it's great to have an excuse to buy more tools. For the skinny on what to do/what to use, the powerboating folks are a great source of knowledge. My input:

FTX crimpers are the best for the money, but they're about $150. Hammer crimpers can be had for $20 on Amazon, but it's not as good of a crimp. I have both.

Best lugs are supposed to be FTZ Power Lugs. I have some 2/0 lugs for a 3/8 post in the mail; need to re-do terminals on my 1999 Super Duty 7.3.

Ancor tinned copper wire is supposed to be the best.

Use military terminals. I bought some on eBay.

Use high quality adhesive lined shrink wrap.

 

[danski0224]

CE Auto Electric supply.

I like buying tools like anyone else, but it was much more practical to have these guys make the cables for me, especially for one project.

If I had a slew of cables to make up, that's when I might buy the stuff to make my own.

 

[RivennHewn]

Had some fun working with my neighbors cleaning and maintaining the community boat ramp today.

hauled a few loads of crushed rock to fill in the gaps between the concrete slabs.

tide was up a bit, so we couldn’t get the lower end, so we’ll be back later tonight.

want to be finished before the weekend, so people can use it.

boating season is here!

 

[nsula_country]

Working pose!

CT

 

[Strouty]

It is always nice to see something you worked hard on work hard for you......

 

[RivennHewn]

Been awhile.

had to take a forced break for a well written, humorous post.

hope y’all caught it before it went away

Gave me some time to focus on getting some work done on the Shoreline skiff.
Everything inside is done, and ready for paint.
No more caulking and sanding!

 

[RivennHewn]

Happened along a small town car show today.
Lots of nice cars.

I usually miss shows do to work and other obligations of my time.

great day to stroll through and enjoy other people’s hard work

 

[PugetDude]

Looks like someone's deleted a bit of your recent content, Riv.... ???

 

[RivennHewn]

The moon came up over the ol ‘77

 

[Toolfool]

Nice.

 

[Mallen]

Sweet project!

For sure upgrade to disc brakes. You'll be glad you did.

Nothing wrong with drum brakes. They sold trucks with 4 wheel drum brakes at least I to the 90s. They STILL sell vehicles with drums on the rears. Fix the drums. Then fix all the other things that need to be fixed to safely drive it around. Then start upgrading as you see fit. Otherwise it will spend the rest of it's existance as a lawn ornament.

 

[RivennHewn]

Nothing wrong with drum brakes. They sold trucks with 4 wheel drum brakes at least I to the 90s. They STILL sell vehicles with drums on the rears. Fix the drums. Then fix all the other things that need to be fixed to safely drive it around. Then start upgrading as you see fit. Otherwise it will spend the rest of it's existance as a lawn ornament.

It’s roadworthy now.
Might be making the 120 mile round trip to clear out the last of my lumber/wood shed at the old house this week.