1974 Ford Cummins Crew cab - Page 20

ChaseTruck754 · #**286** (**permalink**) 05-23-2009, 01:47 PM

2nd gen is a 94 and the 1st gen is sitting right here safe and sound until the 94 is in an I know it runs well. I didn't get to hear it run before I bought it and now it seems the guy I bought it from is a bit of a liar, so I need to make sure it runs well before the 1st gen ones leaves.

I've got a buddy who has expressed interest fora while and he's got 1st shot at it when I give it the "all clear to go", but I can put you in line for a shot at it if he doesn't want it.

As for the gas tanks - we'll see. I gotta see how much $$ and time I have in mine if/when I do it. I'm still looking into the plastic Bronco II tanks - so we'll see.

Now onto the "daily update"

I got a bit done in the shop last night. Not a lot as Suzy was there and distracting me by trying to get me to watch movies with her

I got the other side of that front cross member plated and welded in, as well as drilling the bosses through the steering box mount.

I've got 1 or 2 more little things to plate on this, but I can't do it until the d60 gets here and I figure out the clearances on the pitman arm with the heims on it, etc.

Another small plate added to close up the bottom of this thing. That hole area in the cross member is the last area I am looking to box in - as well as looking at another lapping plate to go on the bottom of the frame rail. It would give a little more connection between the stock and new frame sections - but I'm not sure I have room with the bolt going through the heim needing room here.

Holes drilled for the bosses and 1/2 of the pushed in

Steering box bolted in. Today I will weld the bosses - I was double checking fitment last night when I bolted it up.

Last (based on welding comments on another forum)
This is not a great pic, but it will do.
The weld toward the bottom of the pic isn't great. The middle section of this pic is closer what I am going for in weld bead. Uniform beads with no undercutting, etc.

BradyCouchman · #**287** (**permalink**) 05-23-2009, 02:01 PM

looking good, remind me to give you your fan shroud back, it was too small/short for my radiator.

ChaseTruck754 · #**288** (**permalink**) 05-23-2009, 02:07 PM

damn - sorry that thing didn't fit - I thought it would. And it would have been in the right price range too

I'll be in the shop most of today if you are "bored" and feel like dropping by.

And with that - I'm off to weld

BradyCouchman · #**289** (**permalink**) 05-23-2009, 02:47 PM

so you said that you might use chevy springs, i have heard a number of people that run them and i was wondering why they run them. oh and i think i could stop by tomorrow if you will be working then as well.

ChaseTruck754 · #**290** (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 01:45 PM

Certain Chevy springs are longer than Ford = "chevy 64" leafs". Longer springs mean you can have the same amount of lift in a set of leaves, with a larger radius. Think of the springs as a portion of a circle. The longer they are the longer the radius would be. This typically allows more travel out of the springs and a softer ride (if compared to the same leaf pack in a shorter length). Obviously # of leafs, whether the leafs are tapered or not, etc. goes into this as well, but if comparing 2 of the same spring packs in different lengths longer is typically better (to a point of course).

As for the shop - not there today or tomorrow. Tomorrow is my step Mom's b-day so we're having a big party in Temecula this weekend - which is where I am replying from now.

I did get a little work done yesterday before I left though - so pics will be up on Tuesday.

fordtrucknut · #**291** (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 12:10 AM

So do you use stock Chebby springs or buy lifted ones?? I know this is what Ed is running...I can't remember if he had pics of them?? Are they the same width as the Ford Springs, just longer??

ChaseTruck754 · #**292** (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 01:55 PM

Both - I have stock and "lifted" ones.

The ones Ed runs now are the original ones I got for my crew and then gave him. They are the same width as the stock highboy springs.

ChaseTruck754 · #**293** (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 02:12 PM

Update from the weekend - not much got done because I went down to my parents place to celebrate my mom's B-day.

I did get in the shop for a little bit saturday before we left and I plated in the top of that steering box area and welded in the bosses.

It's all cleaned and painted now!

ChaseTruck754 · #**294** (**permalink**) 05-29-2009, 01:26 AM

Hi all.

Nothing much to update other than I just found out my axle might take 2-3 more weeks to get. Kind of a bummer, but that is life. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how you look at it) I have plenty of other stuff to work on and keep me moving.

Tonight I started to look at fitting those dodge pedals I got and it looked to be more effort than I cared to deal with at the moment so I started messing with my power seats for the front instead. I didn't get anything "done", but I pulled the seats in and out of the truck 4 or 5 times and got a "game plan" of how I will mount them. I've got a list of metal to grab at the yard Saturday - so hopefully I'll have something done by Monday. I kind of doubt it though as Saturday is Suzy's b-day so we got a dinner tomorrow night and then a party Sat. night for that as well as my grandfather's 91st b-day on Sunday, so I don't see much shop time in my future this weekend...

Hopefully my hydroboost will be here early next week and I can start messing with that as well.

brownfoot · #**295** (**permalink**) 05-29-2009, 03:26 AM

is that a petcock in the steering box to drain it when the truck is up side down?
or just a handy "pipe plug"

ChaseTruck754 · #**296** (**permalink**) 05-29-2009, 03:28 AM

the 2nd one

It was all I had that semi "fit" that hole. This thing kept puking all over the place when I originally pulled it and it figures I only had 1 of the right size plastic plugs...

fordtrucknut · #**297** (**permalink**) 05-29-2009, 04:34 AM

still up???

fordtrucknut · #**298** (**permalink**) 05-29-2009, 04:38 AM

Of course it had to be me to give the bad news too!!! Really irritates me that the guy didn't have it ready to begin with when he said he would!!!!

ChaseTruck754 · #**299** (**permalink**) 05-29-2009, 11:37 AM

not a big deal Dave - it is what it is. I've just got to focus on getting a couple other things that I had been putting off done while I am waiting.

Also - as I said in email - you must have just missed me. I went to bed right about 12:30 my time so it looks like you emailed me a minute or 2 too late and I was already

ChaseTruck754 · #**300** (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 05:07 PM

Not much exciting going on.

Waiting on my winch, hydroboost and front axle.

I'm keeping myself busy by starting the seat mounts for the 2002 seats.

I'm going to start a thread in the 73-79 forum, but I can post more pics in here on the seat install as I go if you guys are interested in seeing it.