1988 F-350 Build Thread
 

Okay, so I've got an '88 F-350 regular-cab long-bed. It's got a '73 460 in it. I probably should have started this thread a while ago, but I'm going to give a brief bit of what I've done then get on to what I'm still doing.

This is what it looked like when I got it. Had a hard time finding a straight older F-350, but finally did (March 2012):
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=123417



Since I had it I've:
Rewired the Duraspark 2 ignition system because it was a bit of a spliced up mess... (October 2012)

Installed a class 4 trailer hitch. (January 2013)

Put on Bully aluminum steps. (May 2012)

Installed a small backlit tachometer on my "A-piller." (October 2012)

Installed a midship 19 gallon fuel tank because the original one was taken out. Also put in a low pressure selector valve to switch tanks from the original dash switch. (January-February 2013)

Installed a low pressure fuel pump on the frame so that I don't have to crank the engine to prime the carb when it's been sitting. The pump does not stay on while the engine is running. Just uses the mechanical pump. (May 2013)

Serviced the rear brakes. Bled the system through with new fluid, installed new wheel cylinders, and adjusted the rear drums. (March 2013) One of the wheel cylinders was leaking badly:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=129043




Ran a relay off of the driving light switch to run accessory lights. (March 2013)
Grille lights:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=131493

Floorboard LEDs:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=131494





Took out all of the interior and put in sound dampening material and insulation in the truck. Put in 1 to 2 layers of dynamat type material everywhere with 1 to 3 layers of insulation on top. (December 2012)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=131498






Installed a 3" body lift which put it to this height with 33s (April 2013):
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=128143


Then I got some different aluminum wheels, and ordered up some 37" tires (May 2013):
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=130335



Lifted the bumpers to match the body lift:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=130549
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=130334
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=129983



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Now for future plans:

Just picked up a rebuilt '71 460 for the truck. Bored .030 over, big cam, ported D0VE-C heads. Runs on high-test pump gas or race fuel. Will hopefully be going into the truck in about a month. Need to clean up and paint the engine fully. Might replace the oil pan gasket since it looks like it has a slight leak. Might end up using a high-torque starter for it if I have any heat issues with the stock starter.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=131335



Also want to:
Upgrade to a higher output alternator (current 2g alternator is 60 amps...)
Add roof lights
Add backup lights
Replace tailgate (few dings & a dent) & door (got dinged recently right on the body line...), & get the truck repainted
Add a power steering cooler
Replace leaking tranny cooler with larger unit
Replace front pads and rotors
Paint in a roll-on bedliner
Put in A/C (had A/C with original 351 engine)

New ideas will pop up every day...

Lookin good Collin.:-X22 Its cool to see the whole evolution of the truck so far. Love it with the new 37s, looks great. Those LED lights under the dash look awesome, I am thinking about doing something like that to mine sometime. Great job on it so far, can't wait to see what you have in store for it in the future.

Nice truck!

Thanks!

Yeah, I just saw them in Autozone one day when I was there for something else, and picked them up to try them out. Just little LED strips with a 3M sticky backing. Work really well. They were only like $15 I think.

Honestly, I liked it with the 33s better.

What makes you think the engine is a 73'?

It's out of a 1973 Lincoln Continental. Was swapped into the truck 15 years ago by a PO.

Originally came with a 351 in the truck.

The 33s were okay. Had a good stance with them. Really wanted to be higher though. Seems like it may look better with 14" wide or wider 37s, but they'd rub the springs and be louder... I really like how quiet and nice handling these 37" Goodyears are!

Are those military tires? I'm thinking about doing a super duty SAS(d60 front) and running these 35s I have with 16.5s and then getting military tires when they wear through which won't be long. I love the way your truck sits as is and I think it was good on 33s. You should get a shot of it doing some work or something for us fanboys lol

Yep, they're 37" x 12.5" x 16.5" Military GoodYear MT's. I'm really liking them so far. They have great road manners, and they're pretty quiet on the highway.


Thanks! And, I'll get some pictures of it doing work soon hopefully for you!

Impressive list of accomplishments Collin. :-X22

Subscribed, to see what you do next.

It is now carb?

Yep, here's a current engine pic:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=123422


The '71 460 should be a fairly easy swap since I've got the platform already. Hope to get it in at the end of June or early July.

Absolutely LOVE this truck!

Wow, you have done some nice things to your truck. It is always good to see a super clean body bricknose. Most are beat-up. Looking good.

sweet build thread subscribing for ideas and to see how this comes out. I like the lights in the grille.
Trav

Thanks! You've also got a sweet truck!

Thanks Trav, glad you like it!


Thanks, I really like the look. You should put them in the grille of your 88 F-150!

I was thinking of doing that on my 88 F150, our 89 F250 and 89 F350 plus I think it would look neat on our 02 F250.
Trav

Haha, seems like you like those lights, huh Trav?:-roll I like em too. I was thinking doing something similar on mine too. They look cool.:-X06

That's good to know. I've heard people say the exact opposite but for the price they're really tempting. What load range? Turning them with 4.10s?

Really appreciate it! Hope to one day in the near future to have a truck similar to yours. Just not a bad thing I could say about it:-X06

Nice truck you have BigBlockF350
I have the same lights under my dash, except they are white LED's

They really seem like good tires to me. I've heard they aren't great off-road, but I don't have any intention of wrecking my truck with mud...

They're load range D. 8 ply. Rated at 3850 lbs @50 PSI.


I've got 4.56 gears in my truck. Even with 37s, it's still a pretty good runner.

Thanks!

I looked at the blue, red, and white, LEDs. I was afraid the white might have been a little too bright and the other colors were a little more dimmed down. How are they? I'd consider switching to white ones if they look good.

When I do the upcoming engine swap, I'm planning to drain ALL of the fluid out of the transmission. I'll have the torque converter off to drain it, I'll drop the pan (could use a new gasket anyhow...), and I'll blow the lines out with air. I also have a new transmission cooler to put on. The cooler is slightly larger than the current unit. The current one has a tiny tiny leak in it. Not enough to even drip, but it leaves a slight oily film on everything behind it while driving... Plus, the leak could decide to get bigger at any time.
The C6 should take 14 quarts in the system, correct?


New trans cooler:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=131639

I hope you have better luck than I did with those Military OZs

I think they look good. It's lights up the entire floor(great for when you drop something in the dark)
The only downfall is that you can't have them on very long while driving at night because it causes a glare over the mirrors, making it hard to see behind me.
I'll try to get pic of them tonight.

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of with the white being much brighter. The darker toned colors don't bounce around the cab as much I guess.

What e pump did you use and how did you run the line to Make it pump fuel with the lift pump?

It's just a low pressure electric pump mounted on the frame just past my tank selector valve. Right in the main fuel line to the engine. When the electric pump is off, fuel still flows through it because the mechanical pump is running. I have a 2-stop pull switch in my dash, power is given to the coil at both stops, and power is given to the electric pump at the second stop (all the way out). So, I can prime fuel to the carb before I start it by pulling the switch all the way out, and once it's running I'll switch it back to the first stop where the electric pump does not run.

Here's a picture. The silver thing is my low pressure tank selector valve, and the electric pump is to the right of it.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=131712

Got the transmission pan gasket, filter, and some Indian Head today for when I replace all of the tranny fluid. Also got 8 quarts of "type F" transmission fluid because that was all the place had, so I checked 2 other places that didn't have any either. Guess I just have to wait until they get another shipment in to get the other 6 quarts...

Also got my chrome valve covers in today from Summit for the engine I'm swapping in! They look good!

Cool. Make any more progress on the new engine or not, and got any pictures of those chrome valve covers?

Got a little more paint on it, but didn't get to spend much time at all on it today. Will hopefully get the chrome valve covers on soon and get some pics uploaded!

Got everything loaded up tonight to take to where I'll be doing the engine swap at the end of the month. Here's a little peek of the engine mostly painted up now. Still haven't put the chrome valve covers on it yet. The toolbox there is also full of stuff for the swap.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=131834

Can't wait to see the finished product!

So, now with running an older carburated engine, did you/will you get rid of all the computer stuff, or do you have to keep anything for the truck to still run right?

How is the engine oil filter arranged in your truck? Does it have a remote filter setup? The filter hits the crossmember when you put a 429/460 engine in a truck that came with a 302/351. Changing to the 7.3 diesel/7.5 gas crossmember is a major deal since it is welded and riveted into the frame.

It's just cut to allow for the oil filter to have enough room. Someone else did it, not me.

Yep, pretty much all of the computer stuff and wiring are gone. No need for any wiring but ignition to the engine. Higher pressure fuel system parts are gone too.

Engine is looking good man. Looking forward to seeing this completed.

Thanks for sending me the link. After looking at your thread you convinced me to swap it haha. Nice truck Im subscribed cant wait to see the new motor go in. Read about fitment issues on the crossmember, pretty straight forward to cut out clearance?