As I'm investigating the feasibility of buying a one ton panel with a busted up rear end and a smashed hood, I went over to my woodlot to tow my old tire storage trailer back to the shop. The trailer was built years ago from the back half of a '47 one ton pickup. I took the steel factory bed with fenders off the trailer and set on this wood bed that I had. Some years back I filled the trailer with 3 rows of tires front to back and 5 tires across, all set up on their treads, and all mounted on rims. I had put a nylon strap across the open back of the bed years ago. Today I made a hitch for the forks on my skidsteer so I could lift the ball into the coupler of the trailer and tow it back. With just a bit of lift, the trailer went over center with the tongue sticking up at 45 degrees. The forks wouldn't pull it back down because they are floating forks, pivoting at their tops. I climbed up the tongue, but don't weigh enough to tilt it back down. Next I decided to remove the last row of tires. Well I needn't tell you that lead to a tire avalanche of epic proportions. I was working off to the side and was careful to stay out of the way as I had open heart surgery a month ago. The good part is the axle looks fine, is the wide version with about 53" between tires, and I came up with 2 more really nice 7.50 x 17's. The avalanche contained seven 7.50 x 17's and eight 15" stock toyota landcruiser tires/wheels. Sometimes a 5 minute chore can take well over an hour......

 

That reminded me of something that brought a smile to my face. Many years ago when I lived in Alaska I had a similar trailer I used for garbage. I was also doing a lot of log furniture and had poles leaned up drying on both sides of the trailer. I had had a young black bear nosing around for a couple days and one morning I heard a big crash and a bear howl. I went out and he had tried to look in the back, causing the same result you got only all those poles came crashing down on him.
Anyway, glad you didn't get hurt. The things us men get into with our junk.

 

Good the hear you didn't get hurt.. Was there no way to use the skidsteer to lift the rear?????

 

The road was narrow with a bank on the left and a dropoff on the right. No way to get around it. I think I'll just flip the trailer upside down in front of the shop with the skidsteer and roll out the oxy atcetylene setup. It's never been a good trailer as it's so short and high anyhow. It was ok as a pickup box 'til I found a correct one.

 

Well you are a hood away from the big parts the panel truck needs....

It sounds heretical to say it, but I kinda like the idea of putting a 6AT in the panel if you get it. Use a stock transmission, get one of the chevy small block to Ford bell housing adapters, a Ford 6 cylinder radiator, and go. Add that auxiliary transmission you haven't pickup up yet and you have a running rig.

 

I have a nice hood, but need the latch. I have the cummins 6at on a running stand hooked up to everything. It has excellent oil pressure and starts instantly with very little smoke, then ten seconds later clear exhaust. Why not use another GM tranny? Don't think I haven't thought of using the oil burner

 

Because the Ford transmission is easer. If you use the stock transmission, heavy three or four speed crash box, you don't have to cut the cross member, figure out new clutch linkage, throw out bearing return spring, etc. I like bolt in...

Actually I really like stock, but given the condition of the panel and what you want to use it for, I think the diesel makes more sense. The closer the oil burner is to bolt in, the better.

 

You make some good points. The cummins is set up for a hydraulic clutch, which was perfect for my '59 F350, which also uses that type of clutch. Inventing clutch linkage isn't fun. I have a really nice 59ab here and have no Idea of the condition of the one that's in it. Not gonna commit to either yet.

 

I have given no small amount of thought to putting a 6.2 diesel in my panel with a 700R4. And nobody hates 350 chevys in Fords the way I do. The logic is, I have access to several Hum-V take outs for cheap and the good fuel economy. It (theoretically) meets all my goals, cheap cost, easy on fuel, easy to get parts for and enough power to do light towing. I will keep good mufflers on it and keep the hood shut in public.

 

Perhaps this is heresy but of all the many trucks I have, I would have to say the 6.2 in my grumman stepvan is the nicest running engine I have. It was a US postal service bulk mail hauler and has 135,000 on it. At some point the hummer used the 6.5, but had the huge advantage over the pickups and suburbans of retaining manual controlled injection. Best of both worlds.