OK guys, I got another truck to screw up. That Lariat I recently bought is just about done. Get the new dually fender today and just need a tailgate. It's running and driving great.

I've had my eye on this one since it posted. Another 2006 6.0L, but this one only has 41,000 miles and it's on an E450 frame. I'm going to use it as a camper/box truck while pulling (I hope) a medium duty (prolly 7K) enclosed cargo trailer.

The problems with it have nothing to do with the engine, and I've posted for advice on the Super Duty forum (the Van forum doesn't have much traffic) because my questions are general. But, I figured all of you 6.0 guys wouldn't want to miss out on the next disaster, so I'm posting here as well.

I have to decide very quickly where to tow this truck from the auction. What do y'all think the chances are that I can fix the wrecked front end/suspension parts myself out in my driveway without a lift or special tools? If not, I need to tow it to a shop in San Antonio. Anyone know an honest shop there? Doesn't have to be diesel or body. Just need to get it to the roll, steer, and brake status. Here's some pics:

 

I think you are going to need a good shop that can straighten a frame. You probably got a busted axle which in turn useually takes out the frame frome the angle of the trie and how far that bumper is moved over. I would inspect closely.

 

I think this one is going to be fun to watch.

 

Wish i had the money to take such risks :P Already have one in the driveway, don't need another!

 

Lol I am a little surprised the ambulange company did not keep the body. It really does not look badly damaged. Them bodys are exspensive to build.
You may be able to sell that body for more than ya paid for the whole truck.

 

Exactly. That body is in great shape and can actually be used for a lot of things being all open like that. But it didn't belong to an ambulance company, it was an American Red Cross Disaster Relief vehicle. I expect they really don't have the resources to mess with a wrecked truck. And it actually belonged to their insurance company - it was so old that the wreck "totaled" it, so it's now got a salvage title. :-(

It's listed as an "engine start" in the auction, and I can't see why it or the tranny would be seriously damaged from the wreck. I could prolly sell them for what I paid as well and double my money.

But really, I want to make a very low-cost camper/hauler out of it - basically like a semi truck with a sleeper compartment behind the cab. Nothing fancy, just comfy. Not so heavy that I can't pull a 7-10k trailer. I'm not much of an engineer or craftsman, as if I have to tell y'all that. I have a vivid imagination, just not good on the execution. But somehow it usually works out.

I also think that there is a better than even chance that the frame isn't bent. I would think a 450 has a pretty stout frame, and it looks like the wreck wasn't high speed - the paint isn't even cracked and usually light economy or sports cars sit that low to the ground. It just looks like the car came in at the right angle, about 2 o'clock, that the wheel took the brunt of the impact.

 

Fuuny a few months ago I had a truck exactly like you are describeing pulling a carhauler trailer pass me on the hwy I-10. Full sleeper on it and a small 5th wheel set up.

 

Yeah, I've seen some nice ones too. High dollar. Most of those type are on a bigger chassis, like a 550. I want to stay under the 26000lb commercial limit. I'm hoping this 450 isn't rated for more than 18000lbs so I can still pull a 7k trailer behind it.

I bought a neat little trailer last year with the idea of making a pop-up camper out of it that I would piggyback behind my 18' trailer (it has a rear hitch). But when I got it from the auction it was stouter than I thought - 7klb axle, and heavier. Still make a great pop-up, just not a piggyback. I can sell it right now for 5x what I paid for it, if not more. All I've done is clean it all up and paint it. I need to take some pics of if again, all clean.

So instead, I started looking for a cutaway van, so that I could just turn around from the driver's seat and be in the cargo area. And I wanted one with a 6.0 like my other trucks because that's the only diesel I know anything about, the little I know. This one is perfect.

And no, I don't have money to risk, but I don't think this is much of a risk. The worst case scenario is that it's too messed up to repair. If so, I'll just sell it as is for a quick profit or part it out to make more money. The box is solid, and I have every reason to believe the engine and tranny are too. I can sell it for more than I bought it for.

Or, it might be worth fixing, but just not to me. If so, I'd probably fix it and flip it. However, I'd use it awhile first. It'll be worth just as much 9 months from now with 90,000 miles as it'd be worth today with 40,000.

That truck prolly has at least a $20,000 blue book retail value. However, the salvage title would reduce that a lot in the local market, so I would try to sell it to international buyers, probably put it up for auction at Richie Brothers. Even with the auction fee, I'd probably make more money.

But really, looking at the pics, I think I got a good chance of it not needing anything but bolt-on front end and suspension parts, and the body work. Certainly a few thousand dollars, but my total investment will still be under $10,000, and that's a pretty nice truck. I could fix it up nice inside and get 200,000 more miles out of it.

 

With a good set of jack stands and a low creeper, you can do a lot of work on it. My guess is the ball joints sheared off. Maybe you can get the upper and lower control arms from a wrecking yard. That fix would be faster than you think.

 

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! LOL

I sure hope so. It looks like such a clean wreck, as far as wrecks go. Like the wheel took the brunt of the impact, and that was all the impact there was. If it had been hard enough to make it through the wheel and bend the frame, it seems like the body would be more distressed.

But, I'm an idiot. I'll find out Monday.

 

I'll trade you right now for that '69, sight unseen. I had a '68 Fastback in hs and my bf had a '67, then he got a '72 Mach. Just sold the '06 GT I got my son for graduation.

 

LOL, I've been offered 50 for it because it's numbers matching and I'm the original owner.

 

Wow, you don't have to worry about leaving your kids an inheritance. Go spend that 401k having some fun!

 

You nailed it. One of the I-beams snapped and the frame is bent right above where the control arm attaches to the frame. The cab is twisted as well. It didn't get hit by another car as I had thought. The experts say the truck ran off the road and the damage was done from below by a curb or culvert. Didn't hit the oil or trans pan or anything else it appears inside the frame width.

My Bonehead Lucky streak ended, LOL.

I've had some good guys look at it. A tech buddy, a frame/body man, and a dismantler/auto rebuilder. The frame/body man said the bend isn't bad. Said if his machine could handle it, he'd do the whole job for $5500, but that if I took it to the typical, high-priced shop, they'd want $8000 or more.

I'm following the dismantler's advice to start by fixing the steering and suspension first to get it off the ground and driveable - he says that the bent frame will just make that tire wear out fast. Then, I'll find a frame shop with a big enough bed to fix that crinkle. And finally, I'll find a body shop. I'm going to try to beat that $5500 estimate.

On the positive side - the rest of the truck is everything I'd hoped. I'm not trying to make a fancy camper - I'm not talented enough for that or have the tools/work shop to take on a complex project. For my purposes, I just need a comfy place to sleep with heating and A/C.

The truck has a big A/C built in the back and the box is wired for household current. It has a bank of 4 big batteries connected to a nice power inverter to run everything or, it appears by the outside electrical outlet, you can plug an extension cord in and run it off the grid.

That's 90% of my need right there. Heck, I can just throw a mattress in the back and I'm good to go. However, I will do a little more than that. Don't need plumbing - I'm a state park camper and they all have showers and water at the camp site. But, I'll prolly install a fridge.

And all of that equipment looks like it should work just fine, although I haven't tested it - the main batteries are dead. It looks like what a truck with only 40k miles would look like.

This will cost me more than I'd hoped - prolly between $9-10,000 by the time I'm through. But, I don't see any reason why I can't put 150,000 more miles on it and get my money's worth. Prolly do that and sell it for most of my money back.

But, gotta get it fixed first. I'll update.

 

I see one thing that one one has said anything about,
That engine will be a high idle time engine, If you look
at the number of miles and then the hours that the
engine has run you will see what I am talking about.

With that said. Pulle the turbo and clean it. You will find a butt
load of soot in the intake I am willing to bet. Send an oil
sample in and see what they say. Then repeat the test for a few
changes. That way you can see a pattern in what is showing up
in the samples you send it.

I am with ^^^^. Good luck with this.

I have the pop corn.



If someone will bring the drinks




Sean

6.0L Tech Folder