Specialty Tools?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 34
Specialty Tools?
Hey folks. As im learning to do more and more mechanical and electrical shenanigans ahem repairs... Im looking for specialty tools to work on my truck the easy way. Well, easy on my aching joints, maybe not the wallet.
What all dedicated tools are nice/mandatory to have for 351w, ZF-5, twin I beam (Dana 50’s for a ‘93 F250 right?) components, T-case, driveshafts, all of it.
some of it I might have, or have access to.
Ones im most concerned with:
- Tools it takes to do main bearings (mine are showing wear)
- Rebuilding a ZF-5 (3rd is a touch crunchy, especially when cold. 1st and reverse can be real delinquents about getting into gear)
- Camshaft, water pump, fan clutch (camshaft is on my upgrades list for this year)
- Axles, as I recall for the front, in the hub there’s a need for a specialty socket, like an antenna socket. 4 prongs, gives access to wheel bearings.
What all dedicated tools are nice/mandatory to have for 351w, ZF-5, twin I beam (Dana 50’s for a ‘93 F250 right?) components, T-case, driveshafts, all of it.
some of it I might have, or have access to.
Ones im most concerned with:
- Tools it takes to do main bearings (mine are showing wear)
- Rebuilding a ZF-5 (3rd is a touch crunchy, especially when cold. 1st and reverse can be real delinquents about getting into gear)
- Camshaft, water pump, fan clutch (camshaft is on my upgrades list for this year)
- Axles, as I recall for the front, in the hub there’s a need for a specialty socket, like an antenna socket. 4 prongs, gives access to wheel bearings.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,871
Likes: 2,445
Twin I beam is 2wd, Twin Traction Beam (TTB) is 4wd. An F-250 could either have the Dana 44 or Dana 50.
Main bearing - basic hand tools. You already have a torque wrench from doing other repairs, correct?
ZF- don’t know but I assume you’d need a press to remove and install bearings & gears.
Front of engine - basic hand tools
Axles- the socket depends on which axle you have. How big are locking hubs? I use a bench vise to replace u-joints.
Main bearing - basic hand tools. You already have a torque wrench from doing other repairs, correct?
ZF- don’t know but I assume you’d need a press to remove and install bearings & gears.
Front of engine - basic hand tools
Axles- the socket depends on which axle you have. How big are locking hubs? I use a bench vise to replace u-joints.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 34
Twin I beam I 2wd, Twin Traction Beam (TTB) is 4wd. An F-250 could either have the Dana 44 or Dana 50.
Main bearing - basic hand tools. You already have a torque wrench from doing other repairs, correct?
ZF- don’t know but I assume you’d need a press to remove and install bearings & gears.
Front of engine - basic hand tools
Axles- the socket depends on which axle you have. How big are locking hubs? I use a bench vise to replace u-joints.
Main bearing - basic hand tools. You already have a torque wrench from doing other repairs, correct?
ZF- don’t know but I assume you’d need a press to remove and install bearings & gears.
Front of engine - basic hand tools
Axles- the socket depends on which axle you have. How big are locking hubs? I use a bench vise to replace u-joints.
My truck is 4x4 so i’d be TTB, albeit I have no idea what the difference is. Its an 8 lug pattern if that makes any difference.
I haven’t bought a torque wrench yet, a bore scope is on its way though for other reasons. So, main bearings do they just slide in with the motor jacked up enough to get the oil pan off???
Ill take a photo if I remember on my way to work, but offhand I would say slightly bigger than a baseball. If a tape measure is handy ill measure it.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
There are a handful of great youtube videos out there on rebuilding a small block Ford that show how to install main bearings. It is much more involved than just sliding bearings in. To do it correctly, you need to pull the motor, and pull the crank out. This can be done with a torque wrench and basic hand tools. If you plan on doing the water pump, replacing the cam (Crane 444232 is a good choice), etc, it will be easier to do all of this with the motor out and on a stand than in the truck anyway.
Here's a link to the first of a series of videos that are pretty detailed.
If you don't even have a torque wrench yet, I don't know that rebuilding the ZF is something you should undertake. Rebuilding one of these is very involved and will certainly involve a press. Here's a link to a service manual for one. ZF5 - Gary's Garagemahal (the Bullnose bible)
Your truck has a Dana 50 TTB front axle. The hubs are the same as a Dana 60. This is the socket you need.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/w...AaAtUiEALw_wcB
You'll also need a set of snap ring pliers to remove the lockout.
There really isn't a ton of "specialty" tools involved with these trucks, at least not any more than any other conventional truck.
Here's a link to the first of a series of videos that are pretty detailed.
If you don't even have a torque wrench yet, I don't know that rebuilding the ZF is something you should undertake. Rebuilding one of these is very involved and will certainly involve a press. Here's a link to a service manual for one. ZF5 - Gary's Garagemahal (the Bullnose bible)
Your truck has a Dana 50 TTB front axle. The hubs are the same as a Dana 60. This is the socket you need.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/w...AaAtUiEALw_wcB
You'll also need a set of snap ring pliers to remove the lockout.
There really isn't a ton of "specialty" tools involved with these trucks, at least not any more than any other conventional truck.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 34
There are a handful of great youtube videos out there on rebuilding a small block Ford that show how to install main bearings. It is much more involved than just sliding bearings in. To do it correctly, you need to pull the motor, and pull the crank out. This can be done with a torque wrench and basic hand tools. If you plan on doing the water pump, replacing the cam (Crane 444232 is a good choice), etc, it will be easier to do all of this with the motor out and on a stand than in the truck anyway.
Here's a link to the first of a series of videos that are pretty detailed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssJ7-sCo_rg
If you don't even have a torque wrench yet, I don't know that rebuilding the ZF is something you should undertake. Rebuilding one of these is very involved and will certainly involve a press. Here's a link to a service manual for one. ZF5 - Gary's Garagemahal (the Bullnose bible)
Your truck has a Dana 50 TTB front axle. The hubs are the same as a Dana 60. This is the socket you need.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/w...AaAtUiEALw_wcB
You'll also need a set of snap ring pliers to remove the lockout.
There really isn't a ton of "specialty" tools involved with these trucks, at least not any more than any other conventional truck.
Here's a link to the first of a series of videos that are pretty detailed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssJ7-sCo_rg
If you don't even have a torque wrench yet, I don't know that rebuilding the ZF is something you should undertake. Rebuilding one of these is very involved and will certainly involve a press. Here's a link to a service manual for one. ZF5 - Gary's Garagemahal (the Bullnose bible)
Your truck has a Dana 50 TTB front axle. The hubs are the same as a Dana 60. This is the socket you need.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/w...AaAtUiEALw_wcB
You'll also need a set of snap ring pliers to remove the lockout.
There really isn't a ton of "specialty" tools involved with these trucks, at least not any more than any other conventional truck.
Everything else I have a body tech pretty much covers it, or so it seems anyway. Maybe minus the right press for bearings. Ill have to see if the shop one will do it, im sure it will but.
Glad to hear thats it, thanks!
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,920
Likes: 515
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 377
Likes: 81
You may want to add a dial indicator to check the end play on your crank shaft while playing with the main bearings. I watched several videos on this, and only a few of them actually talked about that end play and the thrust bearing.
Not sure if the video series above talks about it or not.
Also saw one clown pounding his Harmonic balancer back on the the crank shaft with a hammer, Dont do this. You can get a decent puller/installer at yes, I am going to say it Harbor Freight.
Not sure if the video series above talks about it or not.
Also saw one clown pounding his Harmonic balancer back on the the crank shaft with a hammer, Dont do this. You can get a decent puller/installer at yes, I am going to say it Harbor Freight.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 465
Likes: 51
I have the dana 50 on my 1996 F250 4x4 with zf5 and 5.8, I have seen some reviews the PowerBuilt 648477 spindle nut socket has worked.
My4FordTrucks reminded me, the special Ford tool for the ICM (drivers side fender) has a socket of a thin enough sidewall to grab the bolts that attach the ICM to the heat sink. The Performance Tool W1216 so far works (practiced on some spare ICMs I got from the junkyard) with gripping the bolts, and now I need to figure out what lubricant to use; to help make loosening these bolts easier without stripping them.
My4FordTrucks reminded me, the special Ford tool for the ICM (drivers side fender) has a socket of a thin enough sidewall to grab the bolts that attach the ICM to the heat sink. The Performance Tool W1216 so far works (practiced on some spare ICMs I got from the junkyard) with gripping the bolts, and now I need to figure out what lubricant to use; to help make loosening these bolts easier without stripping them.
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