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Except for the automatic transmission (which I wish I had), your truck sounds exactly like mine. Mine is a '73 with same wheelbase, engine etc., a former fire truck with just over 20K mile on it. The truck sat for 3 yrs or so before I bought it so as you might expect, there was a few issues to work out. At this time I'm still working on upgrades to the axles and braking issues. I'm curious what your plans are with your truck?
Right now the truck is still in its tomb. I got it running and holding air just have to unlock the breaks tomorrow and I’ll give it a try to drive it home. My plan is to leave the drivetrain intact for the most part and soften up the suspension by removing the telephone pole crane and auger bed and removing a few leaves from the spring packs. I’m looking at a set of super singles for the rear and I have a long bed flair/step side bed to put in instead. Little restomod build but I just had a baby so we’ll see how it goes.
I started with mine by dropping it off at a mechanic to begin the transformation about March. The goal was to get it running, stopping and at least movable. I did spend quite a bit of work removing the water tank, truck bed hose reel and fire water pump. Basically stripping it to the frame from the cab back. My goal was/is to update the front and rear axles with modern braking and wheels, improve the drivability and the similar type restomod build. The rear axle + drive shaft was swapped with a 4.3 ratio, dually F350 one and many leafs were removed from the spring pack. The rear axle now sports 22" Alcoa semi truck wheels/tires. After a few other minor issues were taken care of the truck is licensed and drivable. I have a new axle and steering box ready to swap for the front, then I'll get some 22" wheels for the front also. Same plan to remove springs. Last on the list will be modifying the fire truck bed to a flatbed type and re-installing it. Good Luck with your project and congrats on the new baby!
Bruce
USMC
'75-79
Thanks and semper fi! Was working on her today and found a bad air brake pot. I’ve got it apart and a new pot but the old gentleman that owns it has a dr appointment on Thursdays, so I’m sunk tell Friday. I tell you what, I was looking at the crane and bed and man that’s going to be a lot of hard work. So when you got rid of all the fire truck nonsense did the truck move out of its way better? The label on the bed said that it’s 25000lbs, I have to imagine that it’s going to be less of a dog. I’m planning on doing an air ride set up and I may back half the frame for smaller frame rails and the ability to get it down in the weeds. I’m going for a crushed pick up look. The engine I want is a cat 3126 but that’s going to be a whole evolution of it’s self.
Patrick,
Without the weight of the hose reel, fire pump, water tank and truck bed, my truck seems to move along quite easily, Since I never drove it with all the equipment I can't really make a comparison though. Swapping the rear end with a different ratio I'm sure made a difference too. My truck had the same GVWR as yours so to ensure I could avoid the the CDL issue, I weighed the truck after removing all the excess equipment and swapping the rear diff and wheels. Then I had it titled at that weight. My truck without fire equipment and swap weighed in at 6850 lbs. My truck does not have air brakes though, just a non working hydravac booster. I do intend on re-installing a modified (lighter) version of the fire bed after the suspension and running gear swap is completed. Airbags may also be in it's future. LOL
Tried to attach a couple pics but no luck.
Good luck with your project. Feel free to contact if I can help answer any questions.
Bruce
So I have her moving under her own power stoping and starting going forward and reverse. She’s got power steering but it wasn’t working. She’s parked on the side of a hill and there’s a steep slope down and we’re going to wait tell Monday. She’s been backfiring and I crossed the idle mixture screw during the tailgate rebuild and I’m going to tap those threads and see if I can clean that mess up. Found out most of the valves for the crane are super stuck the massive winch seems to engage but the pto cable I can’t get to move. Sprayed pb blaster down it and no luck, any advice on how to unstick old hydro valves are appreciated.
So I have her moving under her own power stoping and starting going forward and reverse. She’s got power steering but it wasn’t working. She’s parked on the side of a hill and there’s a steep slope down and we’re going to wait tell Monday. She’s been backfiring and I crossed the idle mixture screw during the tailgate rebuild and I’m going to tap those threads and see if I can clean that mess up. Found out most of the valves for the crane are super stuck the massive winch seems to engage but the pto cable I can’t get to move. Sprayed pb blaster down it and no luck, any advice on how to unstick old hydro valves are appreciated.
no I don't think I can help with any hydraulic issues. When my truck had backfire problems I found the timing was off a bunch. Runs much better at about 10 btdc.
Hey Bruce, so I got the truck home and I have a few questions. Is your truck as hungry as mine I burned 2 gallons trying to find the timing marks. So that’s my next question where are they?
Patrick, yeah it took me awhile to find them too. Forgot to mention that mine has a holley carb, but once I adjusted the timing, no more sputtering and back firing. All vac lines capped. Spark plugs indicate burning way rich so I been tuning it down some also.
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