I have a 1986 F350 Flatbed tow truck. Anyhow it has the 6.9L diesel and a 4 speed manual tranny with a PTO of some sort mounted near the stick. The truck is a project from eBAY, since it has a wider Chevron 18' aluminum bed on it. I got it fairly cheap from upstate cause the frame is cracked by the power steering pump like Fords supposedly do too often.

Well the truck has no fenders, nor doors and the cab is gone from the windsheild up, so it needs lots of work. I care to make it 4WD since everything is there to get to easier now. However I want to make it automatic, so it is easier for anyone to drive.

My question is: How do I take into account the 4WD part and the automatic to a new PTO? I heard some people claim that there would be a PTO-like device powered of the motor instead of the tranny now. Would I have to find a specialized transplant tranny or transfer case to fit with a new PTO? Is there a way to use the old PTO in there somehow?

I figured this would be the best section to ask since it involves a Towtruck. if this is in the wrong area, please move it to where it should be. Thanks!

Tommy

 

Moved from Towing forum. Let's see if we can get you some answers for your questions here!

Welcome and thanks for joining us at FTE!

 

I would say if they can't drive a standard then I don't want them driving for me,What
happens when they get to a job and the customers vehicle is a standard? Do you want
them learning to drive on their vehicle, and what would that look like a professional
dumping the clutch or stalling out and doing more damage!! If not to the vehicle then to company image, just my .02 on that. How about leaving it like it is and just taking
the cab off it and put a R model MACK body on it and cut down the hood to fit. The
R models are skinny cabs and have the classic truck lines and are pretty easy to find
at a big truck junkyard.

 

Tecnically, my father's company is a trade based contractor that uses Scissor lifts all day long that needs to be delivered. I mess around with cars and trucks buying, selling, & trading them or their parts. So the idea of a truck anyone can use is fine by me. Having workers that all drive the stick differntly only really will add to the wear of it.

We move most of our equipment with one trailer like lanscapers use. However our workers enjoy taking the straps with them and placing them in whatever of the four vans we have. I am looking to make best use of the equipment that I have.

Personally, I don't drive stick at all really. I did just get a 97 f700 with a 5 plus 2, but I have not driven it yet since it was propane powered and then converted on the spot to gasoline to make it back 200 miles.

This f350 is tiny inside with a stick sucking up the middle floor in this standard cab. I am rather tall and the inferior tilt telescopic wheel that Ford puts out combined with the manual, my legs have to tilt to the right to drive it. Before you ask, I am 7ft with 38 inseem legs, just to get that out of the way.

My right leg hangs to the right with my kneee to fiy under my old box style Caprices years ago. Plus that was with the better tilt feature too. So let alone a stick in the way to bang against with my leg.

Before I wanted to make the truck an extended cab for better leg room and all, but was talked out of it by numerous people who claimed that I was really asking for it in time and money on that old frame. Plus backing it up and the steering radius would just go to utter crap.

Nor do I want to rip the bed and all the other stuff off the truck and mount it on the back of my 88 GMC 7000 crew cab with nothing on the back by 19 ft of open double rails. Even with 43K Original on a Detroit, Alison, and Airbrakes, an aluminum bed that small would be a waste of effort. I was hunting for a enormous bed for the 7000 of 28 to 30 ft but that is one hard catch to find.

I have spare parts for the f350 such as a new nose to make it look like a 97, as well as a few spare 6.9 and 7.3 IDIs already.