This is looking really good! :-jammin

Just a small update:
I got the drivers side I beam assembly disassembled, blasted and painted. I learned one thing, it takes darn near forever to sandblast a coil spring in a cabinet.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...917694553f.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...a63c7a1695.jpg

I spent way too much time narrowing and finishing my transmission crossmember. I took 1.75" out of each side which of course made the center section 1/4" higher than the outer pieces. I then built up the outer pieces so it looks factory again. Not that anyone is ever going to see it.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...74ad7c83ae.jpg

Sometimes you get lucky and manage to make it right on the first try. I thought about modifying the factory crossmember but I would have had to cut most of it off, plus I wanted to have more clearance for the much bigger exhaust. Here is what the original crossmember looked like:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...9c599e16be.jpg

I just got to trim the two ends, drill some holes and slap some paint on it then another piece of the puzzle is complete.

Even more pictures!


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...9407926401.jpg

Since the 1978 I beams have a 4 degree kingpin inclination and the 1985 spindles have a 8 degree kingpin inclination it needed to be bent to match. For reference the stock 1948-52 F-1/2/3 spindles have a 8 degree kingpin inclination. I tried for 6 months to find the original tools for adjusting the beams but no one had them or even knew what they were. I even got one of the local part supplier reps ask around for me at other shops. The last vehicle that the tools worked on was a 1991 Ford Econoline so I thought they would have been sitting in the corner collecting dust. If I had the tools I could have adjusted the suspension while on the alignment bay at work.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...944a8e448f.jpg

So I had to recreate the Ford tooling with a heavy duty 20 ton jack, section of a railway track and some grade 70 chain. I measured the angle on three different sections of the beam and monitored any changes as I applied pressure. In total I bent it 4.5 degrees.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...365c49584b.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...07ad499ba8.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...8dd150efb8.jpg

With the beam bent I was now able to assemble the drivers side of the suspension. I did find out the brake hose isn't quite long enough for me to use the 1978 hose brackets. I'm going to have to copy the 1980-96 style and mount it in the coil spring mount.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...34c8d79f80.jpg

One more wheel mounted. I'll have to see how motivated I'm on Sunday to blast and paint the other beam assembly.

Looking real good Nathan. It's been a long time since I have seen one of those I-beam persuader tools. There have to be a thousand of them collecting dust around the country but it looks like you solved it.

Another long day but I got some good progress done.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...d063bf569b.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1be8e61baa.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...9a6f0c4f50.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...3c192c4533.jpg

Finally got the engine and transmission in. Of course there are always little snags. The ARP transmission bolts I had are too short so I reused the bolts that held the engine to the stand with a bunch of washers temporarily. I still have some tranny assembly to do. I have to install the shift lever and all the assorted bits.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...16bf8d3e41.jpg

Looks like the 1980-1996 steering linkage will clear the engine crossmember fine. I still need to mount the box and play around with the steering stabilizer bracket a bit.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...4d0f175d2b.jpg

Got the driveshaft installed. Previously the driveshaft had the AOD yolk with a 1310/1330 conversion u joint. I switched to the larger AODE/4R70W yolk with a 1330 u joint. Now both u joints are a 1330 series.

Now its time to crawl into bed for some well deserved rest...:-X17

That looks sweet! Nice work. You do deserve a rest... :-jammin

That's starting to look store bought Nathan. Your hard work is paying off.

On a side note I seem to remember a young man giving me grief for running a "Cheapazz Grant" Steering Wheel on my 53. I'm going to let your 2x4 wooden control arms slide .............. for now. :)

That's looking great, Nathan!

I've gotten enough grief about those from one of my co-workers. When I built the frame, I was out of time and that was what I had available to make the chassis movable. I have the bushings and the steel for them. Just need to drill some holes and those carbide holesaws ain't cheap!

Nice frame build, really enjoying the pics and write up. ;)

Making me think about new possibilities for my 56 F700 :-X22

Coming along well!

Those headers are going to be loud :-X04

Looks like he is going to run them out the side of the front fenders like they do on Street Outlaws. :-X04

Speaking of exhaust, here's a sneak peak of whats to come...}>

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...4b4ff3d551.jpg

I've told you a number of times that you can't do that swap - Yes you've done hours of engineering, tones of measuring and computing, months of fabrication work, completed feats no one can imagine and documented it with write up and loads of pictures, but still, You can't co that :)

My kidding aside, it is truly an impressive build. He has been studying this process so long that I don't think he will have many issues once alignment and spring rate is dialed in (after actual use of the truck). Should be able to use this truck for many decades of work. I would be collecting a spare set of donor parts as they become old and just about free.