1988 F350 4x4 Build Thread
Elder User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 756
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From: central illinois
Great build so far. Wish you the best of luck on it. At times these old trucks like to give you some heck but in the end you can't beat them. Sure they have character ( rust & dents), but they seem to always get the job done. Sometimes you just need to give them some TLC. Heck the young ones are fast approaching 17 years of abuse!! There are many of the old 87-91 still getting beat on around me.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,403
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From: Charlestown, RI
Mine is in my junkyard tool bag. I missed a lot of good leather wrapped wheels because I didn't have it with me.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Elk City, OK
Got some oxidation remover and it is finally red again! Me and a couple of friends got it washed and dried in my driveway, then we started putting it on with wet cloths, wiped it off, and then washed and dried it again. I can't believe the difference!
Here is a pic of just the bed done to show the difference side by side.
Here he is all done!
Let me know what you guys think! Ideas and tips are also appreciated!
Here is a pic of just the bed done to show the difference side by side.
Here he is all done!
Let me know what you guys think! Ideas and tips are also appreciated!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Elk City, OK
Ya, me to. Couldn't find any clean cloths so we used cotton tee shirts. Just water, wet cloths, Turtle Wax "Color Back", and an afternoon. Thanks for the advice and compliments!
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,066
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From: Over There
My steering column is absolutely trashed. The key won't come out. That's no big deal. The steering column (not the wheel) is very wiggly. You can move it around nearly 6 inches. You have to hold it up and to the right to make the engine start. The blinker works fine on the left one, but the right one you have to hold it to make it blink.
I think I will just replace it with a junk yard one. Will one off a brick nose 2wd fit my 4wd truck? Also, will one off a brick nose diesel work? I need this info ASAP!
I think I will just replace it with a junk yard one. Will one off a brick nose 2wd fit my 4wd truck? Also, will one off a brick nose diesel work? I need this info ASAP!
FWIW though you don't need to remove it to remove the entire column.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
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with 12v's floating around nowadays for 1500 bucks and capable of unlocking copious amounts of power for free, how is an idi the best bang for the buck?
not saying an idi isn't a good idea, but unless its free or very cheap i wouldn't suggest it over a cummins. 12v's are cheap, already turbo'd, DI>IDI, and have free power options. all this, and I like IDI's....JMO
not saying an idi isn't a good idea, but unless its free or very cheap i wouldn't suggest it over a cummins. 12v's are cheap, already turbo'd, DI>IDI, and have free power options. all this, and I like IDI's....JMO
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Over There
with 12v's floating around nowadays for 1500 bucks and capable of unlocking copious amounts of power for free, how is an idi the best bang for the buck?
not saying an idi isn't a good idea, but unless its free or very cheap i wouldn't suggest it over a cummins. 12v's are cheap, already turbo'd, DI>IDI, and have free power options. all this, and I like IDI's....JMO
not saying an idi isn't a good idea, but unless its free or very cheap i wouldn't suggest it over a cummins. 12v's are cheap, already turbo'd, DI>IDI, and have free power options. all this, and I like IDI's....JMO
I'll admit I don't know much about "unlocking copious amounts of power for free" from a 12V. But I know that IDIs are better then often given credit, common, and cheap. That and a 12V conversion isn't the easiest thing to do, and you need a lot more then just the engine. But yes to unlock a lot of power from and IDI you have to add turbo, unless your donor is an IDIT.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: PineyWoods
I've actually been considering the same thing but it looks like somebody else had the same idea for the side walls of the bed. They are grey and very gritty like concrete almost, but there isn't any on the floor of the bed. Kind of weird.
Here you can see the difference between the bed side and the floor
Here you can see the difference between the bed side and the floor
Maybe your truck was a swimming pool in a previous life
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: PineyWoods
aye - take it slow and easy with that, too.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 856
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From: PineyWoods
Got some oxidation remover and it is finally red again! Me and a couple of friends got it washed and dried in my driveway, then we started putting it on with wet cloths, wiped it off, and then washed and dried it again. I can't believe the difference!
--- pics cut out ---
Let me know what you guys think! Ideas and tips are also appreciated!
--- pics cut out ---
Let me know what you guys think! Ideas and tips are also appreciated!
Wouldn't have believed it unless I saw the pictures.
On your tires, are you intending to re-use your stock wheels?
The width there may come into play as a limiting factor on what you end up being able to do ...
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 195
Likes: 2
That paint looks a million times better now, great job. The cummins would be a cool swap but you have to worry about trans and mount/brackets etc. plenty of write ups in the forum though. Keep the posts coming btw
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Elk City, OK
Update!
Thanks for the advice gentlemen! The diesel swap is a long way off. Right now I will just enjoy my big block and fix it up.
Got some progress done on the truck. I got a free bedliner on craigslist
I also painted my wheels. Here they are in prep.
After the first one dried.
Before and after comparison.
Here is one mounted after I painted the hub.
I was gonna take an overall pic of the truck with the wheels painted but it was dark by the time I got a set of them on after drying. Will post a pic of the whole truck tomorrow. Repainting the toolbox and finishing the last wheel is tomorrow's project.
Got some progress done on the truck. I got a free bedliner on craigslist
I also painted my wheels. Here they are in prep.
After the first one dried.
Before and after comparison.
Here is one mounted after I painted the hub.
I was gonna take an overall pic of the truck with the wheels painted but it was dark by the time I got a set of them on after drying. Will post a pic of the whole truck tomorrow. Repainting the toolbox and finishing the last wheel is tomorrow's project.