Muttonheads Tow thread. (Page 1 of 2)

More pics.

Overall I am pretty pleased with the lack of rust and rot. Not sure where this truck is from but it can't be Ohio.

The utility bed is pretty solid overall. Not at all sure what I would do do with all of the space but I am sure it could come in handy. Of course ditching this bed and going more conventional IS an option. I have no idea how hard or easy it would be to run single rear wheels and to in effect un-dually the truck would be but it's also in the back of my mind.

Here you can see where the failed hinge bent the hood. I am sure it won't be too hard to find these parts. As a matter of fact I got email from Nick who seems to have many of the things I need to restore this truck just laying around. Its so good to have a Nick around!

I know you guys love the drivers door pull. Don't be too jealous. It doesn't work. The windows work, some of them well but the button on the psg side is for show only. Not sure what sort of stereo to put in but there is a nice big hole where one COULD go.

Lots of room back here for a den, office, bunk beds, whatever. My wife is happy as there is room for the whole family to go get flowers and mulch. In all honesty I think she really see's a chance to go to the mall and bring back more stuff than her minivan will tote.

Two new(er) batteries, new lift pump and boy racer hot air intake FTW.

More lack of rot. So what is that bracket on the lower control arm that looks like it should have something attached to it anyway?

Hangers where something should be hanging I would think.

Wires hanging with connectors going nowhere and hitch fabricated by someone with some metal and a hot glue gun. This may need some sorting.

Hey! I found my wifes mulch! WINNING!

Some obvious stuff:  Needs lights and wiring cleaned up in the rear.  The hitch needs cut off and replaced with a real weight rated hitch.  Needs trailer wiring as part of the repairs.  Not sure what you are looking at on the front end; will need to see in person to explain.  To un-dually the truck: sell and buy a not dually!  Dually is more stable towing.  More weight carrying capacity too (with a utility box it's easy to overload).  I have extra door window switches too.  The radio hole takes a standard single DIN mount headunit.  The instrument cluster surround is diesel specific but a plain F150 version can be cut to match a diesel.  The Bronco part is different (I learned this the hard way - I have a very nice Bronco piece that won't work in any of our F-pickups).

FWIW - I live 45 miles west of Cincinnati in the middle of no-where IN.  Indianapolis is 90 miles away from me...  ;-P

Remind me again why you're building a cheatin' ass BMW when that chock full 'o win slant 6 wagon is available?  Are you sure yer in touch with the spirit of LeMons?  ;-P

Yes, swapping that utilty body will net better MPG.  When I installed the flatbed on my dually I lost 2-3 mpg.  Then diesel went ULSD and my mileage dropped some more.  But if you don't drive the truck much I would not worry about it.  The utility body may work better for racing but I've never owned one so I can't say for sure.

I think I'll pass on the 5 hour round trip to Bloomington.  Thanks tho.  ;-)

Nick

And my dash cluster bezel is also just kind of hanging there...

Just send it carrier pigeon.

Btp76 told me over the phone how to fix the window issue but I was too busy wondering what color neglige he was wearing while he was talking to me, so I wasn't paying attention.

I kinda worried about that too... but there is some comfort in the following thought...

Other than the the bed styles you and I just bought virtually the same truck in different states for exactly the same price. 

I think you and I have a use for these trucks that is different than the people who make their living with them, driving them all the time, so the need for more economical trucks, even by a few mpg, is bigger... and also tax writeoffs for buying new trucks comes into play for farmers and contractors and other small business owners

...and we arent afraid of cosmetic and minor mechanical issues like a guy who wants to pull his bass boat, for example.

I gave serious thought to buying and even looked at a few show ponies. I also looked at a few huge steaming piles of dung.

Oddly I find a good bit of comfort in having a truck that is a little older and uglier. Who cares if it gets another scratch or ding? Its just added character, right?

I need to get this truck in front of some professional evaluation and start making a to do list to get this thing ready for the road. I think first stop may be at a trans shop to get the trans flushed out and see if that helps with the hunting in overdrive.

Oddly, the stalk on the column where the OD on off button resides is broken off with wires sort of sticking out. There are a few other wires sticking out the left side of the dash lower that are twist tied together showing world class repair of what is most likely some critical electrical function.

we've got a 94 f350 diesel at work who likes to change gears at random cruising speeds from time to time. it's the 2nd or 3rd trans, always the same issue just gets worse and worse til trans is smoked, doesn't seem to like staying in over drive.. then again, we beat the piss out of our work trucks, and they rarely get the maintenance they deserve, so it may not be terribly common to require a new trans unless you ignore it for a couple years..

5 speed swap?

So the truck made it home today. Big thanks to FJ40Jim for going with me and bringing this thing home.

Truck ran strong over the 90 min trip but the trans does have some little hiccups. The fuel tank that works leaks when it gets too full and the bad is sort of trying to fall off.

The motor is plenty strong however and most gears seem to work without being fussy and it has enough room in the west wing to set up offices or maybe install a sauna. Overall very happy to have this thing home and now we can get down to fixing some stuff.

As far as that goes, Jim and Nick seem to have made some headway on some of the trucks issues and there is hope that the trans is not dead yet all gears work, just not all the time. Seems there is a valve body rebuild that should address this. Nick has tons of spares that should help save cash on parts and I have a line on a new bed.

And... I think we are going to paint it white. More to come!

When towing make sure you turn the OD off.  It will help the trans last longer.

If you really want a radio I have the unit out of the 88 Mustang I am Lemonizing.  It has a CD player and a 300 watt amplifier.  All the wiring is still there, for now.