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1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed

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Gary Lewis

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

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You are off an a great adventure! This is going to be fun - for you and for us following along.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

nic55kel

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Gary, thanks for the encouragement.

The Gods were smiling on me when I found this donor truck but have been doing something else on me ever since.

I called a towing company yesterday and they said they could move the truck no problem.
I called today and after waiting for about 1/2 hour the driver got back to me and said they could not move it because of springtime load restrictions. For those in warmer climates - in the spring as the ground is unfreezing loads are reduced on roads to protect them.
Restrictions are not likely to come off for another 4 weeks or so.
Checked with another company and same thing.

The drivers side rear wheel will not turn - brakes seized - I guess I will have to keep fighting with that. If I can free it up then I could get a permit on the truck and drive it home. The lug nuts are huge 1 1/8" and they too are frozen on that wheel. We had a 4' bar on the wheel nuts and we could just get them to move but it felt like we might be twisting off the stud.
Have to apply a bit of heat and lots of penetrating oil. Very frustrating!

Bob

Bob near Winnipeg

1986 F250 Lariat extended cab 300 T18 2WD
1979 Honda CX500
1992 Oldsmobile 98 touring sedan
2007 F250 6.0 4wd

Gary Lewis

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

The setback on towing is a bummer, and the stuck/frozen wheel just adds to the hurt. Good luck, Bob!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

This post was updated on .

In reply to this post by nic55kel

Most of these trucks have 1 1/16 lug nuts.
Don't round them right off.

Remember a Dana 60 of this vintage has left hand nuts. (On the left hand side)
Indicated by spots on both stud and nut*.

Heat is key.
Wax is nice once you get things moving.
Nothing is frozen if it is molten.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

nic55kel

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Jim,

Thanks for the heads up on the sinister nuts. I do vaguely remember in the dimming mists of time a few vehicles with left hand studs - Chrysler products come to mind if I remember correctly. I will look closely at the threads.
That could explain a lot. My 86 has a Stirling so never crossed my mind that I was lefty mighty tighty.
Luckily after trying a couple of lug nuts and both of our retired selves having heart issues, we quit before we broke something either on the vehicle or ourselves.

I think I might have found someone to tow the truck, will know in the next day or so.
The black and white highway regulations may have some grey spots.

Bob

Bob near Winnipeg

1986 F250 Lariat extended cab 300 T18 2WD
1979 Honda CX500
1992 Oldsmobile 98 touring sedan
2007 F250 6.0 4wd

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

I'm on a phone so I can't see if the truck sagging under the weight of the camper is a 150, 250 or 350.
But if it is a 250/350 and has a D60 rear it likely has LH threads on the LH side.

Every one I've seen has 'L' clearly stamped in the end of the stud.
I certainly haven't seen every truck, and I don't know that someone hasn't changed them out over the years.
You need to pull the axle to get the drums off these beasts too.

Check the overall height with that rig up on the flatbed.
The LAST thing you want is to clip an overpass or traffic light. DAMHIK.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

nic55kel

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Thanks Jim,

It is a 250 with a D60 and I now see they are lefty. I didn't see any L stamp though.

The truck is finally home

.

The tow truck driver had fun with it. Did not flatbed it because it would, as you pointed out, have had clearance issues.
Towed it using a frame lift at the rear and letting it roll on the fronts. This worked great for about a mile until the left side front brake started smoking badly. So then put a dolly under the front axle. The driver babied it all the way home ( ~ 15 miles) at about 35 mph. Luckily traffic was fairly light so only upset a few less patient people.

I would like to free up that brake as it would make it a lot easier to get the camper off and move the truck around in the yard.
The PO gave me the last registration on the truck - 1998 - I think this unit has sat a little longer than 4 years and that the brakes shoes and drum are probably rusted up very badly. The fact that the front brake was overheating when towed tends to confirm that. Anyway the truck is home and if I can't release the brake I will have to work around it.

Bob

Bob near Winnipeg

1986 F250 Lariat extended cab 300 T18 2WD
1979 Honda CX500
1992 Oldsmobile 98 touring sedan
2007 F250 6.0 4wd

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

Congratulations!
The driver definitely worked for his $ on that job.

Well Bob, start by backing off the adjuster, so if it does come free the shoes will retract.

As I said the D60 rear requires you to remove the axle before the drum.
If you have it 'home' now you can try dragging it backwards to see if it will free up.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

nic55kel

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Thanks for the suggestions Jim.

The driver did earn his $. The cost was covered by CAA (Canadian equivalent of AAA), but I gave him a good tip.

Already tried the adjuster but it is solid, I cannot get it to move in either direction.
Tried dragging it backwards with no luck but it is on a better surface now so may try that again.

It has crossed my mind to just cut the drum between the flange and the friction surface.
That would make pulling the hub easy as it is not coming apart until the brakes are free.

If anyone wants the axle, it's a 4.10, they would probably do a disc brake conversion anyway.
Even if they want to stay with drum brakes it needs a new brake drum for sure.

Bob

Bob near Winnipeg

1986 F250 Lariat extended cab 300 T18 2WD
1979 Honda CX500
1992 Oldsmobile 98 touring sedan
2007 F250 6.0 4wd

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

Splitting it is not a bad idea.
You're right, the drum needs replacing anyhow.

At least the truck would roll.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

Congrat's! Glad you got it home.

That "L" bit probably would have escaped my attention as well. My Super Bee has left-hand threads on the left side, but I frequently forget. May change them out to right-hand when I rebuild it. Started to suggest you do the same, but you aren't going to use the axle, right?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

nic55kel

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Thanks Gary,

There is no L on these studs they have a dot. Oddly they come off easily when turned right

.
Yes I will be using the drive train up to but not including the rear axle.
I think the sterling is a better unit other than the pinion nut loosening and I see no sign of that on the unit I have - besides its already in place and it is a 3.55 - I really don't want a 4.10.

I am hoping I can piece together a drive shaft using the front section from the donor and the rear that is already in place. That is the only unknown in terms of how it will go together. I am hoping to keep the slip joint pair together and just change from the u joint back.

Bob

Bob near Winnipeg

1986 F250 Lariat extended cab 300 T18 2WD
1979 Honda CX500
1992 Oldsmobile 98 touring sedan
2007 F250 6.0 4wd

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

Why not the whole driveshaft?
There are dozens of combination U-joints.
Ford was very fond of them (as I found to my dismay last summer)

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

I think the Sterling is the better of the two, but up front is a good place for a Dana 60.

As for the driveshaft, is this the truck that gets the GVOD?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

nic55kel

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

In reply to this post by ArdWrknTrk

Jim, If the whole driveshaft will fit that would be great but I am thinking that the yoke and the yoke to axle centreline distance will be different on the sterling? Or, in other words, that the rear half of the d/s will be different for the different rear axles.

Gary, I will remove the GVOD along with the C6 and so the front half of the driveshaft will move over along with the T18, it is the part behind the slipjoint I am not sure about. If I have to get it modified by a machine shop that will be no biggy, just trying to anticipate problems to reduce nasty surprises.
Yes I like the D60 in the front of my 2007 F250, but it is time to service the front hubs and grease those needle bearings.

I am hoping that the 300 in 1982 had a cast iron cam gear, if not I will change it out when I reseal the motor.

Thanks guys for being so helpful.

Bob

Bob near Winnipeg

1986 F250 Lariat extended cab 300 T18 2WD
1979 Honda CX500
1992 Oldsmobile 98 touring sedan
2007 F250 6.0 4wd

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

I'm saying the overall length to the centerline of the rear U-joint shouldn't be much different D-60 ---> Sterling.
If the pinion yoke takes a different series universal you can use a combination (bastard) universal.

I definitely wouldn't take the yoke off the Sterling if it hasn't loosened up on its own.
I remember what a problem it was getting that thing tight again when mine did.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

I agree. I think you'll find the difference between the Sterling and the Dana are small enough you can use the same shaft.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

nic55kel

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Well I hope you are both right about the driveshaft being close enough. That would be sweet.
I Will keep you posted as this progresses.

Bob

Bob near Winnipeg

1986 F250 Lariat extended cab 300 T18 2WD
1979 Honda CX500
1992 Oldsmobile 98 touring sedan
2007 F250 6.0 4wd

nic55kel

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Well I got the donor truck rolling.
Decided to just bite the bullet and cut the drum up.

It moves but there is a very noticeable amount of brake drag. Don't have to worry about it rolling away.
I drove it up to the recipient truck and I really hope they play nice together.

Tomorrow, other commitments permitting, I hope to assess the condition of the engine. I will measure the oil pressure and do a compression test and decide if I want to do anything other than a good clean, paint and reseal.
From the way it runs and visual inspection it may be best to leave it alone. I am increasingly confident that this engine only has low hours on it.

Bob

Bob near Winnipeg

1986 F250 Lariat extended cab 300 T18 2WD
1979 Honda CX500
1992 Oldsmobile 98 touring sedan
2007 F250 6.0 4wd

Gary Lewis

Re: 1986 F-250 XLT 6.9 idi C6 switch to 300 4 speed (formerly 4.9 E4OD)

Administrator

I've never seen that done, but it makes sense. Well done!

Good luck on the engine.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

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