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1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

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mat in tn

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Folding

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Thanks all! It appears as though I have an 83 - 86 box and the tailgate I purchased is set up for cables so I'm good.

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

mat in tn

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Now comes the fun part. All of the nee cables i have been able to find are for the newer 90-96 . The tailgate end is different diameter and takes either a bushing or a larger headed bolt. Thats the easy part. The crimed on end has a different “ offset” so it may need fitting or it can hang up on the edge of the tailgate. Sort that out before doing new paint. Just sayin! I Felt like a real idiot one day in my distant past. But i learned

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

I purchased Dorman 38507 and the bolt end was just fine. You are correct on the offset though. I figure I'll either trim the gate or bend the gromet... or maybe both.

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

mat in tn

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

I did some careful bending. The risk is them straitening back out. I like the idea of spacing it out with fender washers if there is enough bolt .

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

In reply to this post by Atlas75

I was able to get my last tire on today after having the nail removed and tire patched. First I checked clearance with the front tires turned left and right. With the old running boards removed, there were no issues. Next I idled forward and reverse while listening for any scraping or binding noises. None were apparent so I ran it around the driveway a few times. It definitely drove smoother with the new to me tires. It’s no Cadillac, but it was better.

Based on other articles I have read, I think I need to look at all the bushings in the front (shackle and pivot) to see what condition those are in as well as the shocks. I am leaning toward polyurethane for the pivot bushings and rubber for the shackle bushings. What have others done and what results have you seen?

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

I noticed something today and I’m guessing it isn’t normal but I’m not quite sure what is causing it. The passenger side front spring shackle is resting on the frame. The drivers side is not. I’m guessing it shouldn’t be resting where it is. Anything specific that would cause this or is it just worn out bushings?

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Administrator

Is it the frame or the bumper it is hitting? Either way, it can't be right. I'm wondering if the spring hanger is bent. I'd measure it vs the other side.

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

FuzzFace2

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

To me the hanger looks bent

Dave ----

Dave G.
81 F100 flare side 300 six / AA OD / NP435 / 2.75 gear
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1980-Ford-F100?page=1
81 F100 style side 300 six/SROD parts truck -RIP
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1981-Ford-F100

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Administrator

I agree.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

I took a few more photos tonight.

This one shows where the shackle is hitting the frame.

This one shows that the shackle is not hitting the bumper.

This is the passenger side shackle looking straight on.

This is the drivers side shackle for comparison.

I think both look bent although the passenger side more so. Now the question is did it get bent because it hit the frame or is it hitting the frame because it got bent.

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Administrator

Carl - The passenger's side looks to be tilted out some. But otherwise looks much like the other side.

How much clearance does the driver's side have to the bumper? If about the same then I'd say there isn't a problem. But it the difference is large then maybe it is bent.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Drivers side looks to be 3/8 from the bumper and the passenger side looks to be 3/16 from the bumper.

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

I took a few more photos. I think something is tweaked on the passenger side.

The 3 images above are of the drivers side. Note the spring alignment with the shackle and the spacer is still between the springs. Also the sides of the shackle are relatively straight.

These 3 images are from the passenger side. You can see how shifted the spring is and the plastic anti squeak spacer is missing. It also looks like the sides of the shackle are twisted out.

Is there anything I am missing here? What do you see? Does this look normal?

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

firefire

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Hi. I suggest totally worn out bushings and even the bolts.

Stein.
1986 Bronco Eddie Bauer, 5,8L, 3 speed Autom.Tr
1996 F350 , 7,3L Powerstroke, 4wd, 5 speed Man. Tr.

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Administrator

I agree. Pull it apart and see what the damage is

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Administrator

Shackles aren't hard.
If you're replacing bolts check the shank length and cut down a longer bolt so you don't have a bunch of threads fretting the bushing, shackle and hanger.

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.

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

I had a chance today to pull the front spring on the passenger side. It wasn’t to bad. All of the bolts were in great shape and none were frozen into the bushings. Here is what I found.

This is the front bushing. This photo is the inside view. The photo doesn’t show how badly it is pushed down. The strange part is the outside was almost centered so the bolt was going thru the bushing at an angle.

This is the rear bushing. Better than the front but not great.

This just shows what things looked like after the spring was removed.

I have not removed the front shackle yet. I realized I don’t have the correct socket. Does anyone know what size it is? Most of the bolts were 21mm but this one is bigger. It is smaller than 25mm though. I’m assuming it is metric like the rest of the suspension bolts I have encountered.

After I had the spring out, I noticed there seemed like an excessive amount of rotational play in the axel pivot bushings. I took a video and have posted it here.

https://youtu.be/RoXu03GNxhw

Does this seem normal or is this excessive?

Two more questions. Can U bolts be reused? And after I disconnected the shock, it just stayed in place. Most shocks I have experience with extend when not attached to their mounting locations. Is this an indication that the shock is shot?

I will take a few photos of the spring itself tomorrow. I’m trying to determine if the spring is good or if it is twisted in some way. The leafs just don’t line up like they do on the drivers side.

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

Administrator

Your bushing does appear to have taken a set, and while you have things apart I'd replace it.

And u-bolts can be reused.

But the shock may be ok if it was already fully extended. I'd push it up and see what happens when you let it loose. Most shocks are gas-charged and should quickly extend fully when released, so if it doesn't the gas has probably leaked out and the shock needs to be replaced. But I'd replace them in pairs.

And the pivot does appear to be worn. I would pull it apart and see what is going on there.

Last, did I hear a British accent in the video?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Atlas75

Re: 1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

No British accent. Just my 7 year old trying to talk with me while I was filming! Iowa born and raised!

Here is the part number for my front springs.

While I have found listings for 1980 F350 front springs, none reference this number...and I can't find this number in the spring section under front suspension. I'll need to dig deeper.

Here is the spring at the front.

And here it is at the rear.

The bottom leaf seems to be pushed to the left at both ends and aligned in the middle. I wouldn't think it possible for a piece of steel like this to bend in that way. Is it possible it was just that way from the factory and this spring is normal? The drivers side is perfectly straight.

Carl

1980 F-350 4X4; 400 C6; Dana 61 rear, Dana 50 TTB front
1984 F-250 4X4; 6.9L T19; Dana 70 rear, Dana 44 TTB front

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