BRICKNOSE 1988 F250 XLT Lariat SUPERCAB 7.3IDI MINI RESTORATION

So here it is. After having a few different OBS fords, i've finally fallen in love with one I most likely will keep forever.

Stats:
1988 SuperCab Long Bed XLT Lariat RUST FREE
7.3 IDI
C6
GearVendors Unit
105K Miles.
1356 T-Case
Sterling Rear axle with 4.10's and locking differential
Working Air Conditioning and Heat
Dual Batteries are wired for a bumper mounted Winch. I regularly use a 12,000lb winch to move logs.

It JUST started leaking a little transmission and engine oil a few weeks ago.

Plans:
1. Minor dent/ding repair and Paint (scheduled for January 2023)
2. Replace front leaf springs, factory ones are tired and sagging. Hitting the bump stops often.
3. 1" or 2" Body lift
4. Replace Bench Seat covers
5. Replace the tailgate panel and red strip (red strip is missing)

That about it for now.

Ran out at lunch today to look at a parts truck to get a tailgate panel....didn't want the tailgate panel, but the old man gave me this Diesel emblem. Been looking for one for 2 years!

Looks good, Ray.  

I'm subscribed for the journey.  

Don't be so sure about the springs being sacked on a 250 front end.

They are supposed to be reverse arch and never really have more than 1" from the bump stops from the factory.
TTB's just have really bad problems with geometry, and having the leaf bolted to the beam causes huge torsion moment in those springs.

Ford didn't design much travel into these front suspensions because they can't deal with the camber changes inherent with the D44/50 axle beams.
Gary does his 8 page microanalysis in the lead up to Big Blue's D60 SAS/RSK swap.

He can tell you about the travel and ride quality improvement over stock 250.

Yes, if you have TTB's then you have the worst of all worlds.  TTB's & coil springs are good, and solid axles and leaf springs are good.  But TTB's and leaf springs are poor.

Just as Jim said, there's no travel.  On Big Blue with new front springs I could just slide my pointer finger between the spring and the stop with the truck on the ground.  All of 2" of travel, being generous.

I put a '95 D60 solid axle, 2005 SuperDuty springs, and a Sky Offroad Reverse Shackle Kit on it and wound up with almost 8" of travel and a MUCH improved ride.  MUCH.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Don't be so sure about the springs being sacked on a 250 front end.

They are supposed to be reverse arch and never really have more than 1" from the bump stops from the factory.
TTB's just have really bad problems with geometry, and having the leaf bolted to the beam causes huge torsion moment in those springs.

Ford didn't design much travel into these front suspensions because they can't deal with the camber changes inherent with the D44/50 axle beams.
Gary does his 8 page microanalysis in the lead up to Big Blue's D60 SAS/RSK swap.

He can tell you about the travel and ride quality improvement over stock 250.

Gary Lewis wrote

Yes, if you have TTB's then you have the worst of all worlds.  TTB's & coil springs are good, and solid axles and leaf springs are good.  But TTB's and leaf springs are poor.

Just as Jim said, there's no travel.  On Big Blue with new front springs I could just slide my pointer finger between the spring and the stop with the truck on the ground.  All of 2" of travel, being generous.

I put a '95 D60 solid axle, 2005 SuperDuty springs, and a Sky Offroad Reverse Shackle Kit on it and wound up with almost 8" of travel and a MUCH improved ride.  MUCH.

Thanks guys. Its been 2 years since I looked at that gap from the leaf to the bump....but it was almost touching. IIRC it was .25". I don't think I could even get a finger in there.

Anywho, I have thought about a solid front swap, but just don't have the time right now. Roads are pretty smooth around here, the ride is only harsh on rough roughs. Smooth roads and it rides good enough for me.

I already have the springs.....been sitting in my garage for 2+ years. I'll just swap them out and see how it does. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a D60 Solid front. Was the swap easy?

I can't speak to the SAS but I will say to change the shackles at the front frame rails when you swap springs.

A lot of the 250 harshness (and a BIG reason the springs are reverse arch) is because the back of the leaf is fixed, and any axle deflection has to happen up front.
If you had a positive arch in the spring the whole axle would push forward into the bump as it compressed and the shackle would end up in the bumper.

Easy?  No.  It was a lot of work, but part of that was because I got Serial # 1 from Sky.  In fact, they had to remake a part and send it to me.

But, it was WELL worth it.  Such a huge difference.

And Jim is right, having the shackle in the front forces the axle to move into a bump rather than ride back with it.  So if you do it be sure to go with a reverse shackle kit.

Nice truck Ray. I like the Bricknose trucks, and I'm a big fan of blue too;).

My old man bought one brand new in 1988. It was an F250 4x4 with a 5.0 and 5spd.

Gary Lewis wrote

Yes, if you have TTB's then you have the worst of all worlds.  TTB's & coil springs are good, and solid axles and leaf springs are good.  But TTB's and leaf springs are poor.

Just as Jim said, there's no travel.  On Big Blue with new front springs I could just slide my pointer finger between the spring and the stop with the truck on the ground.  All of 2" of travel, being generous.

I put a '95 D60 solid axle, 2005 SuperDuty springs, and a Sky Offroad Reverse Shackle Kit on it and wound up with almost 8" of travel and a MUCH improved ride.  MUCH.

Gary, could I use stock springs and TTB with a reverse shackle kit? Or can it only be done with a Solid front axle?

Here is the biggest reason for the repaint. The truck was garage kept its whole life until I got it. Its been in and out of the barns. I really started to notice an increase in rust on the roof and hood in the last year. If I wait too long, I might have problems.

Yes, it is time to do something as that rust can cause problems.

On the TTB, I suspect someone sells a reverse shackle kit to use with an otherwise stock suspension, but doubt you'll notice enough difference to make it worthwhile.  And if you did that then the bolt holes you have to drill are very unlikely to be where they need to be if you go with the 6" longer SuperDuty springs when you do a solid axle swap.

I believe the biggest difference was due to the 4x increase in articulation, which means the spring rate is 4x less.  Yes, the RSK surely helped, but I doubt it by itself is worth doing.

Gary, he is asking if he can install the new springs he already has with a SKY kit....
But you are right, the 250 spring is very stiff.

If you look at their 2" '92-'97 OBS spring reverse shackle lift kit you will see far down the page under 2" Shackle Reversal that it can be used with stock '85-97 F-250 springs if you get longer shocks and a specific set of drop pivot brackets

"92-97 TTB F-250 – Leveling Purposes – Stock 85-97 F-250 Front Springs

10” Bilstein Shocks (You will need these longer shocks for the front, same size if you want to purchase new shocks for the rear as well)
Tuff Country, part # 20852 (TTB DROP BRACKETS)"

Also note they suggest that if you have a diesel to order the intercooler clearance version even if you don't have an intercooler at this time.

Edit: Yes there are plenty of pics of Bricknose trucks using this kit even though it says '92-'97.

Jim and Gary, thanks for the info. Will consider.

One other issue I've had is finding a bench seat cover for the 50/50 split back rest. Plenty of kits for the single bench, captains chairs and even ones with the folding arm rest center consol....but none for the one I have. My Backrests are in good shape but do have a small split. The drivers side lower bench.....im sitting on foam..haha

Are you looking for a cover or reupolstery kit?

Headwaters has covers in an array of patterns for the '87-'91 50/50 seats with a number of outdoorsman type options...

Edit:. Marathon too... (They have some solid blues and greys that might be a nice match for your truck, in addition to the camo patterns)

While there is documentation of Big Blue's front end swap in the "Transformation" thread, the whole twisted, sorted story plays out over 21 pages here.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Are you looking for a cover or reupolstery kit?

Headwaters has covers in an array of patterns for the '87-'91 50/50 seats with a number of outdoorsman type options...

Edit:. Marathon too... (They have some solid blues and greys that might be a nice match for your truck, in addition to the camo patterns)

While there is documentation of Big Blue's front end swap in the "Transformation" thread, the whole twisted, sorted story plays out over 21 pages here.

I want brand new vinyl to match the factory blue and pattern if possible. I do not want a cover that just slips on and hides the old vinyl.

Yep...
You said "cover" in your post above, that's why I asked.

LMC have dash pads in stock these times.
Black.
You have to paint it.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Yep...
You said "cover" in your post above, that's why I asked.

Yeah....well cover is what I call it. What else would you call it?

BigBrother-84 wrote

LMC have dash pads in stock these times.
Black.
You have to paint it.

I don't need a dash, mine is perfect. Thanks though.