Gary Lewis Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Just because I haven't been asking stupid questions, doesn't mean I haven't been using the site! Getting into the resource sections. Great info there. Updates: Love the 460. The last vehicle I was using to tow was the toyota 3.4L v6, which is a great engine and I'd put it every Japanese truck I own if I had the time/money. But it's no big block. Towed my project truck home finally and gave the 460 about as much of a workout as I'm ready to give it for the moment. But nowhere was I disappointed. I knew it when I bought it that the transmission wasn't perfect. I usually drive a manual, but I can get used to the auto. I pulled the airbags off the back because they limit my suspension travel too much. Getting home was a backbreaker with them on. Now it's a mild discomfort. I like the TTB so far. Put Bilstein 5100 shocks on front and back and the suspension gets worked but it gets the job done for pretty much being stock. Now the real problem: There's an 86 F250 with a manual trans and the 300 I6 that just popped up on craigslist.... I know I shouldn't but it's so tempting. Trying to get my buddy to buy it. We'll see what happens. Glad the site is helping. But, tell me about the air bags you pulled off? What are they? Are you wanting to sell them? As for the one on CList, if you've got a one F250 why do you need another? Pass the good times on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampedout Posted December 3, 2019 Author Share Posted December 3, 2019 Glad the site is helping. But, tell me about the air bags you pulled off? What are they? Are you wanting to sell them? As for the one on CList, if you've got a one F250 why do you need another? Pass the good times on! No, I don't NEED another truck, but I'm buying my girlfriend a new truck sometime this year or I'm buying myself a new truck and giving her one from the current stable. So I am technically in the market and the 300 paired with a manual trans and 4x4 is what I'm looking for. I'm going to let this one pass, but by spring or summer I hope to find another. As for the airbags The airbags are actually one of the selling points on this truck when I originally bought it. https://realtruck.com/p/firestone-ride-rite-air-bag-kit/frs-2071/?cparam=43666569cd3d90f71b7da7445db0f5cf&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxcLJvsGY5gIVh_5kCh34FwghEAQYAiABEgL3FfD_BwE To the best of my knowledge, it's the firestone kit. They're great for hauling and towing. They smooth out suspension and increase load capacity. I'm not an expert, I'm sure others could explain better. But the problem is for off-road driving (or terrible dirt roads like I do every day) they only flex so much even when holding only 5 psi (minimum recommended psi). So the rear axle really slams when going over bumps or when the tires drop into a rut or something. https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/daystar-air-bag-cradle-ku09140bk/_/R-BKCG-KU09140BK Daystar makes an adapter which allows the airbag to rise out of it's bottom bracket for more suspension travel. This solves the problem but also voids the warranty of the airbags. Other off-road enthusiasts install huge custom airbags like you'd see on the back of a semi or a dump truck, school bus etc. While I'm not using them currently, I'm thinking about the daystars in the future so I'm probably going to hang on to them. I left the brackets and plumbing mostly in place. I just pulled the bags for now so if I do want to put them back it won't be more than an hour to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 No, I don't NEED another truck, but I'm buying my girlfriend a new truck sometime this year or I'm buying myself a new truck and giving her one from the current stable. So I am technically in the market and the 300 paired with a manual trans and 4x4 is what I'm looking for. I'm going to let this one pass, but by spring or summer I hope to find another. As for the airbags The airbags are actually one of the selling points on this truck when I originally bought it. https://realtruck.com/p/firestone-ride-rite-air-bag-kit/frs-2071/?cparam=43666569cd3d90f71b7da7445db0f5cf&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxcLJvsGY5gIVh_5kCh34FwghEAQYAiABEgL3FfD_BwE To the best of my knowledge, it's the firestone kit. They're great for hauling and towing. They smooth out suspension and increase load capacity. I'm not an expert, I'm sure others could explain better. But the problem is for off-road driving (or terrible dirt roads like I do every day) they only flex so much even when holding only 5 psi (minimum recommended psi). So the rear axle really slams when going over bumps or when the tires drop into a rut or something. https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/daystar-air-bag-cradle-ku09140bk/_/R-BKCG-KU09140BK Daystar makes an adapter which allows the airbag to rise out of it's bottom bracket for more suspension travel. This solves the problem but also voids the warranty of the airbags. Other off-road enthusiasts install huge custom airbags like you'd see on the back of a semi or a dump truck, school bus etc. While I'm not using them currently, I'm thinking about the daystars in the future so I'm probably going to hang on to them. I left the brackets and plumbing mostly in place. I just pulled the bags for now so if I do want to put them back it won't be more than an hour to do so. Those air bags are the ones I had my hands on in 4 Wheel Parts today, and the Daystar cradles were literally just around the corner. The manager told me they sell lots of those cradles and have not had a problem, so that's the way I'm going to go to soften up the back end of Big Blue while still having plenty of articulation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampedout Posted December 3, 2019 Author Share Posted December 3, 2019 Those air bags are the ones I had my hands on in 4 Wheel Parts today, and the Daystar cradles were literally just around the corner. The manager told me they sell lots of those cradles and have not had a problem, so that's the way I'm going to go to soften up the back end of Big Blue while still having plenty of articulation. Great! Let me know what you think of the setup. For 60 bucks, im probably going to get the daystars some day. But right now its a project I know I wont have time for. I only mention the warranty issue because Ive seen others have issues. But I imagine youd have to do some very serious wheeling to put your rear axle in a position where the bags could be damaged. On a seperate note, Gary or anyone whos reading this: I got my welder and need some projects to practice on. One is a headache rack for the f250. I was wondering if you had any styles that fit the look and maybe era of the truck. Im thinking more rear window guard than thick roll bar style if that makes sense. Even though nothing says the 80s like a rollbar and kc lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Great! Let me know what you think of the setup. For 60 bucks, im probably going to get the daystars some day. But right now its a project I know I wont have time for. I only mention the warranty issue because Ive seen others have issues. But I imagine youd have to do some very serious wheeling to put your rear axle in a position where the bags could be damaged. On a seperate note, Gary or anyone whos reading this: I got my welder and need some projects to practice on. One is a headache rack for the f250. I was wondering if you had any styles that fit the look and maybe era of the truck. Im thinking more rear window guard than thick roll bar style if that makes sense. Even though nothing says the 80s like a rollbar and kc lights. I'm not quite ready to buy the new air bags and cradles, but hope to in the Spring. But I'll let you know how it goes. As for your welding project, this is the only thing I have a picture of. It comes from Page 6 of the 1986 Accessories catalog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampedout Posted January 13, 2020 Author Share Posted January 13, 2020 I'm not quite ready to buy the new air bags and cradles, but hope to in the Spring. But I'll let you know how it goes. As for your welding project, this is the only thing I have a picture of. It comes from Page 6 of the 1986 Accessories catalog. Hauled 300 gals of water in the bed. Its actually a nicer ride on my dirt road with the empty tank in the back. Previous owner did dual pipes and his welding hasnt stood up. One side has split off at the cat and now baling wire is its friend in the fight against gravity. At least the break is clean. So with true dual exhaust, and dual cats, how bad is it for one side to be full piped and one side to exit at the cat? Its probably time for the ole girl to meet a muffler shop. She sounds better now, at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampedout Posted January 18, 2020 Author Share Posted January 18, 2020 Hauled 300 gals of water in the bed. Its actually a nicer ride on my dirt road with the empty tank in the back. Previous owner did dual pipes and his welding hasnt stood up. One side has split off at the cat and now baling wire is its friend in the fight against gravity. At least the break is clean. So with true dual exhaust, and dual cats, how bad is it for one side to be full piped and one side to exit at the cat? Its probably time for the ole girl to meet a muffler shop. She sounds better now, at least. Another thing Im learning is while driving on my road: I started off in Drive and 4hi but rpms stay low as I crawl through rocks and dips, But now Ive been driving in 1st and 4hi and the rpms stay over 1k and my mpgs are much better. I could almost drive in 1st and 4lo to keep the engine up arnd 2k but idk about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpin Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Another thing Im learning is while driving on my road: I started off in Drive and 4hi but rpms stay low as I crawl through rocks and dips, But now Ive been driving in 1st and 4hi and the rpms stay over 1k and my mpgs are much better. I could almost drive in 1st and 4lo to keep the engine up arnd 2k but idk about that. Fun things to discover! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Another thing Im learning is while driving on my road: I started off in Drive and 4hi but rpms stay low as I crawl through rocks and dips, But now Ive been driving in 1st and 4hi and the rpms stay over 1k and my mpgs are much better. I could almost drive in 1st and 4lo to keep the engine up arnd 2k but idk about that. If I put my truck in 1st low I can get out and walk faster than its idling along! 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 If I put my truck in 1st low I can get out and walk faster than its idling along! 😄 Yup! Big Blue pulled a 30' tall sign down at church idling, with me standing outside. And that was with the T-19 tranny with a 5.11 first gear. The soon-to-be ZF5, like Jim has, has a first 5.72 gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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