F-Superduty IDI water hauler build

[ArdWrknTrk]

So, if you're not going Bricknose, what are you doing for instrumentation?

I am not totally sure yet. I may still do the bricknose dash and wiring, or I may try and work with what’s there... I bought the Aero core support as an option because I thought it might save me a bit of time and effort compared changing the whole front clip and cutting down the frame horns etc., I am trying to take the path of least resistance.

One thing I did learn from looking at the hacked up wiring on the Aeronose IDI is that there was still an amazing amount of wire for as simple as the engine is. That generation of truck just has a lot going on electrically that the older ones don’t. It still had a large fuse and relay box under the hood, in addition to the fuse panel in the dash. The wire loom is more than twice what you see in the bullnose diesels. The more I see of the Aeronose trucks the less I like them.

Well, the flatbed looks like one big piece of the puzzle solved!

I would have thought the Brick was the easiest path.

Given that you have the entire donor, sans fenders and doors (or whatever it is that's rusted out)

Yes, you'd have to trim the frame horns, or clip the Brick and tack them on the 450.

Do you have title for the 250 cab?

[Ford F834]

Well, the flatbed looks like one big piece of the puzzle solved!

I would have thought the Brick was the easiest path.

Given that you have the entire donor, sans fenders and doors (or whatever it is that's rusted out)

Yes, you'd have to trim the frame horns, or clip the Brick and tack them on the 450.

Do you have title for the 250 cab?

Jim, I don’t have a title for the bricknose donor, and it is a Supercab.

Aesthetically I would prefer Bricknose over Aeronose, both the dash/interior and the front sheet metal. But I can’t deny that switching out just the core support is a lot easier. It is probably a combination of current events with the virus pandemic and my job that ends in 5 more days... but I find myself lowering my sights on this project, for lack of better words. Or maybe revised priorities? There are things I would like to do with this truck, but it’s not feeling like the right time with respect to finances and time management. I should have bought a running, useable truck... but there weren’t any when I was looking.

Tonight I unloaded the flatbed. I said that it would probably be memorable, and it did not disappoint 😬. I didn’t get hurt, and I didn’t damage anything, but it did take two hours... and it was very sketchy. I almost lost it several times. The problem with my plan is that picking up something so broad by a single chain lends itself to tipping and shifting. Add in uneven ground that is soft from recent rain and nothing cooperates. I am relieved that it’s over 😓. Fortunately when I go to put this onto the F450 it will not have to go up so high.

 

[ArdWrknTrk]

Jim, I don’t have a title for the bricknose donor, and it is a Supercab.

Aesthetically I would prefer Bricknose over Aeronose, both the dash/interior and the front sheet metal. But I can’t deny that switching out just the core support is a lot easier. It is probably a combination of current events with the virus pandemic and my job that ends in 5 more days... but I find myself lowering my sights on this project, for lack of better words. Or maybe revised priorities? There are things I would like to do with this truck, but it’s not feeling like the right time with respect to finances and time management. I should have bought a running, useable truck... but there weren’t any when I was looking.

Tonight I unloaded the flatbed. I said that it would probably be memorable, and it did not disappoint 😬. I didn’t get hurt, and I didn’t damage anything, but it did take two hours... and it was very sketchy. I almost lost it several times. The problem with my plan is that picking up something so broad by a single chain lends itself to tipping and shifting. Add in uneven ground that is soft from recent rain and nothing cooperates. I am relieved that it’s over 😓. Fortunately when I go to put this onto the F450 it will not have to go up so high.

I'm sure there was a BIG sigh of relief when you got that onto the cribbing.

[Gary Lewis]

I'm sure there was a BIG sigh of relief when you got that onto the cribbing.

Yes, I heard the sigh from here but didn't know what it was!

I think I see three different approaches: from back w/o jack stands; from back with jack stands; from side with jack stands. And it was the latter that worked?

I fully understand about priorities, use of money, etc. The COVID-19 virus and the impact it is, and will, have on the economy has already changed my priorities. (And worrying about the kids has taken away some of my drive.)

So I can appreciate the shifting plans, for sure.

[1986F150Six]

Y (And worrying about the kids has taken away some of my drive.)

So I can appreciate the shifting plans, for sure.

Once a parent, always a parent!

 

[Gary Lewis]

Once a parent, always a parent!

Don't forget the grandparents. And especially grandfathers, as grandmothers seem to get all the attention.

[Ford F834]

Yes, I heard the sigh from here but didn't know what it was!

I think I see three different approaches: from back w/o jack stands; from back with jack stands; from side with jack stands. And it was the latter that worked?

I fully understand about priorities, use of money, etc. The COVID-19 virus and the impact it is, and will, have on the economy has already changed my priorities. (And worrying about the kids has taken away some of my drive.)

So I can appreciate the shifting plans, for sure.

Yes, the sigh of relief as great indeed... and The photos show a series of steps, not multiple attempts. The flatbed was resting on 2x4’s bridging the box, plus the two main frame beams were sitting on the tailgate.

I had to first lift the rear, then inch the truck forward bit by bit and get out in between and scoot the bed rearward on the 2x4’s. Eventually I drove out from under it far enough to lower the tailgate and remove it. Then I inched forward some more, lifted the back and inserted a double 2x4 fulcrum as far aft as I could. Then I lowered it, but I couldn’t get the drop down to contact the ground as I had hoped. So I had to settle for contact on jack stands while I moved the crane to lift the front. I lifted it far enough to drive out from under it then lowered it. That’s the simplistic version... note that with weight pivoting on the jack stands that the point of suspension in the front becomes an arc as you lower it, not straight up and down. The jack stands had to go in short order and I had to walk the bed backward as it went lower. It was a wobbly, teeter totter, side-shifting wild ride... as flat beds go I’m sure many are much heavier, but I’m still guessing this one may be north of 1,000 lbs? It’s stout, but it could have been worse.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, the sigh of relief as great indeed... and The photos show a series of steps, not multiple attempts. The flatbed was resting on 2x4’s bridging the box, plus the two main frame beams were sitting on the tailgate.

I had to first lift the rear, then inch the truck forward bit by bit and get out in between and scoot the bed rearward on the 2x4’s. Eventually I drove out from under it far enough to lower the tailgate and remove it. Then I inched forward some more, lifted the back and inserted a double 2x4 fulcrum as far aft as I could. Then I lowered it, but I couldn’t get the drop down to contact the ground as I had hoped. So I had to settle for contact on jack stands while I moved the crane to lift the front. I lifted it far enough to drive out from under it then lowered it. That’s the simplistic version... note that with weight pivoting on the jack stands that the point of suspension in the front becomes an arc as you lower it, not straight up and down. The jack stands had to go in short order and I had to walk the bed backward as it went lower. It was a wobbly, teeter totter, side-shifting wild ride... as flat beds go I’m sure many are much heavier, but I’m still guessing this one may be north of 1,000 lbs? It’s stout, but it could have been worse.

I think I get the picture, completely. Been there, done that with several things. And before you got to it in the explanation I was thinking "those jack stands are going to kick out as he lowers it". Yep, that arc is a bummer.

And working single-handed makes it difficult as it is really hard to lower the shop crane while holding the end of the bed/engine/load. But, you don't trust anyone else to just barely crack the valve and not dump the whole thing on the ground as you are holding the end and the load just went from 50 lbs to 500 - and your toes are under it.

Nope, never done anything like that.

[Ford F834]

I think I get the picture, completely. Been there, done that with several things. And before you got to it in the explanation I was thinking "those jack stands are going to kick out as he lowers it". Yep, that arc is a bummer.

And working single-handed makes it difficult as it is really hard to lower the shop crane while holding the end of the bed/engine/load. But, you don't trust anyone else to just barely crack the valve and not dump the whole thing on the ground as you are holding the end and the load just went from 50 lbs to 500 - and your toes are under it.

Nope, never done anything like that.

I’m not proud of it Gary... but we do what we have to I guess. Had I known how dicey this would be I might have tried something else, but once you start a plan you can’t always put it back. That’s where I was last night... nothing left to do but go forward. Well it’s done now, so on with the next steps. I’m half contemplating getting the service body free from the frame and advertising it as FREE... to whom ever wants to lift and remove it off my truck. It’s not in nice enough shape to be worth a lot and I’d just like it to be gone.

[Gary Lewis]

I’m not proud of it Gary... but we do what we have to I guess. Had I known how dicey this would be I might have tried something else, but once you start a plan you can’t always put it back. That’s where I was last night... nothing left to do but go forward. Well it’s done now, so on with the next steps. I’m half contemplating getting the service body free from the frame and advertising it as FREE... to whom ever wants to lift and remove it off my truck. It’s not in nice enough shape to be worth a lot and I’d just like it to be gone.

I understand, completely. The engine was in the air but wouldn't go into the truck, so I had to change the connection to it, but it wouldn't go back on the engine stand, so I did some really shade-tree engineering and bolted the head of the stand to the engine and then used the arc of the shop crane to get as close as possible and ran an all-thread through the head and stand and sucked them together. Oh, and I missed that I had to raise the shop crane on 2x4's to get the legs of the engine stand under the shop crane's legs. Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg would have been proud.