Tow Pig / Daily Driver Build

[mjonesjr]

I realized my door pin bushings were wearing out. After looking at the price for new pins and bushings (along with the trouble to put new bushings in) and looking at the cost of new hinges, I decided to go with new hinges. New pins would have been about $10 per hinge and the complete hinges were $15 each for the uppers and $20 each for the lowers.

I got the passenger side done tonight. It really isn't as hard as it looks to be. Removing the door completely and marking where the old hinges where makes it super easy. I also replaced the factory bolts with new M8-1.25 x 35 bolts and washers.

I can tell you that after getting the door lined up and shutting good, the door shuts MUCH firmer and better IMO than it did before. It is a lot stiffer as well. I would say a lot of that has to do with the bushing behind the roller.

I will be doing the driver side either tomorrow or Sunday afternoon.

 

[wahlstrom1]

My ranger definitely needs these.... once the rest is done!

 

[mjonesjr]

I figured that I should put these on before it goes into the paint shop so if I scratch the door or fender installing them it will be fixed. I would rather scratch it now than after the new paint is put down.

 

[mjonesjr]

I got a little rust fixed and covered with POR-15 getting it ready for the body shop on Monday. This stuff is super easy to use. I had some reservations about using it, but it is easy as long as you do the prep like the directions say.

 

[mjonesjr]

I started the tear down to get the truck ready to go in the body shop on Monday. I am getting both bed wheel arches replaced and the dents fixed. I have a TON of new parts going on including new exterior door handles, emblems, grill, headlight bezels, mirrors, tailgate, and upper stone deflector.

Ready to tear down:

Tear Down Process:

The core support is a little worse than I thought on the bottom portion where the inner fenders bolt to it. I'm going to POR-15 the whole core support and make new panels for the inner fenders to bolt to. I'll do this once I get the truck back.

 

[mjonesjr]

She officially went to the body shop yesterday (3/19/12).

Here it is all loaded up and ready to go.

This is what I will be driving while it is in the shop; '89 F-350 4x4 w/ 460, 5 Speed.

 

[03ranger30]

Always loved the OBS style trucks, only thing is I would look for an F350 so I wouldn't have to deal with the TTB.

Any plans to put an intercooler on?

 

[mjonesjr]

I don't have the TTB anymore. I swapped in a Dana 60. Those pictures are a few pages back.

I'm going to put an intercooler on it before it gets put back together once I get it back from the body shop. The shop is painting my intercooler pipes to match the truck.

 

[nb11]

Man, I love your truck. That's the best-looking truck body style Ford ever made. Tough engines, too.

 

[mjonesjr]

Man, I love your truck. That's the best-looking truck body style Ford ever made. Tough engines, too.

Thanks!

I will have to argue though, the '73-'79 F-Series body style is the best looking, then followed by the '93-'96(7).

The '96-'97 7.3 Powerstroke's was the best years of the 7.3 production. They featured forged metal rods and anti-drain back HPOP's. The '99-'03 7.3's had powder metal rods that were weak and known to break even under stock power.

 

[mjonesjr]

I got the truck back from the body shop; man does it look good!

This was the day I got it back and rolled it off the trailer and into the shop to put it back together.

I decided now would be the best time to install an intercooler while the entire front was off. It was a little challenging, but not too bad. Worst part was getting the pipes to fit good. Even though they are the Banks pipe kit for an OBS, they still are tight. The transmission coolers fit behind the grill and the header panel without any problem. I think I am going to move the OEM cooler because where it is now is directly behind the bumper. I don't see how it would get much air where it is mounted.

Ignore the dust in the engine compartment. I haven't had a chance to clean it yet.

The truck does run better with the intercooler. It pulls harder when I get into it now. I have also seen the EGT's be about 200-300* lower than without the intercooler.

Together and on the road again.

 

[-Nathan-]

The '96-'97 7.3 Powerstroke's was the best years of the 7.3 production. They featured forged metal rods and anti-drain back HPOP's. The '99-'03 7.3's had powder metal rods that were weak and known to break even under stock power.

Not true. Some had PMRs, yes, but not all. And there have been 650 RWHP trucks built with PMR's. Really not an issue unless you plan on making over 500 RWHP...which is a shit ton for a 7.3.

Regardless, the truck is coming along very nicely, and looks real sharp.

 

[Ranger Kip]

love that truck, so friggin clean 0_0

 

[mjonesjr]

Not true. Some had PMRs, yes, but not all. And there have been 650 RWHP trucks built with PMR's. Really not an issue unless you plan on making over 500 RWHP...which is a shit ton for a 7.3.

Regardless, the truck is coming along very nicely, and looks real sharp.

Very few '99+ 7.3's had the forged rods, majority had the powder metal versions.

Thanks.

 

[organic]

Wow, looks really good with the new paint. Nice job!