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The old gal is getting a make over...

3K views 39 replies 17 participants last post by  Aljay 
#1 ·
Well I've told some of you but for the rest wondering WTF is in my sig I'll get you all up to date....

I decided that after almost having it a year I should finally fix the busted rear leaf springs & rotted out hanger on the drivers side. The bed is rather rusted out on the sides & floor is getting bad so I plan on scrapping it & going to a flatbed. Over the course of about 3 weeks I have done all this work by myself.

To start things off I started stripping off the basic parts like toolbox, stacks, then the bed.
[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2130053410103447628GEFkoy][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2521704080103447628SPufTw][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2348724690103447628rhFNWu][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2519289070103447628SUwvnU][/URL]

As most of you may know we use a chit load of salt up here every winter. Well the last owner never really washed it & 13 years had taken a toll on the old gal. as you can see from these pics it had a bad case of the steel flaking. So I took a wire wheel to it & crear off the loose stuff & sat there with a hammer & chissle & a 4.5" angle grinder with a multi flap sanding wheel to help clean it up. Threw on a few coats of primer then some paint. To make things fun I was fighting on & off rain & humidity.

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2671333350103447628PaLbzf][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2301346770103447628EepTZl][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2525983330103447628wStdxh][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2313574560103447628dukiCP][/URL]
 
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#2 ·
Next order was to get it up on blocks & get the old leafs hangers & U bolts off. Both sets of torches need to be filled & the big ones have a regulator leak so they were out. Thankfully I had a handheld propane torch to heat up the bolts to loosen em up for the breaker bar. Got them off then ground off the rivets on the brackets & got those knocked off & ready for the new brackets & springs. :D (also found out I had a busted one on the right side too)
[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2676860970103447628ERwKKD][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2899224580103447628UYBJHO][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2786092220103447628qRXcPJ][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2911305590103447628vjrwQW][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2571040560103447628VjtCsg][/URL]


I was looking at options for springs but F250-350 springs aren't exactly cheap. I had many people offer to sell or send me theirs but shipping across the country is about as much as new springs would run. To top that off I needed new rear hangers which are about $65 a piece new. I got checking around & thanks to the wonders of the internet & members from PSN I located an 05 F450 frame, springs, hangers & everything but the axle that was right in the price range that I was after.
So I met up with Skylinedan (wouldn't have done this without ya man :bowfast:) & picked up the frame with my Ma's Superduty. Made the truck sit about level but couldn't hardly notice it! :ford:
[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2319141230103447628JZhJfF][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2637294920103447628zuENod][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2104975290103447628FiSGPD][/URL]


The issue here was that I had to get the old hangers off & mount up the new ones & line it up & drill new holes. had to mod the drivers side hanger slightly but it fit. got the 10 spring pack cut down to 5+ the over load.
[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2060004920103447628JioOkk][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2415825710103447628PrxnNS][/URL]
 
#6 ·
How much for the old springs?:poke: Whatever they are worth in scrap

I hope you plan on putting stacks back on there lol When I get the flatbed we shall see how they match up
:D
 
#4 ·
Finally got it done after carefully mesureing everything. Also did the shackle flip on the rear & gained a few inches. All bolts are 1/2" grade 8 from TSC. Went for a ride & it's stiff, but no consistent hopping or dog walking or pulling that I could tell. Looks like I got her straight. Just need the flatbed now. :doh:

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2089681270103447628uviNjw][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2440081280103447628bXHyzA][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2647843320103447628ZZIYAn][/URL]
 
#8 ·
Didn't want to start one till it was just about done. ;)

black bed with black stacks?????????
Don't think so, I'll stick with the chrome since I happen to have a couple laying around.
The rest of the chrome will slowly vanish though! :D
 
#13 ·
Lookin good so far Cat. You gotta put the stacks back on. If you build a flamethrower on a standard exhaust, you will light $hit on fire.
 
#17 ·
Thanks for the comments guys, I need to get on her & put her to work.

I want to say that it will on the SD, I know on the OBS it will help. I can tell mines lifted slightly in the rear just jumping into it. Seeing what it did for Rankroddin really gave me the idea.

http://powerstrokenation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11115&page=7
 
#20 ·
Lookin pretty good, now your gonna have to redo the front part of the frame so it matches the rest :poke::poke: That sure is gonna ride pretty rough in the back though, reminds me of my old 83 F250, previous owner had added helper springs in the back for a truck camper, back tires would come off the ground going over speed bumps and train tracks lol, put 1,500lbs of concrete in the bed and it just kind leveled out and asked for more lol. While you got it all apart are you gonna put a hydraulic hoist in there too for the flat bed or just a standard flatbed?

I'm sure you have but if your shackle mounts rusted through I would check the shock mounts too. Drivers side one had rusted through on my old 83, holds dirt from the top and that was all she wrote, always thought next truck I built I would fill in all those little crevices with something to keep dirt/water/salt ect outa there.

Can't wait to see the flatbed all done up. Too bad the bed skins rusted out cause the inside of the bed looks nearly brand new.
 
#21 ·
I'm sure you have but if your shackle mounts rusted through I would check the shock mounts too. Drivers side one had rusted through on my old 83, holds dirt from the top and that was all she wrote, always thought next truck I built I would fill in all those little crevices with something to keep dirt/water/salt ect outa there.
They don't look too bad, but with the power of the springs I'll have to really get a load on her before they really get to be fully used. :doh:
 
#24 ·
haha oh boy now this build up will never end lol. Sure would be a killer setup though. I always thought I would love to build a F550 regular cab long bed SRW pickup truck, mild lift good sized tires and just be unstoppable work truck.

Dreaming sure is fun lol ugh now you got me started too :pointlaugh:
 
#25 ·
#32 ·
You have to put stacks or sidepipes on there.......of course with flame throwers though:D
I'm kinda rockin the side pipe again. Bent the flex pipe over & stuck on an old chrome 3.5" tip I had from the old Cummins. Forgot how quiet it is in the cab without stacks on a N/A Diesel. :doh:
They will come back though, just got to see how to do them with whatever bed I end up getting.

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2335309660103447628xCZjWT][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2522043130103447628DWvjUz][/URL] [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2109904820103447628biMOAa][/URL]
 
#33 ·
Damn that was a lot of work. I think I'd look for a sand blaster for that frame though. Love to see people working on the older stuff rather than just throwing them away. Well done Cat.
 
#34 ·
Thanks man, it's been a labor of love to do all this by myself. Wish I had a sand blaster just so I could get in all the nooks & crannys & really clean her out. I may do that yet down the road but where it stands now is a marked improvement. All I can say is that Ford blessed us with a real HD truck frame. Took off a few layers of flakey paint from the inside & out side of the frame & had to get the 10lbs sludge hammer out to knock out some old rusted rivets. Pounding on that frame told you it's a solid truck, didn't even dent it! :ford:
 
#36 ·
You got a Copy-Cat up here in MA. Was leaving dunkin donuts saturday morning and a red regular cab OBS goes by same exact truck, and on top of that with nearly identical black home made bumpers, just minus the grill guard. Oh it had no rust over the rear fenders and no dent in the front fenders though :poke: Was towing a small single car trailer with a jeep on it, had to look twice though to make sure it wasn't yours. The Rebel is spreading lol
 
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