Tow Tool

[Hadfield4WD]

Tow Tool. That’s what it is, a tool for towing.

So here it is in all its glory. 1985 Crew Cab Dually with 460 and 4 speed no OD. Pretty base truck. It’s got new seats, clutch, water pump, master cylinder. Following is the list of repairs. I’ve already bought/ordered most of the stuff I need. As far as the bed I don’t think I’ll be able to find a 26 year old bed around so I’ll either make a flat bed or buy a utility bed.

List of repairs
Fuel
o Rebuild Carb
o Replace all soft lines
o Fuel Pump
o Remove tanks, clean and reinstall
Exhaust
o Headers
o Dual Exhaust-H pipe and mufflers
o Remove all EGR stuff
Under hood
o Battery
o Flush Rad
o Change oil
o Air filter
o Plugs
o Cap
o Rotor
Chassis
o Shocks
o Go over steering ends
o Go over brakes
o Go over all U-Joints
Tires – Used
New Windshield
Body
o Fix all rust
o Build flat bed
o Lights
o Mud flaps


Future Mods
o Bucket Seats
o Intake
o Cam
o Wheel covers
o A/C

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_5591.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_5590.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_5592.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_5593.jpg

Pretty sure there’s a big stinking engine under all that EGR crap. It’s all going away.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_5594.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_5595.jpg

[BroncoMike]

Gonna put ya a flat bed on it?

[Tiny]

Hey dude, nice find. I have a set of bucket seats with a fixed back"they dont lean back". There grey velour & vinyl with a "FORD" emblem stitched in the headrest. I bought them 5 years ago for a 420hp turbo charged 2.3 4cyl Ranger that I had built. The week I bought the seats I endoed it into a creek before I ever installed them. If youre interested give me a call.

[Gubni]

It shouldn't be that hard to find a bed for it.

[Tiny]

I believe that any bed from 80-97 will work.

[yoder519]

man shes a beast!!!! always loved the looks of those trucks. looks to be a 2wd?

[1-tonmudder]

Pretty sure there’s a big stinking engine under all that EGR crap. It’s all going away.


Will it pass insp w/o it???

[Hadfield4WD]

Will it pass insp w/o it???

Yes

[96 coutry cherokee]

very nice!!!!

[Hadfield4WD]

Parts are showing up.

Headers
Tires
Carb rebuild
Gaskets
Fuel pump

It has about 20 gallons of old gas in the tanks I need to drain. I got the containers and siphon. Getting rid of it will be a pain though. Our county will take 5 gallons 1 time per month so it'll either take me 4 months to get rid of legally or I need to get me friends together on a saturday to make it happen.

[Want2Wheel]

I wish you were closer. I need to burn a pile of wood at my house.

[Hadfield4WD]

Well the local lawn mower repair shop let me dump it in their bin so I could get rid of it legally.



So I’ve been working on it. Rims are painted black with the new/used tires, I’ll be getting chrome domes for the lug nuts. I also have 2 spares I picked up. New Windshield. Fuel tanks are cleaned out. I had a hard time finding the pickup’s because apparently my truck is a mid year truck. They went to fuel injection in mid year and mines a carb. The FI pickups have a return line and an extra contact for 12v to the intank pump.

I have replaced all the fuel lines as well as the pump.

Took all the EGR stuff off.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_5628.jpg

Yep there is a motor under all that crap.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_5626.jpg

Rebuilt the carb.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/IMG00266-20110423-1837.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/IMG00267-20110423-1837.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/IMG00268-20110423-1838.jpg

Got the headers and installed the passenger side. When I took off the driver side manifold the previous owner had already replaced the gasket only to find he broke off 2 bolts in the head. I can’t get in with an angle drill so the head comes off.

I love these old trucks. I can really get into it.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6003.jpg

[Brad]

I've got a freshly painted white dually bed with tailgate new tailights ill take 500$ for it
Can contact me at (423)647-2988

[99NCXJ]

I've got a freshly painted white dually bed with tailgate new tailights ill take 500$ for it
Can contact me at (423)647-2988

That sounds like what you need!

I took a look at this truck the other day while passing through town. It's going to make a nice tow pig.

[Hadfield4WD]

Head off.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/IMG00303-20110520-1119.jpg

[96 coutry cherokee]

Not to bad!!! Keep it comin!!!! :D

[Hadfield4WD]

I got the exhaust welded up. Hedman headers into 2 ½” tubes. Running to a 2 into 1 magnaflow knock off, big body muffler with a 3" outlet. Should be pretty free flowing. Sounds decent without being too loud. The stock muffler was pretty restrictive.

Got the carb tuned and running decently.

Running video.\/ \/

Tow rigs :: VID00003-20110608-1225.mp4 video by hadfield4wd - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid85.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/VID00003-20110608-1225.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@vid85@@AMEPARAM@@85@@AMEPARAM@ @k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/VID00003-20110608-1225@@AMEPARAM@@mp4

Once I get it up and down the road a couple times my carb genius friend is going to check to see what kind of rejetting I'll need.

The local O’Reilly’s manager found the rear fuel sender and the tank selector vavle. I’ll have it today or tomorrow. It’s got a bad ujoint so I have the rear shaft out. I’ll get the joint in then the shaft back in.

Just need to work on a bed, rear wiring and hitch.

[highrolrcustoms]

sounds good....looking at the pic of the motor with head off it appears that the motor was taken care of....i dont see any sludge build up

[Gubni]

So how did it go this weekend?

[Tiny]

Im kind of partial to the Rig look. Why not put some fenders over the rear tires like the big rigs, paint the frame, goose neck hitch and reciever hitch and roll it down the road. Just a thaught!

[dmoore714]

Im kind of partial to the Rig look. Why not put some fenders over the rear tires like the big rigs, paint the frame, goose neck hitch and reciever hitch and roll it down the road. Just a thaught!

Something like this (http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/photos/fast-furious-cars-1967-chevrolet-truck-gallery.html)?

[Tiny]

yeah but not the stacks. or the big 24.5 wheels. Just a nice clean look that is function over fashion.

[Hadfield4WD]

So how did it go this weekend?

I had some family commitments.

Im kind of partial to the Rig look. Why not put some fenders over the rear tires like the big rigs, paint the frame, goose neck hitch and reciever hitch and roll it down the road. Just a thaught!

I want a functioning bed so I pick up my steel for the flat bed today. I will have less than $250 in the bed so I think that's pretty good.

Just a nice clean look that is function over fashion.

Thats the story of my life.:tongue3: I wouldn't mind 19.5's eventually.

[Tiny]

Sweet. I know where a set of alcoa 22.5s reg single in the front and a super single for the rear" one wide rear tire as to dual skiny tires"

[Hadfield4WD]

All the steel is home. The cross braces are cut. I have 2" spaces then individual shims. Since this truck was originally a pickup the frame rails are not flat like a chassis cab. So all the mounting locations are a different height. I drilled about 400 holes today.

[Gubni]

Wow that's a lot of holes. Do sharpen ur own bits or buy a dozen?

[Hadfield4WD]

Wow that's a lot of holes. Do sharpen ur own bits or buy a dozen?

I'm very careful. Figure I ended up with 9/16" hole for the bolts. I start with an 1/8" pilot then go to a unibit up to 1/2" then a single 9/16" bit. I go slow and use cutting fluid. It would make sense to drill all the pilot holes then all the unibits etc, but I don't do that. The bits will get too hot then not work, so I swap them out alot trying to keep them cool. Plus I have several of each size bit until you get over 1/2". Then they start to get really expensive.

I have an old drill bit sharpener, but I've found once they are dull and I sharpen them they essentially lose their temper and are worthless for steel. So I have a bunch of bits that are wood only. I keep them seperate.

[Gubni]

That sounds about right. I use transmission fluid in a oil can dispenser.

[Hadfield4WD]

Got alot more time on it yesterday.
Got the hitch on.
Left to do:
Stake pockets and steel "strap" for tieing down
1 more brace for the hitch area
Headache rack
1/8" on front and rear of the inside portion to sit the wood on and give it a place to screw it down
gas filler tubes
safety chain loops
mud flaps
stain and cut wood to fit
lights
paint
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/IMG00404-20110709-1953.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/IMG00405-20110709-1953.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/IMG00406-20110709-1953.jpg
no it's not crooked. It's camera angle and the fact that the frame drops down lower in the front corner. :flipoff7:

[Hokie_YJ]

Looking good!

[Gubni]

no it's not crooked. It's camera angle and the fact that the frame drops down lower in the front corner. :flipoff7:

Are there gussets for the hitch part where it goes down from the main body? Do you have bushings for the bed to body mounts? Is the hitch part of the frame or the body?

[Want2Wheel]

Thats a good lookijng bed. Are you going to have a headache bar at the front? I like the back corners. Keep up the good work.

[Hadfield4WD]

Are there gussets for the hitch part where it goes down from the main body?

Yes there are but they're not on yet. I've got some 4" channel to go on. The bolt holes are laid out. Nut need to drill them then weld it on the hitch portion and bolt to the frame.

Do you have bushings for the bed to body mounts?
No bushings. There are 5 holes in the frame for mounting. I looked at a bunch of beds before I started this one. No flat beds use bushings. Some use wood for the contours and u bolts.


Is the hitch part of the frame or the body?
It's part of the bed itself. The horizontal 2x4 is 3/16". The 2 vertical pieces are 1/4 3x3. It's way overkill. The flat piece is 1/8" but is there mostly for looks. It hides the back portion of the truck frame and rear gas tank. After the braces are on I pity the person who runs into me.


Thats a good lookijng bed. Are you going to have a headache bar at the front? I like the back corners. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the compliment. For starters it's getting a front bulkhead up to the rear window. It will eventually be getting a headache rack. I'm a firm believer in them and I won't put anything (except our bikes) in the back over the bulkhead area until there is some protection there, keep in mind my boys will be riding in the back seat (somehow I don't think my daughter will be seen in this).

I like the look of the corners. It would have been much easier to just square it off but I was vane and wanted something that looked kinda cool.:icon_redface:

[Hadfield4WD]

messed up pic links.

[Hadfield4WD]

Updated pics. It was literally 100deg today so I was a little warm welding.

Stake pockets and rub rails done.
The fuel fillers are in.
I added the brace for the hitch area.
The 1/8” on the front and rear for bolting the wood down to is on as well.
Lights are on but not wired.

I had to make access for the fuel filler. I had no other way to do it that wouldn’t make the pump shut off. I started looking at other beds and they have the cutouts as well. So I don’t feel all that about it.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6573.jpg



http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6572.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6574.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6571.jpg

[Gubni]

Cool - it's all in the details as to wether it's functional or done right.

[Hadfield4WD]

Done. Just need an inspection sticker.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6595.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6597.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6596.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6599.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6598.jpg

Tow tool - YouTube

[Gubni]

That video would be soo much cooler if you were doing donuts. lol

[BroncoMike]

Nice work and also agree with Shawn!

[99NCXJ]

Looks great Matt. Did you treat the wood with Thompsons or something?

[96 coutry cherokee]

Looks great!!!!

[Hadfield4WD]

Looks great Matt. Did you treat the wood with Thompsons or something?

Thompsons is evil. It's a sealer that doesn't seal well then when water gets in it's too late for the wood. I used "oil based stain". I bought the treated a while ago and had it drying on stickers to allow for good airflow and even drying. Not in direct sun, this will warp it. I stained both sides before I put it down. Water will tend to sit on the cross beams and the wood will rot there. The wood will last a long time this way. My trailer is done the same way. I restain it every year. My dad used to build trailers when he had the time. When he moved to VA 3 years ago the sold a 20 year old trailer with the original wood deck. It was maintained the same way.

It's got an inspection sticker now so I"m good to go. Just running it around to work out the kinks.

[Gubni]

Why not use pressure treated wood?

[Hadfield4WD]

I bought the treated a while ago

Why not use pressure treated wood?

I did.

I do miss having my dads sawmill handy though. Just cut what I needed. We built one trailer out of walnut because that is what we had laying around. It looked really good and it was small trailer for a yuppie so he paid extra for the looks.

[Gubni]

If it's pressure treated why seal it?

[Hadfield4WD]

If it's pressure treated why seal it?

That's the difference it's not sealed. The oil based stain soaks into the wood. oil and water don't mix so the water doesn't soak in. That is why I waited for the wood to dry.

The reason being is pressure treated alone will not last as long as with the stain.

Also the stain looks better and was cheap and easy.

[dmoore714]

I bought the treated a while ago and had it drying on stickers to allow for good airflow and even drying.

Best way to do it. The houses I worked on in NC all had pressure treated decks. Even after a week of sitting in our warehouse, the boards in the center of the pallet would still feel damp to the touch... and sometimes the chemicals would squeeze out around the fasteners. We used to tell the owners to wait at least 6 months before staining.

The truck looks great. Sounds great too.

[yoder519]

man that thing looks great. nice work thats a sharp truck

[Hadfield4WD]

So I've been screwing around with tuning the carb. It's an EGR carb that no longer has EGR functioning so it took a while. I think I got it settled down now.

Also while I had it off I made a block off plate for my EGR. For all I know the valve was leaking and exhaust was getting into the intake.

There is still a slight hesitation but it's easy to drive around. So I'm calling the motor done (for now). I need to put in my brake controller and continue to change out filters until all the crud is out of the tanks.

Also had to put a heater core in so I changed the hoses going to the heater core as well.

[Hadfield4WD]

Drove to harlan. Great trip. Truck did good. Got to work some minor kinks out kinks out. The front tank has some kind of pin hole in the line. It was sucking air but only after it was below half a tank and I only noticed it when we had a long hill to climb. I'm going to cut out the filler necks this week and raise them. Filling up sucks it's way to slow and I wouldn't loan the truck out like that. Fuel consumption (notice I didn't say economy) was 6mpg average. We were pretty heavy. Next time we will get the bikes on the trailer and that should help. Just didn't have time for the brackets before we left.
Thanksgiving morning.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/loaded.jpg
The day after at one of our many fuel stops.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/Loadedup.jpg
1000lbs of bikes
4500lbs of Jeep
1000lbs of gear (in the tarp Burrito and piled in the jeep.)
2000lbs of trailer
700lbs of people
5500lbs of truck
Total 14,700lbs
Cruising
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/cluster.jpg
Mostly did 60. 65 just felt like the motor was too fast. Pulled it fine.

[Hadfield4WD]

So I’ve been having some fueling issues. First when the front tank got below half it was sucking air into the line. I could see bubbles in the filter. Also I needed to drop and coat both tanks so I did that and found 2 pinhole leaks that were causing the bubbles. I also couldn’t get fuel in the tank. I was painfully slow. I had to hold the nozzle as slow as it would go. No even to the first click. So I raised the fillers. I had to make a filler piece to cover the big hole. In addition to cut out the sides. They do stick up however I can at least put the pump on the slowest click and not get gas all over my feet when the tanks are full. In addition I added some vent lines that come up the neck. The end result is better. I can only fill up on the slowest but that much better than before. Here are pictures of the new fillers.

Before:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_6572.jpg

After:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_7060.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/100_7061.jpg

[99NCXJ]

Looks good. I need to replace the filler neck on my f350. It has holes rusted all over it and I have to hold the nozzle at just the right angle to keep from dripping diesel all over the ground. That stuff ain't cheap so I try not to lose any. The bad thing is the replacement neck from ford is $300.00.

[Gubni]

Looks good. I need to replace the filler neck on my f350. It has holes rusted all over it and I have to hold the nozzle at just the right angle to keep from dripping diesel all over the ground. That stuff ain't cheap so I try not to lose any. The bad thing is the replacement neck from ford is $300.00.

Napa sells filler neck hose.

[Tiny]

Good looking truck. Stoped by to see Mat fri. It is looking great.

[Hadfield4WD]

Since I just sold my trailer I had some money to spend on the truck.

I just ordered
Cam
timing set
intake
carb

Also I was set on getting 3.54's but after talking to Shawn on Saturday I'm leaning more towards 3.73's. Better gaps between the gears and it will do better at 50 than 3.54's.

I can't decide what gears to go with. Either 3.55 or 3.73

3.54 Gears 3.73 4.11
50mph 1874rpm 1975rpm 2176rpm
60mph 2249rpm 2370rpm 2611rpm
70mph 2624rpm 2765rpm 3047rpm
So do you think? 3.54's vs 3.73
My concern is if/when I drop to 50 on a hill will I be able to power up it? Also teh taller the gears the larger the gaps in the shifts.
also ordered my tranny rebuild kit.

[1-tonmudder]

I was thinkin about this the other day.I've started on a work truck myself.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g305/1-tonmudder/F-350/001.jpg

[tennbronco]

I've run a variety of vehicles with different gear ranges and would say 3:73 gears is a good option. Less struggle to maintain hghway speeds and good around town.

[ParadisePWoffrD]

i like 3.73s as well. The big thing you need to ask though, once you install your upgraded engine parts, which RPM will it give you better performance.... I would say that there isnt much difference, but the deeper gear will help slightly

[Gubni]

Do you ever plan to change tire size? If so you may want to plan for that.

Also I've been told you can't tell the difference in one step in gear size. With that in mind I would go with 3.55.

[Hadfield4WD]

Do you ever plan to change tire size? If so you may want to plan for that.


No I'll keep what I have.



Also I've been told you can't tell the difference in one step in gear size. With that in mind I would go with 3.55.

You're the one that had me question the 3.54's.:eusa_think:

But if you see the top end I'll gain 282 rpms with 3.73's. I think I'll feel that. It's only another 141 with the 3.54's. And the gear changes with the 3.73's ar better.

[Gubni]

Yep, I just wanted you to thik about it more to make sure you would be happy with your final decision.

BTW - I bet your gas guage will be able to tell the difference too.

[Hadfield4WD]

I like shiny things.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/shinythings.jpg

[Hadfield4WD]

Wow what a long day yesterday. I just need to time get it to TDC and put the distrubutor in.

Everything else is buttoned up. New fuel filter etc. My gasket kit had the stubs. So I feel confident with that.I did break off a bolt in the timing cover which is standard.

The big setback was we were putting everything on and one of the studs for the coil, must have been on by half thread. Knocked it and yep went right down the hole where the distributor goes. For some reason we had pulled the rag out. We fished with the magnet however we couldn't get it so we had to pull the timing cover and waterpump back off and start fishing with the magnet in the pan. We did finally get it out. We figure we lost about 2 hours doing this.:-roll

Got some carb tuning to do. But running good.

rev - YouTube

[Hadfield4WD]

Drove it yesterday. Runs great. It goes for gears and a tranny rebuild tomorrow. I'm extremely happy with the work we did. My buddy Chuck came over and we knocked it out pretty quick.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k51/hadfield4wd/Tow%20rigs/chucktruck.jpg