1978 Crew Cab F250 4X4, 7.3 POWERSTROKE Conversion

FYI, this build is not dead. I have just been super busy with consulting and general day to day with my kid.

Big change since my last post though.

Friend of mine has a pole barn. Said friend has allowed me to not only store Eleanor in his pole barn, but to work on it while its stored there. Extra extra bonus (for anyone who lives in MI), ITS HEATED. so now that its moved, time for more progress.
Additional bonus, my friend has a son the same age as my boy, so they can play together while dad plays in the pole barn.

Done with one client, so now I have some additional free time to get to crackin on this pig...

nice!!!

have I asked where you lived before?

live life full throttle

god bless america and the farmer who feeds your fat ass

Sub'd for updates.

lincolnlocker said:

nice!!!

have I asked where you lived before?

live life full throttle

god bless america and the farmer who feeds your fat ass

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I am over on the western side of Michigan, in a little suburb of Christianity known as Zeeland, MI.

08strokin said:

Sub'd for updates.

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Welcome aboard the train that never seems to end!

1killerz said:

I am over on the western side of Michigan, in a little suburb of Christianity known as Zeeland, MI.

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oh cool!! drove by there a gazillion times.. lol

live life full throttle

god bless america and the farmer who feeds your fat ass

New Home

As discussed, moved Eleanor to my buddy's pole barn. As it is essentially climate controlled (fancy talk for heated with a roof), weather will no longer be a hindrance.

We cleaned out the bed (again), and removed all the tools and bits we had in the cab.


Plenty of room to do what needs to be done.

The bumper has been adjusted and new mounts made. It now fits better than previously.



Plenty of room to do what needs to be done.

Ran out of time Saturday. Was able to complete the following:
1. bring all shop manuals out
2. bring out electrical schematics for the donor
3. start labeling factory wire harness
4. remove rest of dash components
5. Install my Pina Colada air freshner (smells like strippers from Missouri)

Leave Missouri and our strippers out of this!

old96stroker said:

Leave Missouri and our strippers out of this!

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Hahahaha we always went across the river to Illinois...

OP, love the project!

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old96stroker said:

Leave Missouri and our strippers out of this!

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LOL. It wasn't a bad thing. It was right across the river, so I guess technically southern Illinois strippers. ullover:

cbf9703 said:

Hahahaha we always went across the river to Illinois...

OP, love the project!

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We did too. My oldest was stationed at Scott's AFB. Went down for his 21st. Went across the bridge as well...for some cotton candy and pina coladas...

1killerz said:

We did too. My oldest was stationed at Scott's AFB. Went down for his 21st. Went across the bridge as well...for some cotton candy and pina coladas...

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My sister used to live in Collinsville and work by the base. We would go over from Cape Girardeau when in town and there wasn't anything else going on... Always entertaining, although half the time just from people watching in the classy establishments.

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update

Old wiring harness is finally out of Eleanor. Made a list of internals that I will replace just in case, since the dash is already out:
1. Heater core
2. Heater blower
3. windshield wiper motor
4. sound deadener

Anybody have any other suggestions?

Pictures or no proof

As stated, I got the old 1978 harness out of Eleanor. Not really very exciting, but some good reference pictures for myself.

Buzzer


reference:


These will need to be modified to hold the thicker harness


cleared out:


Not much room here;


Modern-ish technology portal to link to the "brain"

need a break

Between my business, the truck, and other normal stuff, twas time for our annual-ish run for the best place IMO to be an adult and do adult things; Key West

Now that my head was cleared after the mini-vacation, time to lay out the harness to see where everything needs to go.

Before I do, word to the wise. When flying out of O'Hare airport, a 1996 CC with 35" tires and an 8ft box will fit, just barely, in their short term and valet parking. (yes, I valet parked Lucifer. Ran out of time to find a spot to accommodate the behemoth.)

So we got everything roughed in to see where we will need to make modifications to the harness. Had to remove the hood to give us better angles to work in.











Also contacted Wild Horses about their 78-79 BIG BUBBA REAR BUMPER W/ TIRE RACK, Item #: PF310, modified to hold two tires versus just the one swing arm. Should hear today if its a go, including modifying to fit an F250 instead of the Full Size Bronco.

Wild Horses is still looking into my bumper thought. Looks doable on their end. Won't know for another week.
On a side note, looks like I will need to replace the front floor boards. While we were underneath removing some old wiring, noticed fiberglass. Closer look, and with a second opinion from the fab guy, it needs them replaced. But that's down the road.

This is going to be great when your done. Keep your eye on the prize!! I don't remember if you discussed color or not yet. Are you sticking with the black? You looking at gear changes in the axles or are the ratios good?