1989 f150 unknown project

little luke · Mar 25, 2015

I passed on an f250 dually ranger that had a big block, thing was ragged out, and I had to drive an hrs to go get it. It was 2wd, had it been 4x4 id proboly be using it instead of the 300. Even on bald tires I can't hang this thing up in mud or snow. The rear suspension is so wore out I can stand on the bumper and squat the truck down about half way. Truck came with 1600lb springs, im going to wait on ordering front suspension till I see how high the back is raised with the f250 springs. Im one of the odd people that likes a factory stance. Not a fan of the bull dog stance, or even leveled trucks (even though they do look good unloaded). Im trying to decided on a bed. Factory bed is still in decent shape besides one big dent and the tail gait snapped off. Im kinda liking this, just with some tool boxes under the deck.

lincolnlocker · Mar 25, 2015

thats cool^^^

live life full throttle

little luke · Mar 25, 2015

Ok I need some help. The local ford dealer wants something around $300 to do an alignment. An old ford mechanic told me that ball joints were proboly shot and the stock alignment bushing was worn. If this is the case, should I just be able to pull the stock bushing when I do ball joints, order one with the same offset and place it back in the hub at the same position and have the truck true again? Assuming I keep the stock ride height in the front. Also, is there anyway to measure if the front coils are sagging? I believe one of the previous owner used this truck to plow with.

Also, anyone with first hand experience if a 32x11.5 will rub anything at full lock or while flexing? There is only a $40 difference between the 31x10.5 and the 32x11.5, but I was wanting the 32s because they are rated at 25xxlb and the 31 are 22xxlb

little luke · Mar 25, 2015

For anybody that thinks painting bed liner with a roller is a good idea, its not. Its easy to trap air and you get tiny bubbles. When the heat hits, they turn into big bubbles. When it warms up ill hit the hole truck with a belt sander again, just to smooth out the liner and ill spray a few new coats.

little luke · Mar 27, 2015

This stuff showed up last night. Im kind of glad because the place I was renting an excavator for on Sunday called and said they wouldn't have one available. Hate not getting anything accomplished on my day off.

little luke · Mar 29, 2015

Little progress today. Last night i was trying to find what the bed weighed to figure out if i needed to go find my tractor. I ended up cutting the heads off of the bolts, undid the electrical and fuel neck. Turns out its pretty light, I picked up the ass end and drug the head of the bed to the bumper, then stood it up and carried it my back out of the shop. Two people would be all it takes.

Anywho, the old wore out 3+1 1600lb springs are out, the new 4+1 2450lb springs are in. Measuring off the bumper, the ass end now sets 4" higher then it did with no bed. Before I could stand on the tail end and bounce the truck close to the stops, now it gives about like my super duty. The ride is more to my liking too.

little luke · Apr 1, 2015

For the price, im loving these tires.

little luke · Apr 5, 2015

Stripped down the ass end and have been using a grinder to remove the rust. The outside is easy, but the inside is going to be tough. I don't have a large air compressor, but I have an industrial 220v pressure sprayer with a diesel heater. Ive been looking at these sandblasting attachments for pressure sprayers. I will proboly try to have something fixed up by next weekend.

lincolnlocker · Apr 5, 2015

lookin good... why not just powerwash the frame and get some POR?

live life full throttle

little luke · Apr 6, 2015

Ive read some many mixed reviews on por15 that I really don't want to try it on this vehicle. It seems to be very tough but people have issues with it flaking. I think the price was something over $150 a gallon and thats money i can put somewhere else. Ive got 3 gallons of rustoleum heavy rust primer and a few gallons of gloss black left over from another deal that I need to use up.

lincolnlocker · Apr 6, 2015

10-4.. that should work too

live life full throttle

little luke · Apr 10, 2015

How much weight can a 8.8 axle hold? Im trying to decided about what to do about the bed. What I have drawn up, just the frame and wood deck without the headache rack, its heavier then I like. At 1/4" wall 2x2 and 2x4 tubing, I come up with roughly 775lb. If I drop down to 3/16 I can cut the weight down to around 625lb, and if I go 1/4 aluminum 380 lb

vcassens · Apr 10, 2015

little luke said:
How much weight can a 8.8 axle hold? Im trying to decided about what to do about the bed. What I have drawn up, just the frame and wood deck without the headache rack, its heavier then I like. At 1/4" wall 2x2 and 2x4 tubing, I come up with roughly 775lb. If I drop down to 3/16 I can cut the weight down to around 625lb, and if I go 1/4 aluminum 380 lb

You could also cut some weight down if you use c channel. If you use tubing it will rust from the inside out. Also most factory steel flat beds are made with c channel

little luke · Apr 10, 2015

vcassens said:
You could also cut some weight down if you use c channel. If you use tubing it will rust from the inside out. Also most factory steel flat beds are made with c channel

Thanks, I guess ive never really taken a look under a flat bed, even though proboly more then 30 come through my lot every day. I redid the math and I believe that using c channel will put the frame and deck around 450lb and make it quite abit cheaper as well

psduser1 · Apr 10, 2015

little luke said:
Thanks, I guess ive never really taken a look under a flat bed, even though proboly more then 30 come through my lot every day. I redid the math and I believe that using c channel will put the frame and deck around 450lb and make it quite abit cheaper as well

If you use square tubing, 1/8" wall is plenty, properly designed. Channel is better.

little luke · Apr 15, 2015

I picked up the channel today, other than that haven't had much time to mess with this thing. Coworkers have been dropping like flys so its been longer work days again. I got bored and started shooting the outside of the frame. Im wanting to build and auxiliary fuel tank. This truck only came with a single tank and seems to only be 14-16 gallons, which annoys the piss out of me. How thick of metal should I use to build a tank.

vcassens · Apr 16, 2015

You might be able to drop in a bronco tank. I'm thinking they are like 38 gallons

little luke · Apr 16, 2015

Ok, I did some looking on the bronco tank. The stock tank is 7.5" deep. The bronco tank (33 gallon)is little over 15" deep but the other deminsions are smaller, but then I found 38 gallon tank option that is only 13" deep, but retain the other factory dimensions. I believe this is the route ill take after pricing the tank new for $135.