Trailered home a 1989 F350 dump truck that looks great on the outside, but the 7.3 IDI is something else

[crazydane]

Appreciate the offer @Nero ! But yeah, shipping from OR to VA would be a lot of pennies!

So I pulled out my core support for another look. Here she is:

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So there are the 2 cracks along the top with poor welds (one already came undone from handling it). I think that will be a pretty easy fix for someone with moderate welding skills.

The bigger concern, are the areas below the headlights:

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Other side:

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I can maybe take that to a welder and see if he can weld in 2 fresh pieces? I think there's enough metal left on that one side to make a proper template and the just mirror it for the other side.

 

[Nero]

Those rusty bits are just for the fender liners to bolt to, doesnt have to be crazy reinforced.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

. Unless these are prone to fail (I'm guessing its the original one from '89) so 36 years old. Maybe I should replace it?

Replacing it is up to you. Are the brass/copper radiators prone to failure, eventually. I still prefer running them if I can.

I'm starting to get nervous about my 2 IP cores I sent to CDD:

USPS is HORRIBLE these days. I'm in northwest Kansas. All of our comes in through Wichita, KS. There seems to be some major problems there. The tracking will show a package going along well until it gets to Wichita. Then it might get on through later that day or it might take 5-6 days to get through. I just can't see any rhyme or reason.

but freight might be a penny or two

I'm much closer and I didn't want to offer one of my two for the same reason.

So there are the 2 cracks along the top with poor welds (one already came undone from handling it). I think that will be a pretty easy fix for someone with moderate welding skills.

When I worked on these for a living, we would take a piece of 1" angle iron. Cut it 2-3" long and then weld it to the core support so that it covers the top and the front sides over the cracks. Throw a little paint on it and it didn't look too bad.

 

[Old Goat]

The cracked Core Support might be more prone to 4X4 and
truck`s in a construction environment. More twisting stress on
the Core Support in that area.
I have seen some interesting welding repairs on trucks in PNP,
did a 6 yr old weld this?

My 86 2X1 doesn`t have any cracks, but spent most of it`s life on
pavement. The 87 4X4 I picked up last year, that support has been
welded, patched and cracked. and the lower portion under the
Radiator is just hanging.

When you look at the support where the 2 side pieces meet the
top cross one, there isn`t much metal to strengthen it.
Plus Ford didn`t do much in the paint Dept. to make sure this part
last a long time.


Goat

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I think you're right. The harder the use, the more the core support cracks. The one in my 1985 isn't cracked and it's 4X4. I guess I'm just lucky there.

 

[KansasIDI]

I think you're right. The harder the use, the more the core support cracks. The one in my 1985 isn't cracked and it's 4X4. I guess I'm just lucky there.

The bullnose ones seem to hold up better, at least from what I’ve seen

 

[crazydane]

Looks like both LMC and NPD carries the diesel specific core support.

LMC:

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NPD:

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I'm assuming both will be the same gauge thickness as OEM? Any experience with either?

Also, both state "w/o A/C". Does that just mean they don't come with the brackets to hold the A/C condenser? These guys:

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I filled shopping carts with both LMC and NPD to compare prices.

LMC is about $300 cheaper:

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NPD:

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LMC does not appear to carry the left hand battery tray where NPD does. However, they are $100 a pop, where the right hand one from LMC is only $40. Fender liners are also twice as expensive from NPD, but perhaps better quality? Also, they state they are for gas trucks and needs to be modified for diesel. Not sure what that entails?

 

[crazydane]

Old floor matt:

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Also got rid of the old sound/heat insulation. That left me with this:

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Rear door corners are pretty rotted:

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I'm scared to take a needle scaler to those areas thinking it will more or less remove everything. Can I just use some rust encapsulator instead to keep it from getting worse?

 

[Rdnck84_03]

In my experience with LMC body panels on my 84 k10, the fitment is not very good and is a lighter gauge than factory.

On a core support I wouldn't think there would be much of an issue if the fitment wasn't great since everything that attaches to it has some adjustment. I would definitely be concerned about the material thickness being less than oem thought since they are already prone to breaking.

James

 

[IDIBRONCO]

In my experience with LMC body panels on my 84 k10, the fitment is not very good and is a lighter gauge than factory.

That happens a lot with aftermarket panels like fenders. I'm not saying that it's LMC's fault and I'm not saying that it isn't. I'm just saying don't think that it's just because it's from LMC and that's the only reason.

 

[Rdnck84_03]

That happens a lot with aftermarket panels like fenders. I'm not saying that it's LMC's fault and I'm not saying that it isn't. I'm just saying don't think that it's just because it's from LMC and that's the only reason.

I 100% agree it is the manufacturer of the parts. I have heard there are some manufacturers that do much better with matching the oem quality. I do not remember any of the company names.

I would recommend doing a little research and comparison to figure out which one meets your quality needs and hopefully it somewhat aligns with the amount your willing to spend.

James

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I have heard there are some manufacturers that do much better with matching the oem quality. I do not remember any of the company names.

My boss used to use a brand called Tong Yang. I was skeptical, but I have a friend who owns his own body shop. He said that they actually have pretty good metal. I trust his judgement. He's who I take things to when they need to be painted.

 

[KansasIDI]

Looks like both LMC and NPD carries the diesel specific core support.

LMC:

You must be registered for see images attach

NPD:

You must be registered for see images attach

I'm assuming both will be the same gauge thickness as OEM? Any experience with either?

Also, both state "w/o A/C". Does that just mean they don't come with the brackets to hold the A/C condenser? These guys:

You must be registered for see images attach

I filled shopping carts with both LMC and NPD to compare prices.

LMC is about $300 cheaper:

You must be registered for see images attach

NPD:

You must be registered for see images attach

LMC does not appear to carry the left hand battery tray where NPD does. However, they are $100 a pop, where the right hand one from LMC is only $40. Fender liners are also twice as expensive from NPD, but perhaps better quality? Also, they state they are for gas trucks and needs to be modified for diesel. Not sure what that entails?

Non A/C diesel bullnose and bricknose trucks have different core supports, and radiators, than their a/c equipped counterparts

The difference is negligible with an OBS/aeronose, both a/c and non a/c use the tall narrow radiator that trucks previously equipped with air conditioning used.

 

[KansasIDI]

It might be easier to find a clean used OBS/aeronose front clip, and use that instead. Unless you can find the right core support

 

[crazydane]

Perhaps my best bet is to take my current core to a reputable fabrication shop? I mean all it really needs is to have those welds where the cracks were redone by someone older than 6 years, lol. And then add a couple of fresh flat pieces where the rusted out parts are for the fender liners?

On the home stretch with the engine. I was looking at the fuel returns from the original '89 and the '92 donor and they are different:

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'92 on the left and '89 on the right with the hardline. I think I like the '92 better since it means I won't have to use any caps.

Installed the Tee and it seems a little odd that the return line to the passenger bank runs down low:

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But I guess that's how its supposed to be routed?

Wire harness after final cleaning:

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After being shrink wrapped, taped and loomed:

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Engine is definitely getting close!

My core IPs appears to have been "rediscovered" by the San Antonio postal service after 10 days:

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Hopefully on this go round, they will actually make it down the road to CDD.