It's Running Like A Champ

[k_williams1982]

Just thought that I'd tell everyone that it's finally up and going. I have to really thank Punkmechanic and Towcat for on their help and advice to get this together. I got it running after timing it and replacing melted wiring, but when I took off it slipped in first REALLY bad. Justin came down on Saturday and we dropped two transmissions and installed the good one into the crewcab in just one day. I also swapped the turbo over. I got the exhaust welded up today and bolted the seats back in it after work today and fired it up around 11pm tonight. I took it for a test run and it worked great (no more slipping). I was scared at first that I had messed up something on the turbo because I would rev it and get no boost... then Justin told me that the engine has to be under a "load" to built boost, so I took it out on the road and test drove it. Sure enough, the boost started to built while driving. I haven't taken it over 5 psi because this is the first time that this motor has has a turbo on it and I want to take it easy to see how it reacts. I've still got a few minor things to fix, but at least it's drivable now. I just want to thank everyone on here for talking me out of selling the standard cab I had posted on CL. It's sad that I ended up parting it to complete this truck, but if I had sold it, I'd never been able to put this truck together. I'll get pics on here as soon as possible.

 

[subway]

congrates havent posted much but i followed the story and am glad to hear it has a happy ending.

i wouldent worry to much about the turbo, first thing i did when i slapped mine on at 178,000 was find a big hill by my house and give it the hammer (i did test for leaks first)

crew cabs rock

 

[hesutton]

That's great to hear. That '85 CC F350 is freak'n sweet! I really, really, really, wish I had a crew cab of that vintage.

Heath

 

[k_williams1982]

I thought that something was wrong today because when idling in gear with my foot on the brake, there was a weird sound coming from down by the transmission. As soon as I'd let off the brake, it'd stop. At certain RPM's, the sound would come back for a second or two and gone again. I had my fiancee hold the brake with the truck in gear and I went under the truck, but no sounds from the transmission. I called Towcat and he said to check the engine, transmission, transfer case, and exhaust for any points where something is touching the body... Sure enough, the band clamp off the turbo is just barely touching the heat shield above the transmission. I pulled the trailer with it tonight and when I pulled the butte, it did great. At 55 mph, the boost rides about 2 psi and with a little more throttle, it climbs to about 5 psi. Pulling the hill loaded, I pushed it on up to 8 psi, and it didn't give me any troubles at all. It's nice to be pulling a hill and as you press the throttle, a little whistle can be heard and away you go. I'll be working on a few more little problems, but everything should be worked out soon.

As to the comment about a truck of this vintage... I've been looking for this era of truck that's 4x4 and crew cab for about 6-7 years now. I've found plenty that are all ready "fixed up", but I wanted one that I could make the way I want it. My dad had a '86 F350 4x4 Crew Cab with a 6.9 NA engine about 7 years ago, and I've wanted one every since. I finally got it now, and with three kids I need it.

 

[punkmechanic]

glad to hear the noise wasnt a one way clutch like I thought. how are the buckets working out for you? I like the stock bench that you had, its real comfy (coulda been bad coming back at 4am lol, heat blasting, michelle out cold in the passenger seat, and its a dark mountain road... I just kept downing energy drinks and going way under the speed limit.) btw, I found one of your 3/8ths extensions in my toolbox, and I found out why the drivers sear rocks around, the slider bars under it are broke! Im gonna get some from you pull it and fix it, no biggy.

 

[tractorman86]

congrats for getting it going despite all my coments from the peanut gallery , sounds like a heck of a truck!! we are waiting on pics!!! thank got you got home alright justin, i played that game a little while ago and lost!

 

[k_williams1982]

glad to hear the noise wasnt a one way clutch like I thought. how are the buckets working out for you? I like the stock bench that you had, its real comfy (coulda been bad coming back at 4am lol, heat blasting, michelle out cold in the passenger seat, and its a dark mountain road... I just kept downing energy drinks and going way under the speed limit.) btw, I found one of your 3/8ths extensions in my toolbox, and I found out why the drivers sear rocks around, the slider bars under it are broke! Im gonna get some from you pull it and fix it, no biggy.

I found your 13mm and you found my extension. The buckets are working good for me... Kara says that the bench was more comfortable, but I like sitting a little higher up (makes it easier to see what's around the fenders). Let me know what you need off the '86 because I listed it for parts on Craig's List and the emails are rolling in. One guy wants the bed and tailgate, another wants the whole engine for parts to fix his, then there's a guy that wants the axles and some body panels, and the last email tonight was for the springs. Sounds like I won't need a truck to haul the old one off. At this rate, what's left will fit in the trunk of Kara's Protege.

The downpipe was up against the heat shield and rattling. I bent the heat shield back a little bit and it stopped (at least for now). If it starts again, I'm just just to raise the body a little to clear it a little easier. I love driving this thing around town. If I manually shift it through the gears, I can get a nice little "rap" out of the exhaust before I shift it. I've put about 100 miles on it between yesterday and today. I want to stay close to home with it to work out any "bugs" before I take it on a road trip anywhere. I have a question... What would cause the defrost to not work? I only get air out of the panel vents. I checked the connections and hoses on the back of the climate controller, and everything is plugged in. If anybody close by has a left rear door glass that will fit a '85, please let me know. I need one.

 

[k_williams1982]

Here are the pics I have of the truck so far. I'll get better ones soon (These were taken with my camera on my phone).

 

[seawalkersee]

What kind of milage you get?

Chris

 

[zpd307]

i hear ya on the crewcab deal. my 3rd, all boys, came this july. even with this big ass truck, we take up all the seat space. the funny thing is they all have no trouble falling asleep in it with all the diesel racket and bumps!

 

[k_williams1982]

What kind of milage you get?

Chris

Haven't had a chance to check yet (Need to be able to afford to fill at least one of the tanks ). The standard cab that had the turbo and 3.55 gears was getting 20mpg, so I'm hoping that this one will get at least 16-17.

 

[k_williams1982]

i hear ya on the crewcab deal. my 3rd, all boys, came this july. even with this big ass truck, we take up all the seat space. the funny thing is they all have no trouble falling asleep in it with all the diesel racket and bumps!

This is my fourth IDI and my kids have never had a problem falling asleep in any of them. My youngest, Emily, accually falls asleep better in the diesels than the gaspots. I think it has something to do with the vibration.

 

[subway]

This is my fourth IDI and my kids have never had a problem falling asleep in any of them. My youngest, Emily, accually falls asleep better in the diesels than the gaspots. I think it has something to do with the vibration.

yea i get the same thing, my rug rats can knock right out in my truck were they wont in the smooth car.

your truck should be cable driven ducts, leaves and crap can build up in the ducts and cause you headackes (allong with being a fire hazzerd). that might be your next look-see if the controls and cables are working.

 

[k_williams1982]

I'll check that out in the morning. I had a scare tonight and had to call Towcat just to make sure everything was okay with my truck. I pulled an old Chevy 4x4 on my trailer tonight and while I was pulling Lava Butte, the guy that was following me flashed his lights at me. Kara and I looked in the side mirror to see "sparks" coming out of the exhaust pipe! I pulled it over and ran back to find small pieces of "soot" flying out of the exhaust. I freaked and called Towcat. Tonight was the finsh time I've had the boost over 6psi (It was running about 8.5psi at the steepest part of the hill), and it seems that with all the bumping, cutting, and welding that the exhaust has went through swapping it over that I had knocked a bunch of buildup loose and the loose "soot" and exhaust heat was "igniting" the little particals. I left the truck idle for a few minutes, and pulled back out of the road with no other problems the rest of the trip.

 

[subway]

yea that wouldn't scare me much, i have had that happen when i was towing a Jetta with my CJ. my father in law following me thought i was chain smoking and throwing out the butts every few minutes.

don't worry the new truck jitters get better as you learn your truck.