Long time no see - I'm still here

[david85]

Hi guys,

Been a while since I've checked in. College and now work keep me pretty busy. This is actually my first post since the forum was updated, so yeah its been a while.

I still have the old beast and although it runs like a top, its seen better days. The cab is pretty much the only part left of the body that's salvageable. Fenders are toast, hood is borderline and box would need both sides replaced along with some patching in the bed floor.

My hope was to start replacing sheet metal this winter but that will have to be put off at least until the new year.

Anyway, I was wondering what else is new and exciting in the IDI world. I'm thinking of replacing my ATS 088 turbocharger with something that can push a little more air.

Are the same options still true as when I last looked? (Banks, hypermax and ATS??)

Are there any wicked IDI builds that I missed?

 

[The Warden]

Holy mackerel, look what the cat dragged in...welcome back

Some have done some more exotic work to get different turbos hooked up, but generally, yeah, Banks, ATS, and Hypermax are the names of the game.

There's an IH truck restoration/IDI swap documented here: http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?61405-My-friend-s-1974-1310-Turbo-IDI-build! ...that's the best recent build I can think of.

I know what you mean about life keeping you busy; I find myself posting less often as of late for much the same reason...I still try to stick my head in when I have time, though...

 

[88beast]

ya ya missed a lot

but im finishing up myturbo setup and may come up with an ats upgrade kit, with a t70 ( same thing i did)

 

[Agnem]

Welcome back! Glad to hear the old girl is still in salvageable shape. I ran across an excellent company making quality steel body parts right here in the U.S. in Youngstown Ohio, at the last Carlisle event I went to. The company is Rolling Steel Body Parts, and Ron Stelmarski is the owner. His number is 216-299-7612. I was looking for a fender for the Iron Moose, and he had some cab corners and stuff there as well. Nice heavy gauge stuff. I was glad to find out there were alternatives to the cheap import stuff.

You were asking about turbo stuff. I debuted a new turbo setup at the IDI Weekend. There's pics of it in this thread.

 

[laserjock]

I ran across an excellent company making quality steel body parts right here in the U.S. in Youngstown Ohio, at the last Carlisle event I went to. The company is Rolling Steel Body Parts, and Ron Stelmarski is the owner. His number is 216-299-7612. I was looking for a fender for the Iron Moose, and he had some cab corners and stuff there as well. Nice heavy gauge stuff. I was glad to find out there were alternatives to the cheap import stuff.
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Mel, do you know if they sell direct or via distributors? A quick search doesn't turn up much on them.

 

[freebird01]

ive bought from rolling steel before....prolly close to 8 years ago.... nice stuff.

 

[david85]

I might have to give them a call on my next set of days off. I wish I could find a decent 80-86 box but no luck. Still seeing 87-96 boxes but I want to keep the explorer trim package with all the right lines.

 

[FordGuy100]

I was wondering where you have been!

 

[laserjock]

You could possibly do bed sides. It's not that big a job (on the 87-97 beds anyway) if you have a little mig welder. I think repop bed sides are available for the older trucks.

 

[david85]

Bed sides is probably the most reasonable route right now. I have mig and tig welders at my disposal so it should be fairly straight forward. Not sure what kind of quality I can expect from aftermarket bedsides though. I have occasionally looked for a good tech write up or even just some written account of replacing bedsides on this era of truck but nothing yet. I'd be choked if the new steel turned out to be paper thin.