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

[crazydane]

Next up was shifting the truck over to the bay with the lift. Tried picking the whole thing up, but I couldn't get it balanced, so I started by shifting the rear:

You must be registered for see images attach

Then the front. It was tricky with the hood on, but I managed without touching it:

You must be registered for see images attach

I then went to the very rear and got it centered in the bay and pushed mostly in:

You must be registered for see images attach

Then a final nudge with the compact tractor:

You must be registered for see images attach

Finally, she's in her new home/bay. I hope it won't be another year before it moves again!

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[crazydane]

With the bed removed, I'm finally able to take a closer look at the rear section of the truck. Mid fuel tank where you can see how they bypassed the stock fuel line:

You must be registered for see images attach

Rear fuel tank:

You must be registered for see images attach

There's more bad wiring to be redone. Plan to replace both tail lights with some nice LED ones.

Diff: What's that sensor on the upper housing?

You must be registered for see images attach

Looks like rear cover was off recently based on the visible orange sealant.

Even more bad wiring:

You must be registered for see images attach

With the engine out, its not very balanced on the lift:

You must be registered for see images attach

But fortunately I have a stand I can put under the rear when working on it.

All in all, great progress this weekend!

 

[Nero]

The sensor on the diff is for the RABS. Some people delete the RABS. I personally like it.

 

[crazydane]

Thanks. I plan on keeping it. The LMC order included a CUSTOM emblem since the passenger side on was missing:

You must be registered for see images attach

That F-350 emblem looks like crap in comparison now, lol.

With the dump bed removed, I also noticed this on the rear glass:

You must be registered for see images attach

I think this was a state truck originally given it had flashers and what not. So I'm thinking they auctioned it off in 2015?

Didn't know Ford had an assembly plant in Norfolk, VA. That's not too far from where I am. Maybe that's related to this being a cab & chassis?

 

[Old Goat]

I'll pick up that tool from O'Reilly. Thanks @Old Goat

I'll hold off on the locker until I get further with the project, but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to make it up my steep hill with a load of dirt in the dump bed, but I'll find out soon enough.

Got a bunch of parts in Friday and yesterday:

You must be registered for see images attach

Liners and battery trays from NPD and everything else from LMC.

I'll need to stretch out the new carpet somehow since it was rolled up and folded for shipping. In addition to the sound and heat reflecting blankets from LMC, I also got a 54 sq. kit. of sound deadening from Vevor:

You must be registered for see images attach

Once I get the floor pan fixed up, I figured I'll roll that on first and then the tar paper looking stuff, then the heat insulator and then finally the new carpet. I'm sure it won't be a limousine quiet ride, but it will hopefully make it quieter than it would otherwise be.

Got the core support cleaned up fairly well at this point:

You must be registered for see images attach

These are all the bits I removed:

You must be registered for see images attach

Broke one bolt getting things apart, but no big deal. Heat and vise grips got it out.

I want to replace those nut/clip thingies I highlighted in red. What are those called and where can I get them?

Ditto on those thin washers highlighted in yellow. Once you push them on the threads of a bolt, they won't come of easily without messing them up. Not sure what those are called either.

I was at Harbor Freight couple hours ago, they have the Clips also. It`s the isle with all the plastic containers with Cotter Pins, Rubber "O" Rings, Washers, Nuts and Bolts etc.... $6.00.



Goat

 

[crazydane]

Opened up the fuel tanks and they were both 100% full.

Center tank (metal):

You must be registered for see images attach

Rear: (plastic)

You must be registered for see images attach

That little white tab on the sending unit is preventing me from getting it out. Is there a trick to it that I'm missing.

Between the 2 tanks, how diesel do they hold? Is the rear plastic one stock?

Fuel smells fine. No wonder the truck was tail heavy on the lift with all that fuel.

I'll drain it all out and clean the tanks, but I think its a good sign, especially for the metal one, that it was full.

Should I be worried about re-using the fuel? Its probably about 2 years old at this point. But kept in a climate control shop for the last year and with both tanks being 100% full, maybe no a concern. On the other hand, with brand new injectors and IP, perhaps attempting to reuse this fuel would be silly? Maybe just burn it in my old 1982 Ford 1700 tractor? Or just dump it all on my burn pile the next time I go to light it?

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Is the rear plastic one stock?

I believe that cab and chassis trucks used them stock.

Should I be worried about re-using the fuel?

No. As long as it's clean, you won't have any problems.

 

[KansasIDI]

I believe that cab and chassis trucks used them stock.

That is indeed true. The front tanks were still metal

 

[crazydane]

Found an old .pdf with the specs for the '89 chassis & cab: (I got the 161" wheelbase one)

You must be registered for see images attach

So 20 gallon front tank and 19 gallon rear tank, for a total of 39 gallons.

I looked into the Detroit locker some more and I don't think that's a good option on a dump truck. I have some steep twisty paved roads to my house, including a very steep dog leg turn. I think that would be brutal on the axle and tires with a full load of gravel with a locked rear (which a locker would be under load).

So I think I'm back to looking at e-locker options.

 

[ironworker40]

You read that spec sheet wrong. Its 20 gal front and 39 gal rear for a total of 59gal. I would use that fuel in my equipment just not a full tank and top it off with new fuel.

 

[crazydane]

Drained both tanks into 4 50 liter clear containers:

You must be registered for see images attach

I'd say there's maybe 40-45 liters in each container for a total of 160 - 180 liters. That works out to about 42 - 48 gallons.

The fuel out of the rear tank is noticeably lighter in color:

You must be registered for see images attach

I suspect its a lot older since that tank was bypassed at some point. But its real clean and has no water in it at all. I suspect the front tank has dyed diesel in it?

The metal tank doesn't look too bad inside:

You must be registered for see images attach

I'll start topping off my other equipment with this recovered fuel. Next up will be dropping the tanks and giving them a good cleaning. For the metal tank, should I just drop a handful of gravel in there and shake it around for a while? Don't think I need to do anything to the plastic tank other than rinse it out real good.

 

[Nero]

I wouldnt be afraid to run that fuel.. After filtering it and spiking it with cetane booster. Probably would cut it a little with fresh fuel. Dont tell @Jesus Freak he'll wanna add wmo to it!

 

[KansasIDI]

That looks like red dye. If you don’t plan to leave your farm or land much, even if a little, probably no big deal.

For old fuel, it doesn’t look too bad. I would still put fresh fuel in, if it were my truck, but probably nothing wrong with using that fuel. I’m just wasteful

@Nero ’s suggestion of cutting it with fresh fuel is probably the better idea

 

[crazydane]

I'll put fresh fuel in the truck for sure once I get the engine back in. I might "accidentally" fill it from my 120 gallon off-road tank, at least enough to get me down the road a bit. In my 30 years of driving diesel trucks here in central VA, I have never been pulled over to have my fuel tested.

I ordered up a large can of POR-15 fuel tank sealer. I already have the POR 15 degreaser and metal prep. And yeah, gravel is probably not a good idea. I'll go with an assortment of bolts and nuts. I bet I'll be pretty sore after shaking that 20 gallon tank around for 30+ minutes, lol.

 

[KansasIDI]

I'll put fresh fuel in the truck for sure once I get the engine back in. I might "accidentally" fill it from my 120 gallon off-road tank, at least enough to get me down the road a bit. In my 30 years of driving diesel trucks here in central VA, I have never been pulled over to have my fuel tested.

I ordered up a large can of POR-15 fuel tank sealer. I already have the POR 15 degreaser and metal prep. And yeah, gravel is probably not a good idea. I'll go with an assortment of bolts and nuts. I bet I'll be pretty sore after shaking that 20 gallon tank around for 30+ minutes, lol.

I will admit to running red fuel in one tank on my 94 IDI dump truck. I mostly drive it around the farm, and sometimes on gravel roads. I drove it to town once. That’s all. And now the transmission needs rebuilt, which my crazy *** is gonna try to do myself.