1969 F250 4x4 Highboy 7/9 rubicon

[averagef250]

veggie based fuels react with soft metals. Diesel doesn't hurt anything.

Don't TIG on a used fuel tank. For as thin as they are and being plated plus the potential to die, if you have to put it in the tank solder it. The pickup tube/sending unit that's in it is soldered, that's how it's done.

You can run the return into the fill. The high flowing aftermarket diesel pumps run their return lines into a fitting you install in the filler hose somewhere.

[1971ford]

Oh, ok , sounds good. Brazing it is.

I've been reading that by putting diesel in a galvanized tank that after a while you will find white crud in your filter which is galvanized coating. Might as well play it safe and seal it up.

I didn't even think about running it into the filler neck. But my filler neck is extremely small and hard to put together so I'll go to the top of the tank still

[Ranchero50]

I think I welded a length of 5/16 to the inside of a 5/16" fitting and welded that to the top of my tank. I just buzzed it on real quick with a small mig. If you have fuel fumes I'd fill it with water first and have the top corner exposed where you are going to weld....

Jamie

[1971ford]

Yeah I will be completely cleaning out the tank, I need to in order to seal it anyways. Shouldn't be a big deal.

Today I spent the few hours between classes working on the trans crossmember. Bought a new trans mount (old one ripped in half..), cleaned up the mounts/crossmember all nice, Then, at the last minute, decided to scrap all plans and developed a new plan that will be WAYY easier and simpler.
A precious few hours wasted, but my crossmember idea will probably make up for all lost time that i would be spending making the dodge crossmember work.

Should be able to pick up the crossmember fab parts tomorrow morning, then position the cummins/trans right where they need to be and get a good start on the motor mounts and trans crossmember. Cummins and trans should be bolted in Friday or Saturday, then I can start on all the little things.

The list..
Box frame for steering box, bolt box on,steering shaft
Fab motor mounts
Fab rear transmission crossmember
Modify front trans crossmember??
Fix KDP
Remove fuel tank, flush, add return line, seal, re-install
Swap radiators bottom outlet to passenger side
Mount dodge gas pedal/cable assembly
Fit dodge exhaust
swap steering column to automatic, adapt trans shift linkage
Fab transfercase linkage
Have driveshaft shortened/balanced
Fab transfer case strut
Mount trans cooler
Wire dodge regulator/alternator
Hook up gauges

[1971ford]

I saw some pics of someone else who dropped a 1st gen cummins (1st gen rubber block style motor mounts) in a highboy and he simply cut down the stock engine stands and bolted the cummins right up, but ditched the whole rubber part of the motor mounts. So metal on metal looks like. Wouldn't that rattle your teeth out?

[averagef250]

Oh, ok , sounds good. Brazing it is.

Brass doesn't stick to galvanized. Solder works like a champ, galvanized is very easy to solder and not easy to do anything else with.

Rigid mount sounds like a brilliant idea You get an easy install combined with no mount to wear out! How come Dodge didn't think of that?

[Ranchero50]

Ryan, do you still have the Dodge column and shifter linkages? I'd love to get some arm dimensions for my project since my parts were torched off the Dodge. I did hear that I have a 6BT powered Ramcharger on the way for some loving from my friend. He also said his '93 dually ripped all three motor and tranny mounts on one pass at the county pull last year. Ripped up a bunch of other stuff too and it felt like a normal pull...

Jamie

[1971ford]

Oh, ok , sounds good. Brazing it is.

Brass doesn't stick to galvanized. Solder works like a champ, galvanized is very easy to solder and not easy to do anything else with.

Rigid mount sounds like a brilliant idea You get an easy install combined with no mount to wear out! How come Dodge didn't think of that?

oops, meant solder not braze!
Jamie, that' funny.
Yeah I still have the column and all shift linkage.
my new plan is to not use the doge column but to pull a auto bumpside column from the junkyard this weekend and adapt the linkage to work.
Let me know what measurements you need.

[Ranchero50]

Basic length from the column centerline to the center of the pivot point on the rod. Same for the cross shaft connecting the frame and engine.

[1971ford]

Jamie I forgot to grab the measurements, I'll look tonight after class.

Spent a little over 6 hours today working on the motor mounts and trans mount. Half that time was spent just positioning the cummins to exactly where it needs to be, so the intermediate driveshaft will be happy, angle at about 5deg, level, and everything clearing everything..

Finally decided on my motor mount design. Even though I justbought all new mounts (motor and tranny) I will be using none of them. Which is a relief because now i won't worry about them ripping like we were talking about earlier.

I ditched the crazy trans mount setup the dodge had that i was going to run and went to a VERY simple tubular trans mount I'm still working on.
Everything is going to be mounted using poly bushings. 2 more hours of work and the cummins and trans will be BOLTED in! I can't wait... then i can move on to the fun stuff!!
Should have Cummins/trans bolted in tomorrow at noon, then I can start knocking other things off the long list..

[smokey3215]

once you drive a ford with a cummins you will be in the perfect world. I love mine keep up the good work.

[Manny]

Dang ryan i thought you were gonna drive that dodge a while guess not oh well looks good just fab you up a nice intake without the DODGE part. I am impressed with how you made that corssmember look clean like that no doubt your on the road to being one of the finest fabricators in the ford business.

[fomocoguy]

Maybe you could have the dodge name milled off and find a nice blue oval to stick on there...

[robroy]

I am impressed with how you made that corssmember look clean like that no doubt your on the road to being one of the finest fabricators in the ford business.

I was also very impressed by that! You handle that steel like it's clay Ryan.

Robroy

[Manny]

Maybe you could have the dodge name milled off and find a nice blue oval to stick on there...

Hey Joe good to see ya.

Yeah Ryan has got it going on how about mill the hole thing flat then cut down into ball mill into the manifold something

Ford Highboy
powered by cummins

Could be very cool, and i think Ryan is just the guy for it.....