1972 F100 rust pile

kb426 · March 16, 2019, 07:13:43 PM

Today was slow going at O&S. I spent many hours measuring and checking driveline angles. The 2 parts laying on top of the frame are new braces that will go in above the center section and front mount.

kb426 · March 17, 2019, 06:58:08 PM

If I get any slower, the O&S updates will be coming from the morgue.

I woke up dissatisfied with the plan I had yesterday for the front mount. I made a new cross member and removed everything to install it. The spacers under it are 1 3/4" tall. I have the rear mounts finished minus some finish work, possibly. Depends on if I find a profile I like better for something that's hidden under the bed.

I checked all the measurements 4 times. If I messed up, I did it 4 times.

Crosley.In.AZ · March 17, 2019, 10:16:50 PM

Seems like you are getting plenty done to me...

WZ JUNK · March 18, 2019, 08:00:50 AM

Interesting fabrication.

Some friends of mine are currently doing a 4.6 engine, and Crown Victoria front suspension in a slightly older Ford truck. It is using the conventional rear.

John

kb426 · March 18, 2019, 06:14:54 PM

Really small update. I drilled the 4 mounting holes for the front cross member and started eveballing the coil over radius of travel. I was working in a pig pen so I cleaned up some.

kb426 · March 19, 2019, 07:12:11 PM

It really is O&S.

I worked all day and have 2 brackets made and bolted in place. The pics are of the brackets and then bolted in place. I found out before I made a mistake that the bolt pattern on the coilover isn't symmetrical. The upper rubber spacer has some angle to it. I went out and looked at the other front end I have and see that there clocked in different positions for each side. If this causes problems, I'm going to take them apart and change the angle of the rubber part.

enjenjo · March 19, 2019, 07:23:06 PM

That angle is used for camber adjustment on a front end, don't know about in the rear.

kb426 · March 19, 2019, 07:30:23 PM

Thank you for that. I see that I can take them apart, drill the holes to the proper spacing and rotate the bumper to be where it needs to be. Another learning exp.

kb426 · March 20, 2019, 05:41:09 PM

Late afternoon at O&S. Maybe end of day

I mentioned to Wzjunk a few days ago that I was concerned with my spring rates on the rear. I did some more research and here's what I can up with:
1940 lbs X 2 + 3880, that is way more than the rear will ever weigh.
Spring calculations: 253 lb per inch. free length 17.66, installed height 10.
By using past history and making a phone call to Ridetech to confirm my calculations, I removed 4" of free length.
4 x 253 lbs =1012 x 2 = 2024. 3880 - 2024 = 1856lbs.
Free length 13.66, installed height still is 10, 3.66 x 253 = 926 lbs. per side. 1852 total.
I was curious about what I had without the bed and fuel tank. The pic is a valve spring tester I have left over from the old days. It took a little over 350 lbs. to pick it up from the jack stands. If you started to raise it much, the pressure rose rapidly to 600 lbs.
If enough weight was put in the bed of the truck to make it settle, it would add 1518 lbs. in capacity.
3 x 253 = 759 x 2 = 1518.
250 lb springs is common on the rear of light duty trucks. I believe that's what I have under the 51. The Ridetech calculator accounts for leverage points and shock angle also. I did see that front springs for a Mustang II are very similar dimensions. If I messed this up, there are many different spring rates available.

Crosley.In.AZ · March 21, 2019, 07:51:45 AM

Ah ha ... there is some math involved here.

kb426 · March 21, 2019, 08:24:07 PM

One long day at O&S! I got started off removing the rest of the cup that I had cut off from the lower a-arm. I used the new cut off tool for most of that and then sanded it smooth. I cut 2 plates to go into the spring recess. I marked and removed a portion for the bottom of the shock to pass through. I used the mill to square it up and make a relief for the body of the shock if needed. I welded the 1st pair of plates to a plate and stuck it in the hole. I miss measured and the hole is too close to a brace for the pivot bolt to go through. No excuses, I messed up. I make 4 new plates and bore holes in all. I'm all set to weld this up and get this portion completed. The welder won't cooperate. I spend a little time diagnosing and come up with bad news. I'll just fire up my old one that hasn't been used in 11 years.

I waste 10 minutes looking for the fitting I need to connect the argon hose to it. I go to the hardware store and get enough stuff to hookup the hose. I weld the 1st 2 plates on and put the plate in the recess. I mark it for holes, drill and bolt it down. I have braces to make for the lower mount and spacers for the bolt in the shock. 9 hours for a couple hour job.

kb426 · March 22, 2019, 05:32:30 PM

Over here at O&S, Gilligan, Mary Ann, Ginger and the Skipper and I took a little tour 7 days ago. It was supposed to last 3 days.

We're back in one piece. Nobody is speaking to each other. Mary Ann says all men are *. Ginger says she doesn't believe a thing we say. The skipper is blaming everything on Gilligan.

I'm tired so I quit. I have the fuel line, reconnecting the electrical plugs, running a new brakeline from the 2 drums to the existing line and rehanging the mufflers left to finish. That will be a tomorrow deal.

kb426 · March 23, 2019, 05:37:30 PM

Still O&S. I finished up most items except for tail pipes. I did go around the block and shot a short video. It wasn't good enough to post.

Sun and bumps in the road caused the camera operator to fail. 1st impression is that it's going to be a really good driver. Without the bed, it's not harsh. If my calculations are correct, the rear will be lower by around 3/4" with the bed on. We'll see.

WZ JUNK · March 23, 2019, 06:15:09 PM

Nicely done. Take a break.

The Splash came up on Craigs List yesterday morning. It made for a long day as I had to go west a hundred miles(Tulsa) to buy upholstery supplies, then back home. Then hook up the trailer and go east 100 miles to north of Springfield to get the Splash.

John

kb426 · March 24, 2019, 08:41:25 AM

This week marks 1 year since I began this project. If I wouldn't have run out of warm weather, the bed would have been painted and I might have missed out on the IRS adventure.

Then it would have been 9 months. Just in case anybody is interested, I have pics of outer and inner tread width. This is with 2007 mustang bullitt wheels that are 17x 8, with about a 6.3 backspace if I remember correctly.