1972 F100 rust pile

[kb426]

Today's story. I got started before 7:15am this morning. I had stuff to move around so I could make progress. I was going to put wheels under the hoist I have in the shop. It's purpose was to take the engine and trans out of the dragster. I bought caster wheels about 4 years ago but didn't like all the options that I would face. I went to the storage shed to get some pieces of 2 X 3 tubing. The short story is that what was left was buried with other stuff. After a lot of work, I cut 2 4' long pieces and welded the wheels to them. Then the 2 parts were welded to the base of the hoist. During this time, the VFR was removed from the shed and cleaned for it's trip to Memorial Day services on monday. The shed got put back together and other parts stored away so cutting could begin. Everything in the yard was in the wrong place so there was a little man-u-al labor involved. At a little before 9pm , I finished up removing the front cross member and cleaned up. Probably about 3 hours of progress! LOL While the storage shed was emptied, I replaced the broken seat spring. That ended up taking way longer than it should have. A few items got crossed off the list.

[kb426]

Morning break. I removed the rest of the rivets and cleaned the left overs up. I found this crack at the end of the steering box brace. I moved a bunch of stuff around to get the front end in and start measuring for mounting holes.

[kb426]

After the race, I went back to work. A severe thunderstorm warning cut the afternoon short. My wife's car is back in the shop. I notched the frame for the lineup pins and don't like what I see. The frame is narrowed on each side where the original crossmember was. After centerlining the chassis, I believe I'll be able to see if something is bent.

[kb426]

I worked for a while this am and then after I returned from Memorial day services. The pics are of string lining the frame, up in the air to center punch, my metric transfer punch, , frame flipped to weld up the crack and drill the holes for the cross member, wirebrushing part of the frame and back on the ground outside again.

[kb426]

Rear end disassembled and ready to go to the vat to clean this mess up.

[kb426]

O & S reporting in. I put the housing and third member in the vat for about an hour. Way cleaner than it was. Someone had been in this before. The work is questionable. I have enough old and new parts to rebuild it to a nice overhauled state. I have a good carrier left over from the 32 that will probably be put in to service. All new bearings and an almost new ring and pinion. The axles are 28 spline but they are large bearing and large after the splines.

[UGLY OLDS]

Can I bring a truckload of stuff to be put in the "VAT"  :?:  :?:

It's a really small truck...... :?    Honest ....    

Bob..

[kb426]

Bob, is there not engine rebuilders in your area that will do your stuff for a nominal fee? I told my friend several projects ago that if he shuts down the vat, that I quit too!

[kb426]

End of the evening for O&S. I cut some parts for the front end and started on the rear end. I put the old pinion and the yoke in the lathe and made a light cut to get rid of the seal wear groove. I'm using a solid pinion spacer and it took many attempts to get the preload set. I used the heat gun to warm up the inner bearing to go on the pinion shaft. If I had a small oven in the shop, it sure would make bearing installation nice.

[kb426]

Lunch break. Center section completed. Someone had missed the spring center bolt hole. Cut out and replaced. Axle flanges had to have the od turned so the new rotors will fit.

[chimp koose]

quick change toolpost on the lathe .... nice ! I have used those to cut keyways in a shaft when the mill was occupied

[kb426]

End of the day at O&S. It's been a good day. I had a few visitors. Great visits. The rear is all together. Rotors are in place. I had the calipers laying on the rotors to get a plan for brackets. The front crossmember bolts are drilled top and bottom. I have rough cut spacers for the bolts and the top plates. Tomorrow will see the fit and welding of those as well as boxing plates.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Did you change the wheel bolt pattern on the rear axles?

[kb426]

Tony, I bought adapters to change the pattern. They are 2" thick which will make the rear tread very close to the front. I have Mustang Bullitt wheels left over from the 51 that are going on this.

[WZ JUNK]

Unrelated to this topic, but something of interest.

I received a copy of the NSRA Annual magazine last weekend at the Mid America Nationals.  On page 20 there is a picture of a green 32 Ford truck that is familiar.  Some guy from western Kansas is the owner.


John