71 F250 4BT Cummins Work Horse: Just doing a little work

[KRob]

On a project note i haven't gotten anywhere recently. I have all the parts to build the dash gauge cluster but i am not close to the truck. Dad started it a couple days ago, and said it started right up in 26F degree weather and sitting for at least a month.

[460 crew]

Very cool!

[popeyes71]

KRob, I saw your truck last night on TV, pretty cool! Your truck is famous now!

[KRob]

I have had a couple of Friends tell me they have seen it on TV now. I saw the commercial once, but since I don't really watch TV I haven't seen it again.

I have however found this which i dont think is the full commercial but still pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRcSlAZWxVM[/video]

Update on progress....not much has happened.

[Heirloom]

Too cool KRob!

[KRob]

So I finally got home to Eastern Oregon for a couple of days.

Started by having to put chains on.


Then I spent several hours working on the new gauge cluster. So its sort of in, have a few more things to button up and then I will have the new dash installed.


By the way, last time I was home some pretty lady drove Frankin Ford....It has the Boss Ladies approval.


I am really hoping to have gauges done tomorrow.

[KRob]

So quick video, with footage of new gauge set up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2TpmSCFI_M[/video]

[KRob]

So last weekend I went home to Eastern Oregon and picked up frankin ford. My wife and I then drove it to our new home in Lacey Wa. Where the next day I then drove to Portland where my main job location is. Impressions from its first real long drive.....GREAT!

Little loud, the boom box in the middle wasn't the best radio. But the truck travels well currently do to the governor spring max speed is about 68, but eventually I will get a new spring in it.

Fuel milage was around 20 mpg. This is not a real accurate guess more to follow in the coming weeks. This is partially since my new gauge is not geared correctly so when doing 65 it reads roughly 80.

This weekend I broke down and had a radio and speakers installed. As well as a new front window. I had planned to do this all myself but with how little time I have these days I just bit the bullet and got it done.

In the near future I am planning on re doing the interior again since I am not happy with the way it turned out and hopefully meet up with a friend of ours (can't remember his username here right now) to help me work the pump over and put in the new governor spring.

My wife also loves driving the truck and loved the morning she got to drive it to work because it made all the boys jealous. She has announced its her' now.

[KRob]

I have now been driving the truck quite a bit. It has gone back and forth to Eastern Oregon to Portland three times now so that i could go elk hunting...which was succesful i should add as well.

Do to being so busy i have broken down and just started paying to have stuff done. I had Source Automotive install the new governor spring, which has really made it more enjoyable to drive. Something about having another 500 rpms before the truck starts falling on it face.

The truck is currently at the shop getting new interior installed, i hopefully will pick it up tomorrow after work and head for Lacey (Tacoma) Washington with it to spend the weekend with the wife.

Hopefully i will have pictures for you all soon enough.

[KRob]

Also i towed a tandem axle 16ft trailer full of our belongings from where we were storing it to our new home a 100+ mile trip. I ran the truck as hard as she would go and still got 14 mpg. I don't know how heavy the trailer was but it wasn't light.

I am currently averaging somewhere between 18 to 21 mpg.

Considering 4.10, 4x4, and a lot of extra metal hanging off it i am not complaining.

[Ranchero50]

Good to hear an update on the truck. I'm averaging 17 with the 6 and duals. Old trucks sure get a lot of attention going down the road.

[KRob]

So lets see what has happened with the truck recently.

Did a little engine bay clean up work. Including dropping the oil pan and installing a new gasket and the same with the valve covers. I am slowly working my through trying to figure out which gaskets are leaking and replacing them. Would have been easier to do it before i installed the engine but i was impatient.

Pre Paint




Also tore the doors apart and insulated as well as installing all new gaskets and replacing a cracked window. Windows don't rattle anymore and Mega Mat sure makes the doors heavier. However i know hear a lot more rattles that need to be tracked down.

Helped pick up Christmas Trees for my old Boys Scout Troops fund raiser.


Installed extra back up lights.

[KRob]

Over 10,000 miles on the conversion.

Runs like a champ. MPG is really dependent on speed, the 4.10 are killing the mpg i believe. If i am doing 70 i get probably 16-18 mpg. 60 mph and below 20-28 mpg depending on what i am doing.

Played with the pump an little while ago. turned the fuel pin in a turn and a half, so the truck pulls a lot harder.

Will try to get some more pictures when i get a chance.

Rob

[KRob]

Spent most of today working on Frankin Ford as well as some of lady weekend.

Last weekend I painted a new hood. Unfortunately it was an outside rattle can job however the color is much closer and with a coat of dust on it I don't think anyone will be able to tell

I have been having starting problems over the last few months today a buddy helped me track down the fact that I had one bad wire at the alternator which was causing charging issue and thus causing the starting issue

We then tore the column apart and installed a new turn switch. I have been driving around with a turn switch that like to drift down causing the left turn light to flash a lot. Had a couple of wording issues but we ended up figuring it out.

[KRob]

Dont have a hole lot to update everyone on. Conversion has almost 10,000 miles on it and still runs like a champ. There are a number of videos on line, however i am un sure weather i have made any new ones since my last post. Maybe in the coming days.

Pretty excited though my wife and i are in the process of purchasing a new house with a shop. Being able to pull the truck in and work on it will greatly improve my ability and willingness to get further along on this project. The place also has a fair amount of ground so plenty of chores that will need a good work truck.

Rob