Happy, Happy, Happy :)

[MikeMc]

I'm REALLY hoping the oilfields are going to pick up here soon I've been pounding on the old Mc Mobile while I have LOTS of free time.

Hooked it up to my tong trailer that weights 9,200lbs. and took it for a test tug. With 60 forward gears and 12 reverse I was finally able to find the correct gear . I spent more time shifting and than driving LoL. Just what I wanted for a weekend worrier.

Driving without front or rear glass it hard to hear any problems but she felt pretty solid (note, don't open mouth at speeds ). With this being my 2nd rebuild I really tried to take my time and do things right, but I'm sure some bugs will be popping up.

Thanks

[nfury8]

Driving without front or rear glass it hard to hear any problems...

Very Cool!

I hear ya, It wasn't till the exhaust was installed that I realized my transfer case was screaming at me.

[PatS]

Nice lookin truck, Mike.
What axles did you use to enable the 10 bolt rims???

[HellBelly]

What a beast! Love it!

[CSS-Registry]

nice looking truck.

mine has about 10 miles on it since i made it drivable and hooked up the speedo... still no windshield (or paint) but there's nothing like cracking open a AFB on a big block and hitting second pretty hard :o)

Ben

[MikeMc]

Thanks guys. At least I'm not the only one driving without glass LoL

Pat, I bought a wrecked 2wd '01F350 chassis for $1,500. Cut the back half off and mated it to the W. This allowed me to lengthen the wheel base so I can fit the extra tranny in. It also made my life so much easier having the Ferd fuel cell, shocks, sway bar, disc brakes, and emergency brake all ready to go. The other big benefit was getting rid of the 4:88 gears. Now I'm running 3:73 in the back and '78 GM 1 ton axle up front with 4:10 gears. The other benefit was getting the power steering box and hydro booster, scrapped everything else.

Regarding 10 lug wheels, using the rpm calculator I needed about a 36" tall tire for the gear ratio to work out. With me getting old (mid 40's) I didn't want noisy Super Swampers. Especially with how heavy this truck is it would have made toooo much noise.

A company on line makes 8 - 10 lug adaptors, this solved the tire rotating problem with having metric 8 lug in the rear and standard 8 lug up front. So I bought the adapters for about $150 each and new tires and wheels. Cost about the same as Super Swampers with Weld wheels and I wouldn't be able to rotate the tires with 2 different lug patterns. Now the outer 10 lug pattern is the same. I also really like the nice smooth quiet truck tires plus it has a distinct look . My buddy has been trying to talk me into turning the back rim around and putting duals in the back. But I'm afraid it will ride to rough with 4 heavy duty tires across the rear.

[Hobcobble]

Now I'm running 3:73 in the back and '78 GM 1 ton axle up front with 4:10 gears.

Shouldn't you be running 3.73's up front then?
John

[sweptliner]

Are those 19.5"s? If so I would run a Bridgstone R250F at about 80 pounds, or a Michelin XZE (They may only have it in 22.5 and 24.5). Though the Hankook AH11 is a tire that is a good balance of quality and price. If you do go with duals in the rear balance all of the tires going across the rear, then it shouldn't ride any rougher than it is already. I would highly recommend balancing all of them anyway, just to cut down on the wear to your hard ware. Your truck is looking really nice, keep up the good work.

[mopardwh]

That thing is such a beast. I love it. Sounds like it's time to hook up the D8 for a video/pic.

[MikeMc]

Good eye Hob, while out playing around I got stuck in the sand so I put it in 4x4 just to get out. Only went about 10' and the drive train was bound up and I could hardly get it out of 4x4. Until work pics back up the 4:10's are there to stay.

Sweptliner, the rims are 22.5 with balanced made in China low pros. My opinion the duallies always ride rougher on our concrete freeways. The single tire absorbs the uneven concrete blocks better while duals want to bounce when they hit the lip.

Right now I'm only running 60psi. in the tires and a truck driver told me a sharp aggressive turn will pop the tire off the bead if I don't keep the air up. Obviously my truck doesn't weight the same as a tractor trailer but I C you recommend 80psi. Do you or any one else think I'll have a problem running lower air pressure?

dwh, D8 weights 48K so not even going to try but I plan on hauling my D4 with it. I'm currently using my F350 and tips the scale at 28,800lbs. and the W weights about 2K more than the Ferd. Heck no I don't stop at the scales LoL

Now you guys know why I picked old Cat yellow for the color .

Here is a link of me unloading the old '51 D8. Tough on wood blocks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuF1N3wkYxI

Also check out this video of the starting process. Use the 2cyl. gas engine to start the big diesel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHr5E3HQ8BA

Thanks M-

[wideblock]

where did you get the converters for the 8 to 10 lug?? i have been wanting a pair to be able to run super singles on the back of my dads truck. are they thick enough to make the spacing right, or did you have to space them??

[MikeMc]

WB, what are you wanting to put Super Singles on?

I don't remember were I got the adaptors but if you type "8 lug 10 lug adaptors" into google several sites will pop up. I had the adaptor company make 4" spacers so the back wheels are the same width as the front. If I decided to turn the rear wheels around or run duals the spacers can be unbolted.

That was my initial plan to put super singles on the rear. After trying to pick one up and seeing the 12-13K weight rating per tire I quickly realized this heavy tire would rob HP and suk up fuel. Even with the heavy flat bed I built and wicked winch installed over the rear axle the stiff side walls would give a terrible ride. Also seeing the price per tire $400+- not including the high dollar wheels . The other negative is they don't make a low pro in the S.S. so the tires are close to 40" tall.

Although it would look bad @#%! But I wouldn't get them for a pick up.

[sweptliner]

Mike,

I agree with the other truckers about pressure because you can easily pop the bead from the rim. It is a pain in the a$$ trying to re-seat the beads on the side of the road. We use whats called a cheetah bead seater, its literally a small air tank with a shaped nozzle and a valve to release about 120psi in under half a second. I would run at least 75 pounds. I think you are using Aelous Tires, they are really cheap comparatively. Truck looks good with 22.5s under it.

-John

[demulsion]

Driving without front or rear glass it hard to hear any problems but she felt pretty solid (note, don't open mouth at speeds).

Glad I'm not the only one crazy enough to try that. http://www.demulsion.com/life/?p=166

Great looking truck, by the way.

[wideblock]

dads building a chevy 1 ton dually. chassis black paint, big bad 454 with side pipes that turn into cab stacks and a flat bed....for now. we are wanting to strip the flat bed off, run super singles with the chrome individual fenders and black diamond plate the frame....similar to the way the big trucks are done. then put a 5th wheel in the center to tow his travel trailer. it is being built on the "mad max" theme, look evil, function well. your rig would look killer with some supers out back, i have seen numerous sizes running up and down the road, seems like you can get smaller then 40".

[MikeMc]

Thanks Swept I'll get the air pressure up around 75-80. I saw one guy put a ratcheting strap around the center of the tire to force the bead out and it worked. But I don't want no troubles.

Thanks Dem, ya thats how I felt with no glass. Funny how in the movies they ride motorcycles with no googles or glasses. I try to do everything myself but I'm not sure I'm qualified to install the glass. Next week I'm going to load it up (no tags) and take it down to the glass shop.

WB, would love to c a pic or two of your dads truck. Yes I agree super single would be BAD A$$ but I don't want to wear a kidney belt when when cruising to Hollister next year. If you find some light duty SS please post what you found. When work pics back up maybe I'll get some.... just don't want the heavy duty 12K ones.

[sweptliner]

Where are you going to take your truck for glass? I took mine to Bob's auto glass and they ordered me a brand new windshield and installed both the front and rear seals for me (and the glass) for $275. It only took bout 50min (but my truck is a lot lower to the ground than yours so who knows) for them to do my glass. I cant remember what street they are on, all I can say is they are out in Oildale with in a few miles of BC. If you dont have glass they can get it for you in a day.