"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
02/10/2019 at 22:48 • Filed to: POS plow trucks.
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"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
02/10/2019 at 22:48 • Filed to: POS plow trucks. | 2
| 23 |
Scroll down a little to see the update (it’s fixed!)....
My father tried to move his ‘97 F250 today, but the plow had been melted and re-frozen into the ice. That’s not unusual, and you can work it a little with the hydraulics to free it up, go forward/backward just a touch and usually it breaks free. Or, this happens.
The thing is, it was about 15F and very windy today. He came over to my house to tell me about this debacle and ask for help, and I obliged. Amazingly, it came out easily:
And I called a friend who typically has lots of spare 90's Ford parts laying around, but he didn’t have one of these in stock. He’s welding up a solution and we’ll put it back together tomorrow I guess. Oh boy!
On the bright side, it’s easy to slide in and out from under the truck because it’s all ice under there. Yay?
Oh and while I was under there, I saw why the transfer case lever feels like it’s not attached to anything anymore... because it’s not. I mean, the linkage is attached, but the pivot point broke off so it’s not really doing anything. Leave it in 4WD and don’t ask questions.
I should mention, this is strictly a plow truck and it’s slated for replacement this coming summer. It seems he kept it one season too many, as it failed inspection in December, the driver’s door doesn’t really shut, it overheated in a recent snowstorm because a coolant hose sprung a major leak, the fuel tank leaks if you have more than about 3 gallons in it, and just this week one of the tires even said F-You and developed a huge crack for no apparent reason. My father sourced a replacement from a friend, just to get the thing through the winter.
Everyone’s got a story about a shitty plow truck, don’t they? Well I have a lifetime of them. This is the nicest plow truck my father has ever had, by a huge margin. So yeah.
update: FIXED!
Our friend welded up two pieces of used driveshafts together and we bolted it in today, all is well. I mean, to be clear: t he truck is still a POS and does NOT go on the road, really . But it again has power to both the rear wheels AND the front wheels! Ready for the next snowstorm. Which is likely in 2 days.
You know, the truck looks OK from a few feet away:
But get a little closer...
The driver’s door doesn’t like to shut. I wonder why...
Its second tailgate:
These pieces of the truck were on the ground, not really all that close to where I was working on the driveshaft. It’s really trying to return to the earth.
Jayvincent
> functionoverfashion
02/09/2019 at 20:57 |
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needs more pictures! what’s the rest of the truck look like? I know you know what you have, but you gotta play the game by the rules (don’t forget to cover the license plate number with your thumb!)
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functionoverfashion
> Jayvincent
02/09/2019 at 21:03 |
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oh I didn’t think of taking more pics to be honest. It looks good from 10 feet away, actually! It even runs well. The plate is jammed full of snow in the back and in the front it’s completely blocked by the plow frame, so no worries there. The expired inspection sticker is covered by snow that my father keeps piling onto that corner of the dash, lol.
dogisbadob
> functionoverfashion
02/09/2019 at 21:03 |
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Ouch!
David Tracy Approves :p
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functionoverfashion
> dogisbadob
02/09/2019 at 21:04 |
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oh wait until you see the cut-and-welded replacement part
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Jayvincent
> functionoverfashion
02/09/2019 at 21:05 |
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OK, I’ll bid three-fiddy and half a ham sandwhich
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functionoverfashion
> Jayvincent
02/09/2019 at 21:11 |
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If you put dijon mustard on that sammich we got a deal
Urambo Tauro
> functionoverfashion
02/09/2019 at 21:13 |
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W elding up a solution? Is that something that one can just... do? I mean, welding’s the easy part, but what about balancing it ?
Although, i f it’ s strictly a plow truck then I guess it doesn’t matter, does it? An imbalance would pr obably be hardl y noticeable unless you tried to take it on t he r oa d.
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functionoverfashion
> Urambo Tauro
02/09/2019 at 21:17 |
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Yeah, you said it - this is a truck that won’t exceed 30mph for the rest of its life with us.
Basically, he’s taking a driveshaft that’s too long, cutting it to length and welding it together. Perfect balance isn’t important, but knowing the guy who’s doing the work, it’s probably damn good.
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Urambo Tauro
> functionoverfashion
02/09/2019 at 21:23 |
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Ok yeah that makes sense. Limp mode engage! lol
HammerheadFistpunch
> functionoverfashion
02/09/2019 at 21:29 |
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man that wall looks thin
glemon
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/09/2019 at 23:34 |
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That is what I was thinking, I have never cut into a driveshaft, but I always assumed there was a lot more to them than that.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> glemon
02/10/2019 at 00:10 |
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Mathematically speaking you get better twisting resistance with a larger diameter tube versus thicker material but the trouble with that is that if the stresses aren’t uniform then failure is more catastrophic. i.e. dent it or a little rust and it get very weak. I had my Land Cruiser driveshafts custom made and they are a lot less diameter over factory but quite a bit thicker. plus its only putting down 130 hp to the wheels on a good day so Im not too worried.
TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> functionoverfashion
02/10/2019 at 01:21 |
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Its that Ford power. Just kills driveshafts
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functionoverfashion
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/10/2019 at 18:24 |
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I agree, I was quite surprised how thin it was. It does make sense what you said below, not to mention this truck has worked hard for 22 years.
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functionoverfashion
> TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
02/10/2019 at 18:24 |
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lol that’s it, for sure.
Alfalfa
> functionoverfashion
02/10/2019 at 23:03 |
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Fo r a 20 year old plow truck, that’s not overall bad condition.
Tristan
> functionoverfashion
02/10/2019 at 23:15 |
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If that was a Powerstroke it’d still be “worth” $25,000 in Craigslist money!
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functionoverfashion
> Tristan
02/10/2019 at 23:25 |
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It’s got a 351 that runs great; less than 100k on it of course. Still, no diesel.
shop-teacher
> functionoverfashion
02/10/2019 at 23:29 |
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Wowzers! Yeah, I think that truck is juuust about done!
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Tristan
> functionoverfashion
02/10/2019 at 23:31 |
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The EFI 351w is a fine lump!
itranthelasttimeiparkedit
> functionoverfashion
02/10/2019 at 23:37 |
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I was going to say, looks nice from a distance!
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functionoverfashion
> Tristan
02/11/2019 at 09:50 |
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Indeed, I had one in my last boat. The 351 was THE standard inboard boat engine for like, 30+ years, the EFI version appeared mid-90's and stuck around until about 2002 when most went over to Chevy 350-based engines if they hadn’t already. Really rugged engines with good power.
CalzoneGolem
> functionoverfashion
02/11/2019 at 10:17 |
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Those close ups made me cringe.