F250 Transformation

[Towmaster]

Ok it's time for another tow car build..... As long as you guys are interested.

I realise this is a Cobra forum and I have done another tow car build on here so will wait to see how much positive feedback I get before I continue on with the thread.

For interests sake I have bought a damaged 2002 Ford (that should get some bonus points) F250 4X4 Extended cab with the 6 cylinder turbo diesel engine. Damaged means it has no reverse gear (grinding) in the 5 speed manual gearbox.

[Gav]

Sounds like a prime LSA and auto candidate Ash!!!!

[Aussie Mike]

Most interested. Roll on the build thread.

But if we get to 2 pages and no pics Ima loose ma sh!t

Cheers

[MOTORHEAD]

Yes, by all means proceed! My tow vehicle is a '99 F250 SD crew cab, with the 7.3 diesel.
I would be most interested in any mods/upgrades you may discover in the build process.

[750hp]

I vote for a Duramax conversion.

[Towmaster]

There will be no engine swaps with this conversion... Apparently the 4.2 MWM sprint has an overhead cam and 3 valves per cylinder and was originally developed by Deutz in the early 80's. Was never an option in F Trucks in the states but was in the Brazilian made trucks that we got here.

So I bought it at the Darwin Pickles damaged vehicles auction for $19k. Damage was no reverse gear.... Put it on a truck and got it down to Brisbane. It then sat on the back of a semi for 4 days because they didn't have a ramp & couldn't work out how to get it off. In the end I suggested they load it onto a tilt tray..... Surprisingly they had it ready for me to pick up the following day.

Dad & I drove down with a day permit, tools, a spare battery & fuel etc to pick it up. It was a bit dirty but not too bad. It already had a UHF, turbo timer, JVC head unit complete with roof mounted TV so people in the back seat could watch, as well as a good electric brake controller... BARGAIN!!!

I was driving back through Brisbane & thought I would check out all the little pockets etc in this thing. There is a piece of trim at the top of the door card that is removable, I popped it off & to my surprise there was a dusty brown envelope in there... I tentatively picked it up, making sure to look for hidden cameras.... It was quite thick and through the plastic window in the envelope I could make out a gold colour.... A $50 note to be exact.... Obviously with more behind it. I nearly ran off the road trying to contain my excitement & tell Dad behind me on the UHF what I had found. He said put it back & concentrate on the road, you nearly took out a Corolla... Hmmm it's a bit wider than the Rodeo! $335 in cash thanks very much.

[Towmaster]

Originally Posted by Aussie Mike

Most interested. Roll on the build thread.

But if we get to 2 pages and no pics Ima loose ma sh!t

Cheers

Mike please note..... First pics above /\
^

[Towmaster]

As this vehicle will be used to haul the race car and the occasional trip to Brissie to pick up smaller loads of acrylic minus the trailer, it needed to have an 8 foot long tray. The Rodeo doesn't have and as a result I have to take the trailer to pick up stuff I could easily just fit on a longer tray....
I did some measuring & worked out that the style side tray on the Supercab is 2.5 m long ( a bit over 8 foot)
I liked the look of the style side over the steel tray that it has so I was on the lookout. Quite a few around but none the same colour (I know, bit of a long shot) couple in WA Vic etc but wrong colour & too expensive to get here. Found one on evil Bay, guy had bought an extra cab in Brisbane ($40k) & had paid money for the seller to fit an aluminum tray, steel bull bar etc so before he drove back to the Alice he was trying to offload the stuff... Which included a silver tray!!!! He came around, said he wanted $500 for the lot! I couldn't get my wallet out quick enough!! The photo will show what I got but it includes, original suspension only done 100k, tub with tonneau cover, 4 perfect condition original alloys, original side steps, front & rear chrome bumpers.... Excellent!!!

[leroy17]

With your 'dirty money' find, your goodies were only $165, nice. Sell off the tray and you will be up.

Even though this is a tow and shop truck, this is cool. So much better than just walking into a dealer and buying whatever bland current model suits.

[albanycobra]

yeah keep it coming......really enjoying the thread

[Aussie Mike]

Originally Posted by Towmaster

Mike please note..... First pics above /\
^

Duly noted

[Gav]

You will sell the tray for good money.
Well done Ash.
What happened to the other one?

[Towmaster]

Originally Posted by Gav

You will sell the tray for good money.
Well done Ash.
What happened to the other one?

The other F250??

The guy was a builder......... need I say any more?

Seriously, even though it was (and still is) advertised on Carsales he still needed to arrange a suitable replacement and he said he was very busy and didn't have the time to do it but might in a couple of months.......

So I left that one........ plus it had done 450,000k and was 2WD...

This one is so much better, only 280,000k and 4wd and already has a UHF, turbo timer, electric brakes etc, etc, etc...

[Modena]

Put a vehicle on car sales, and then say "sorry mate, be a few weeks fore I can get on to it"

LOL

[BADSN8K]

Is that a BRUSH Guard or a Kangaroo Guard on that bad boy?

[Towmaster]

Originally Posted by BADSN8K

Is that a BRUSH Guard or a Kangaroo Guard on that bad boy?

They are called a bull bar over here, I'm guessing because they can knock a bull out of the way. Ha ha
The bull bar, double side rails & side steps are all bolted directly to the chassis and are very strong. It came from the Northern Territory so was probably used on a cattle property (ranch) up there.
That sort of set up is pretty common out there.

[Towmaster]

Ok so I have been doing a bit of work on the beast. Everything is so much bigger than a regular vehicle. Gearbox & transfer case is too heavy to be removed together so I had to split them to take them out one by one. The transfer case is massive! Gearbox is cast iron (V8's are alloy) and quite heavy, definitely a 2 man job.
I gave the wheels a bit of a clean also, once I got all the brake dust etc off they came up pretty good.
Also the cables that operate the latches for the suicide doors had broken so thank god for google and YouTube to show me how to open them. Have also purchased a kit to fix this problem so I can open and close the rear doors when needed. I Opened the inspection hatch on the gearbox, it all looked fine in there, will probably just be a fork alignment issue. Also need a new centre bearing for the tailshaft. Spent a few hours cutting, undoing the bolts that hold the steel tray on.... Will wait till Monday when I have some employees here to help me lift it off.... With help from the tractor also...

[Towmaster]

Another photo from the build

[Towmaster]

Finally managed to get the heavy as lead tray off the back. A lot of extra bracing on it to handle the weight of a gooseneck hitch. Anyone know anyone that wants one???

[Towmaster]

She's naked!