Anthony's 2002 F-350 Tow Pig Build and BS

It's definitely not worse than used diff fluid but it was just messy because the damn oil leaked all down the tie rods and drag link which is exactly where you have to access to get the old pump out.

 

Yep, way messy. Especially if it was like my 7.3 and there was 20 years of caked on crap from a weepy front main. I loved my 7.3 but she always found new ways to leak oil it seemed.

 

I had a coworker with a lifted 4x4 F350, had to remove the auto transmission himself twice on the ground. He said he had to make a wooden contraption to hold the transmission because I suppose no trans jack could reach it. He was not poor, probably just cheap but that must be a real SOB job.

I have done my Tacoma 4x4 manual trans twice and there aint going to no third time because its painful. I'm pretty strong but I can't lift the Tacoma unit, I slide it around on Dollys and to get it on the trans jack I have to raise it using a 2x4 across the shifter opening and ratchet straps. Last time I did it I could see the straps were about to break.

Can't imagine doing a F350 4x4 trans.

Another old timer told me he used to make a pit in the snow and drive the car over the pit so he could stand up to remove the trans. Seems a little dangerous but whatever works I suppose. No heaters allowed!

 

where there’s a will there’s a way! Dropping the drivetrain wasn’t really all that difficult, just have to take your time and have the right tools. Balance of the trans/transfer case on the jack is key to making it less stressful.

 

Even with all the right tools it was not an "easy" job. Glad I was able to lend a hand when you did it.

 

just looked thru the whole build/restore. i love stuff like this. getting a high milage car/truck and bringing it back to life with oem or better parts.

wish i had the money to do something like that.

 

certainly not cheap or easy lol, but somewhat satisfying.

next on my list is a rear pinion seal leak, I got the part in from ford just need to set some time aside to swap it. Picked up something finally to put this whore to work a bit more.

 

Looks like you're growing a silver taco in the back field.... about ready to pick!

 

It is ripe for the taking

i had one of my neighbors stop by last week and ask what the deal was on that truck. It’s been sitting long enough now I’d hate to have to sell to anyone I’d ever run i to again, at this point it’s basically good for parts only.

 

Installed a Curt class V hitch in place of the stock, this bitch is rated for 17k lbs. Had to relocate the trailer harness as well. Picked up a spare set of wheels/tires from a CL ad for cheap because my spare is rusted to hell LOL.

 

Here is the OEM vs the new

 

What a nice looking Super Duty. Looking at the work list and then scrolling down to one of the side view pics of it towing the tandem trailer with the (Kubota?) loader on board, the first word that came to my mind was: "Sleeper". You'd never know that all those goodies were just below the surface, and it's an oil burner too.
Icing on the cake. "Perfect"

I always wanted a pick-up with those ICC lights on the roof. My buddy's Dad in High School had one with those lights and I thought they were great.

 

Haven't updated this in a while but got a few new things done.

Pinion seal was leaking so I pulled the flange, pinion nut seemed a bit loose so I replaced the seal and tightened the pinion nut an extra half turn. Hopefully that'll keep it going for a while before the rear diff might need a rebuild.


pinion outboard bearing showed some minor signs of pitting




Pinion flange had a small groove where the seal rides but not bad for 257k miles, I cleaned it up with some scotch bright and ran it!


Fixed the oil pan dipstick tube which started leaking again, the OEM o-ring design really does bring the suck. I tried this repair, and so far seems good.
https://73dipstick.com/index.html


PTO cover was leaking a little bit too so I drained the trans, removed and cleaned up the cover/trans sealing surface and re-sealed.






Replaced the old brake controller with a Prodigy P3



Old wiring the previous owner did was kind of janky, I used the tekonsha to ford adapter so there were no splices involved it's a nice connector from the oem brake controller harness.



Obgligatory picture after all the work was done, it leaves a little less oil in the driveway now

 

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I was just following the mods way to not have a Tacoma, I think the website name is just a front for some kind of secret cult

 

5500 lbs of RR ties. that’ll do , that’ll do

 

Pew Pew!

 

Swapped out my bench seat with one from an 06 model, this one is split 60-40 and has seats that flip up and down to be completely flat, whereas the old one only did a partial degree flip down on the back portion. It's a nice upgrade. I also have a metal grate that installs and gives you a platform underneath. I had to hit that with a coat of paint and waiting for it to dry.








Here is the old seat as reference

 

And you got a new couch in the garage sweet