Ford F350 upgrade and maintenance log

New shocks have definitely helped the ride and handling but the rear needs a bit more attention. Considering what the hammer hangers did for the Tacoma I inquired to see if something was similar was offered for the superdutys. I found this.

https://www.carlisuspension.com/pro...nts/2017-plus/super-duty-leaf-spring-shackle/
I'll probably order next month after I take of my property taxes. Adulting is overrated sometimes.

 

Some of the videos on this channel might help. I day dream of getting a Cummins but I have no use for a diesel so I just watch their videos instead lol

They have a lot of info about suspension setups specifically.

https://youtube.com/@CJCOffRoad?si=okST7TWAec8OjuIQ

 

You need that Cummins so you can really send the Tacoma. I've seen a couple of their posts on Instagram and they offer some bronze raceline wheels I've been thinking of getting for the f350. So far my plan for the front end is synergy engineering for all the steering components. Idk about the arms as I'm planning to stay stock height or level at 1/2. Gotta keep it parking garage friendly as my antenna hits the clearance pole at work. But my plan for the stock arms is replacement bushing for both on the arm and the axle. I think synergy offers better replacement bushing, but I haven't inquired yet. But I have only seen upgraded control arms for lifter applications like 4in to 8-12in. Rear I've only been seeing better bumpstops like timbren. Maybe sway bars. Still doing some research.

 

Got a new clock spring. Went with this as it was fairly priced and offered a lifetime warranty.
https://youtu.be/kDa6w3M6tR8?si=mmlPoppejEct-iPh
The installation does not look terribly difficult. Might need to invest in a different puller. The Tacoma used bolts to hold the wheels vs jaws like the Ford one will need. So hopefully with this the truck will have a horn and cruise control.

 

Got home from work and got one filter changed out before the wind picked up and temp dropped plus I wanted to install my new cap.

I'm using OEM filters until I get an airdog or fass system.

So I'm happy the filters have been changed before but they're not OEM. Idk what they are.


Has a weird crush, but it's clean.

Not cherry favored....



OEM seems to have much more filtering area.

Made is USA I guess.


Instructions for later.

The cap looked good but leaked at the tap for a fuel psi sensor. Has Teflon tape. I took it off and installed the old cap with the new oring until I address the leak at the tap.

Seems jammed up on the bottom vs around the threads.

Old cap on, tested, no leaks. I'll have to do the bottom filter another day.

 

So im refreshing the front and rear axles so i ordered a truetrac for the rear diff, the banks rear cover which i have found to be a very trick piece (minus the LSD) and an afe front diff cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdtmDl5EDJ8
in light of the cold weather the truck starts ok if you cycle the glow plugs a couple times but i dont want to work the truck hard just getting it started so I've been looking at the airdog pump with the fuel heating element.
https://pureflowairdog.com/i-30497728-airdog-ii-5g-df-165-5g-2003-2007-6-0l-ford.html
https://airdogdiesel.com/product/fh...-duty-pickup-and-fpii-125-industrial-systems/
The boost tubes are also looking a bit tired so it'll be a decent enough reason to upgrade to these.
https://blessedperformance.com/bles...-pipe-kit-2003-to-2007-ford-6-0l-powerstroke/
the interesting thing with these is that this is the only kit where one boot is eliminated so one less point of failure.

 

@memario1214 hooking up the axles with some goodies. The diff and the rear cover should be here Friday.

 

Got the LSD.

Box came in bruised but I think everything is fine.




The banks rear diff cover is a really cool piece. Can't wait to install the new mods, effectively the axles and seals will be brand new.

 

Horn contact came in so hopefully I'll have some time to install this weekend.

I did install this mini antenna so it stops hitting the sign at the parking garage.

That's effectively two weeks worth of commuting to work 35ish miles round trip. Goal would be to make a tank last a month. Which seems possible with some tuning as some report 24-25mpg

 

Truck and myself went under surgery today. The axles should be done tomorrow. Basically rebuilt, rear LSD, and front and rear covers on. Once I'm back to 100% I'll get back to wrenching with @Torspd and @BassAckwards also truck was plated with TRD so this addition to the fleet was meant to be.

 

Almost time for 11's

 

I'm digging the lack of rust.

 

Me too, it's solid truck. However it does have some faults as I will post shortly.

 

Rear end is done and buttoned up nicely.
Storytime (per my attorney I must note that this is very probably based on fantasy and in no way in reality. Maybe) - there once was an individual that worked at Boeing. Their job was installing door plugs on the fusaluge 60 year old design of the Boeing 737. This individual was very forgetful unfortunately and had forgotten to install the bolts on the door plug of a particular Alaska airlines plane which in turn blew off in flight. Fortunately no deaths occured. However this individual must've been employed previously at a mechanic shop doing suspension work as they forgot the basics with installing nuts on ball joints.




So this was very lucky for me as the weight of the truck kept the joint in place. I have no idea how one installs joints without securing it. Unfortunately the hole for the housing is now too large and cannot be used. A new front axle has found in Louisiana so that'll be at the shop later this month. So that leaves me with an opportunity to order the emf ball joints and wait for them and possibly order a front truetrac from @memario1214 . This is turning out much more expensive than I thought but at least it'll be done right and effectively the axles are zeroed out for me on the maintenance side of things. I do want to do some mid off roading with the truck so I'm not sure I want to stay with the truetrac or get a locker for the front. Most likely stay with the truetrac for simplicity. But for the time being the truck is safer to drive around until I get the new front axle in. Felt a bit better in the short drive from the shop to my house.

 

New front axle came in and per shop is on the original ball joints so this was a score. Extra parts too. So I'll go over the emf vs dynatrac ball joints as Carli doesn't make a set yet.

 

Full set purchased. Will get them painted or powder coated gloss black and run the black tremor lug caps. Also ordered the emf ball joints so those should arrive in a week.

 

Emf ball joints showed up. Someone check on your fellow Canadian.

 

Great parts, with a Great sticker!

 

King ranch wheels showed up. Look pretty decent. Now they come with the tpms that I don't need so I'm hoping to sell them and get some monies back but imo I still came ahead as I paid less than the avg asking price on these style of wheels. So now I need to get these powder coated a nice gloss back, get Ford tremor caps, wheel locks and current gen lug nuts and swap the wheels. I'll keep one of the original wheels for a spare as the truck didn't come with one.

Goal is to look like that

I took a stab at fixing the horn today, been long overdue but with work, recredentialing, and recovery ive been putting it off.




So change the horn contact and the clock spring. Both looked rough but should've worked. So checked all the wiring and the issue was a bad fuse.


So horn works and it is the most pathetic thing I've ever heard. I'll get a new one soon but at least it's now fully legal.