Project 4x4

[Pickering Snow]

Well finally after doing a ton of research i found the output shaft for my trans on the wrecker to beable to install the transfer case, so tuesday the 9th i have made the date to start the install. This took alot of planning my hope here is to beable to start tearing the truck down tuesday night after we close . I have to pull the tranny and send it out to have output shaft installed by ford in order to keep warr in effect there loving this 450.00 to swap it out lol . I sold the used front diff and ordered a new dana 60 loaded with all the parts and a 4:88 gearset this way i dont have to do a rear gear swap to match the used front diff i had was a 4:10 just the rear gear set for the wrecker alone would of been close to a grand plus my time setting it up so i said hell with it ill keep the stout gears.

While the trannys out at the ford dealer ill install the front diff. The transfer case and drive shafts came in yesterday so they were the last of the missing parts iam hoping to have it back on the road by next friday the logistics for doing this is killing me i am borrowing a old back up wrecker from a company i do work for and i have hired a guy from a temp agencey to help me so i can keep my other techs working on cust cars.

I will take pics dont worry lol . Between the wrecker and the on going 1960 restore and work this summer is about shot for me.

Heres the kicker if i had ordered the F450 with 4x4 i think it would of been near a 6k add on i have close to 7k in parts bills on my desk so lesson learned if you want 4x4 order it much easyer coming down the assem line lol.

Ps Jerre get ready pal if all goes well iam coming for my low pro around the 20th or so of aug, oh ya we need to put the push beam and wiring on too gee this would make the first trip to Erie without the possiblity of snow in the forecast.!!!

[labsnducks]

Sounds like you have your work cut out for ya Fred, Good luck!!

I was wondering what the cost difference would be (ordering from the factory) but now we know. :eek:

I guess thats why the car thieves, and chop shops, do what they do, parts are worth more!!! pimp

Best of luck Fred !

[repo_man62]

Well finally after doing a ton of research i found the output shaft for my trans on the wrecker to beable to install the transfer case, so tuesday the 9th i have made the date to start the install. This took alot of planning my hope here is to beable to start tearing the truck down tuesday night after we close . I have to pull the tranny and send it out to have output shaft installed by ford in order to keep warr in effect there loving this 450.00 to swap it out lol . I sold the used front diff and ordered a new dana 60 loaded with all the parts and a 4:88 gearset this way i dont have to do a rear gear swap to match the used front diff i had was a 4:10 just the rear gear set for the wrecker alone would of been close to a grand plus my time setting it up so i said hell with it ill keep the stout gears.

While the trannys out at the ford dealer ill install the front diff. The transfer case and drive shafts came in yesterday so they were the last of the missing parts iam hoping to have it back on the road by next friday the logistics for doing this is killing me i am borrowing a old back up wrecker from a company i do work for and i have hired a guy from a temp agencey to help me so i can keep my other techs working on cust cars.

I will take pics dont worry lol . Between the wrecker and the on going 1960 restore and work this summer is about shot for me.

Heres the kicker if i had ordered the F450 with 4x4 i think it would of been near a 6k add on i have close to 7k in parts bills on my desk so lesson learned if you want 4x4 order it much easyer coming down the assem line lol.

Ps Jerre get ready pal if all goes well iam coming for my low pro around the 20th or so of aug, oh ya we need to put the push beam and wiring on too gee this would make the first trip to Erie without the possiblity of snow in the forecast.!!!
Didn't go to Joint,Clutch and Gear in Bay City??

[Pickering Snow]

Repoman

You have been away to long lol. Joint clutch is not what it use to be i do very little work with them anymore. I ordered new driveshafts cheaper from Ford than Joint Clutch wanted to build them. Scientific Brake does my drive shafts when i need one built , plus they started rechroming cylinders so it makes it easyer to deal with them know. I honestly kept with all new ford parts for resale reasons. I know the guys real well at Schaffers in Pontiac and they agreed to inspect the truck when iam done and put the mod sticker on and document the upfit to keep the value of the truck.

[Pickering Snow]

Well what can go wrong will go wrong . Started on the truck tuesday night worked until 2am had tranny out on floor and ready to go to Ford dealer wensday to have output shaft changed out i made the appointment 2weeks ago explained the logistics of it all was told no problem would be done by wensday night. Trucks setting in shop front diff installed brakes even bled. Transfer case shifter installed wiring to dash done , t-case and shafts setting on the floor waiting for guess what the %$&*@##$ Tranny iam so mad i could scream. I called last night at 5 they said we havent got to it yet maybe monday or tuesday . I called my sublet tranny shop and very good friend he said get it to me i picked it up last night and delivered it to his shop at 8 he came and unlocked for me. Mike told me not to worry tranny would be done by this afternoon , i guess at this point i dont care about the warr issues that come with this i trust Mike more than i do the dealer when it comes to tranny repairs.

Whole point if you make a appointment at my shop two weeks ago and tell me what i told them i would stay or put more help on it til it was done thats the diff between lip service and taking care of customers.

This project was probley one of the most simple swaps ive made the new danna 60 went in with no problems and everything came apart so easy and know the only reason this truck isnt finished is because of someone else not towing the line.

I have a repo that has to be done Saturday night i will have to do a vin cut and just drive it back which will take me and one other person to do, the job is three hours away. I have pics fellows and i know how everyone likes pics but right know getting this crate back on the road is my #1 concern ill post later.

[cat320]

I guess that is what happens when ya have to much business Fred I guess I would tell other people that they don't need any more at that dealership.I think I would of had a full blown nutty if they said it could be done on that day and i busted my behind to get it there then not have any work done .

[John DiMartino]

Fred, i know how frustrating that can be,its too bad a lot of shops dont follow thru on obligations and appointments.Im glad everything else went smoothly.

[Mark Oomkes]

Sorta makes you want to hurt someone real bad, doesn't it Fred?

[Pickering Snow]

Well its finished besides the tranny episode which my buddy came threw friday at noon he also installed a updated planet pin in the tranny made by a aftermarket company. After i got the tranny and transfer case back in the rear shaft was wrong ended up sending my brother on a very long road trip will explain later. The truck runs good the 4x4 is nice and iam glad its over with will be even happier this winter.

[Pickering Snow]

More pics i took these tonight i have shop pics in shop camera will post them later

[Pickering Snow]

Well the way i look at it theres more know to keep the black side down and the shiny side up.

[snowplowjay]

Looks Great Fred!!!

I can't wait to see it hitched up with a new blade :D



Jay

[cat320]

Fred looks good. well one good think about what you did you know its done right and done better.

[T-Zab]

Fred is the wrecker getting a Lo Pro ? Hey great job on the upfit too. Looks great.
Todd

[Pickering Snow]

Todd

Yes thats why i bought the low pro really then during the first part of summer i started having a problem finding a output shaft for the tranny it started to look like the whole 4x4 conver was not gonna happen . I found a friend this summer at Dana Corp in Louieville Ky and thanks to him "Jim Meyers" the project was able to be completed. Know to finish the long story with my brothers road trip he left yesterday morning at 2am drove to Dana in Ky and got the shaft the local dealers did not have a correct part number for a shaft for a TS trans so instead of telling me that they ordered a gaser shaft which didnt bolt up. Long story short when my brother got back last night from KY i seen a Ford part # on the shaft i called the dealer and asked to check # they said yes its a good number Memphis Tn has 15 i could of saved a trip and Overnighted the shaft. Jim from Dana said its not uncommon for Fords parts systems to not show in listings another Ford issue. Any way the trucks up and running and i hauled late last night she drove straight and no Vibs so iam happy about that.

I have a nice set of Cooper M&S tires and with the low pro and the excellant rear visablity the wrecker is gonna be one heck of a plow rig.

[Mark Oomkes]

Looks good Fred. You're going to be able to make some good money with that truck now.

[Mark Oomkes]

Hey Fred, I just had a thought (my one for the day :D ) Is this the same dealer that told you that your truck was no different than a soccer mom's van? If so, no wonder they didn't care about living up to their word, what's going to happen, you miss a couple soccer games? ;)

[Lawngodfather]

Great job on the conversion...

What do you suppose the final estimated tally cost of the conversion, and the labor?

I know someone who wants to do the same thing. He has a F550 4x2 and the cost to get a new one will be to big of a hit on the truck its self, loan payoff, then the paying for a new one.

[Pickering Snow]

Mike

Total parts i can give you labor is pretty tough since i did it. I did look up labor times and the whole job book time was near 40hrs if i billed that out to a cust the labor would be 2600.00

Front Diff loaded with 4.88's calipers, brake pads and rotors complete 3000.00
Transfer case 870.00
Front drive shaft 285.00
Rear drive shaft 585.00
Transfer case shifter 165.00
Transfer case shift rods, shift boot, gaskets transfercase sensor for 4x4 light 75.00
Trans output shaft if needed 370.00 transfercase adapter 165.00.



Cost to my brain and central nervous system dealing with Midland Ford pricless.!!!! Yes Mark same soccer mom dealership. :D

Mike if i had to do it again i could save a ton of time with finding parts if hes really serious about doing the swap get me all the info on the truck and i can get you the part numbers i need his current gear ratio and trans type. And MY.

PS keep in mind the trans if it needs the shaft swaped out would have to be tore down and installed so figure tranny r&r i didnt list the cost of the tranny work my sublet shop did all the tranny work FREE true friend. Ford dealer wanted 500.00 labor

[Lawngodfather]

Your first guestimate wasn't to far off then.

I know my buddy could not do this himself, but I can do it.


I would also do this at a differnt buddies transmition shop, so swaping the shafts wont be a problem.

[4evergreenlawns]

Steve,

Thanks for redirecting me here to the correct place.

Fred,

As I mentioned and after looking over the 2X4 v=.vs 4X4 build sheets when I ordered the F-450 in 03 the base difference between 2X4 and 4X4 was actually about $2,300.00 not the $1,500.00 I posted. But I also when with the 4:30 L/S rear with was $360.00, so I guess the total difference was $2,630.00. You mentioned $6,000.00 to order was there something else you were ordering with the 4X4 that maybe I missed. Not sure how much the ESOF would be but I like the shift lever in the cab and locking hubs.

Still a nice job. Which rear end are do you have??

[SIPLOWGUY]

Beautiful Fred!!!