Meet Spot

[RockDoc]

Hi all.

Wanted to introduce my "soon to be" 55 and start a thread to seek input and eventually post progress. I love reading through relevant threads, so please post up some links you think I might gain from.

Spot is a Dec '69 that I will be picking up from 3_puppies in a month or so (most of these pics are shamelessly pilfered from the batch he sent me, although a couple are my own from checking it out last weekend). To my uneducated eyes, Spot is solid, if a bit rough around the edges. The bottom end of the F started to act up in the mid eighties from what I'm told (last registered in '86) and as a result the rust isn't bad at all. The name comes from the roof mounted searchlight, which I hope to keep and make functional if it isn't now.



My plans are in flux, but I would like to make the 55 my camping/cruiser event/wheeling truck and get my '90 62 rolling as a stockish "street" truck. Currently I am thinking the 55 will get a 3FE (maybe a 2FE down the road if a body lift will make the hood clear), an SM420, 3 speed case and the locked 62 axles out of the Wobble Wagon. An A440F and splitcase would be another option, but that would necessitate regearing the diffs to play nice with tall tires, and I would like to have one truck with a manual. I know there are a few 3FE powered 55s out there, any advice on fitment/interference? Where have you mounted your ECU?



Not sure what arrangement for the springs yet, but would have the stock springs and 62 OME's handy to work with, or could run with something different... Been tossing the idea of a minimal spring pack + airbags around in my mind lately, but would need to solicit opinions and look over some bagged rigs locally to see if that is reasonable/prudent. Are there any threads out there to detail what's involved in swapping in 60 series axles? Spring mounts directly under frame or outboard them?

I have 33"x12.5" TSLs that would be thrown on, but would like to step up to something a bit taller and possibly narrower when the time comes to replace. Will the wheel wells take a 34"x9.5" or a Q78-15 without trimming?



For steering, I think I'll pursue using a 62 PS box and the stock pump on the 3FE. Maybe run the 3FE AC compressor for onboard air. Upgrade the master cylinder to a dual circuit, boosted if a booster will fit without interfering with the 3FE intake?

Well, that's enough for a start I think..... well maybe a few more pics...

 

[RockDoc]

 

[RockDoc]

 

[v8slrtorana]

My pig leans to 1 side. So i am too thinking about loosing some load springs & going the air bags.
But ive only got as far as thinking Any further usually requires coin.

 

[3_puppies]

Curtis, good one on the naming! another pig heading north of the border. Paul

 

[RockDoc]

Curtis, good one on the naming! another pig heading north of the border. Paul

The name may also be inspired by a certain envelope.

 

[RLMS]

no rust

nice score

justin

 

[PabloCruise]

Looks great Doc!
Put the ECU above the glove box (that way you have room for your gloves).
On my '74, the 3FE does not interfere with my dual circuit MC w/ booster, but I think we may have different firewalls?
Let me know your thoughts on mounting 3FE A/C compressor, I would like to get my A/C functional, but not really sure how 3FE compressor mounts. Mine did not come with one.

 

[RockDoc]

Pablo - There is a bracket the bridges from the 3FE engine bracket to the side of the head/PS mount. Thinking about it a bit, I'm betting I'll need to use the F engine brackets (narrower spread in the 55 vs. the 60 series I would think) which will nix easy mounting of the AC compressor. When I did the 2FE, I dropped the AC mostly because the bracketry would need to be modified to make it work with the taller 2F block.

These will give you a bit of an idea...

 

[PabloCruise]

Hmmm...
How do the F/2F/3FE mounts differ?

 

[RockDoc]

Based on memory and speculation.....

IIRC, the 62/3FE and 2F/60 engine mount brackets place the mounts in the same position relative to the engine block (I don't recall off hand which brackets I used on my 2FE, I think 3FE to use the 62 alternator). The major difference is the 3FE bracket on the passenger side acts as a mount point for the AC compressor bracket. I think the driver side bracket acts as a mount for the alternator in the 62.

I assume the F and pre-60 2F mount brackets place the mounts closer to the block to suit the narrower frame of 40/45/55 trucks, but could very well be wrong on that.

 

[PabloCruise]

Based on memory and speculation.....

IIRC, the 62/3FE and 2F/60 engine mount brackets place the mounts in the same position relative to the engine block (I don't recall off hand which brackets I used on my 2FE, I think 3FE to use the 62 alternator). The major difference is the 3FE bracket on the passenger side acts as a mount point for the AC compressor bracket. I think the driver side bracket acts as a mount for the alternator in the 62.

I assume the F and pre-60 2F mount brackets place the mounts closer to the block to suit the narrower frame of 40/45/55 trucks, but could very well be wrong on that.

I am sure someone has an awesome post detailing the difference in all the different "F" variant mounts (F/2F/3FE).

I'll have to take a look at my pass side mount again to see what we used. I remember we had mounts that fit, so we used them! Not sure if they were for the '74 F or the '88 3FE.

 

[nuclearlemon]

60 axles require outboarding the front only and even 35s look a little stupid small on soa

 

[RockDoc]

60 axles require outboarding the front only and even 35s look a little stupid small on soa

Good to know. Since I posted this I've found a few threads that talk about 60 axles into a 55, but they seem to be thin on photos. Is the outboarding just to clear the diff housing on the passenger side?

I think the first configuration I'll explore for springs is the Dakars that are on my 62, could always do a bit of a body lift to clear larger tires if need be, and gain room under the hood.

 

[nuclearlemon]

\Is the outboarding just to clear the diff housing on the passenger side?

.

yep

if using 60series stuff, be sure to check the pin sizes and width of spring bushings to make sure they'll fit. they will also move the axle in the wheel well

 

[3_puppies]

Hmmm...
How do the F/2F/3FE mounts differ?

Based on memory and speculation.....

IIRC, the 62/3FE and 2F/60 engine mount brackets place the mounts in the same position relative to the engine block (I don't recall off hand which brackets I used on my 2FE, I think 3FE to use the 62 alternator). The major difference is the 3FE bracket on the passenger side acts as a mount point for the AC compressor bracket. I think the driver side bracket acts as a mount for the alternator in the 62.

I assume the F and pre-60 2F mount brackets place the mounts closer to the block to suit the narrower frame of 40/45/55 trucks, but could very well be wrong on that.

I am sure someone has an awesome post detailing the difference in all the different "F" variant mounts (F/2F/3FE).

I'll have to take a look at my pass side mount again to see what we used. I remember we had mounts that fit, so we used them! Not sure if they were for the '74 F or the '88 3FE.

IIRCC all the motor mounts are the same, driver side is the same dimension as a driver side, whether F, 2F or 3F
passenger side is the same dimension as other passenger side mounts. the 2F and 3F have the a/c mount built into them tho.
the frame width difference is made up by the mount that is on the frame, the 60 frame mount sticks out further than the frame mount on a 40 frame.

for the outboarding of the front spring, there should be some pics in the 40 section, it should at least give you some idea as to what is needed.

 

[RockDoc]

IIRCC all the motor mounts are the same, driver side is the same dimension as a driver side, whether F, 2F or 3F
passenger side is the same dimension as other passenger side mounts. the 2F and 3F have the a/c mount built into them tho.
the frame width difference is made up by the mount that is on the frame, the 60 frame mount sticks out further than the frame mount on a 40 frame.

for the outboarding of the front spring, there should be some pics in the 40 section, it should at least give you some idea as to what is needed.

That's encouraging on the engine mounts. Options are always nice. As always, lots of reading to do to get up to speed on things.

 

[PabloCruise]

IIRCC all the motor mounts are the same, driver side is the same dimension as a driver side, whether F, 2F or 3F
passenger side is the same dimension as other passenger side mounts. the 2F and 3F have the a/c mount built into them tho.
the frame width difference is made up by the mount that is on the frame, the 60 frame mount sticks out further than the frame mount on a 40 frame.

for the outboarding of the front spring, there should be some pics in the 40 section, it should at least give you some idea as to what is needed.

Thanks 3_puppies!
I am hoping we used the 3FE mounts so I can mount up an A/C compressor if it will fit in the 55 engine bay.
I believe for the rear mounts we had to go with the 55 mounts and the bell housing that came w/ my 55.

 

[Pighead]

Hmmm...
How do the F/2F/3FE mounts differ?

The 2F used bigger bolts to bolt the front engine mounts to the block...so bigger holes in the 2F front mounts.

 

[RockDoc]

SM420 adaptation

Anybody have some pros and cons on EBI plate adapter to 3-speed case vs. AA adapter to a splitcase for behind a SM420? Given a 60 series rear axle I don't think having a parking brake at the case is a concern.