shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
Nice score on the flatbed.
My Jeep FC170 (Forward Control) "Patina Rod" project
- Thread starter 1x1_Speed_Craig
- Start date
K2ZJ
Explorer
1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
Probably so. I'll look for something locally, but will keep this in mind. For now, I have shelled out my share on FC stuff over the last week, and need to let my budget recover.
1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
Thanks!
Last weekend, I found a 12v vacuum/power steering pump for my project (no pic). The husband of a woman I used to work with parts out a lot of Cummins-powered trucks, and was local. This one came from a '96 Dodge 3500.
Today, my wife & I drove to Kewanna, Indiana and picked up this aluminum flatbed, and under-bed storage boxes. The TARPStop aluminum storage boxes need a little TLC, and the aluminum flatbed is in nice shape...well worth the trip! We stopped for a great lunch (breakfast food) at a place called Cock-A-Doodle Cafe in Elkhart, Indiana (close to where I grew up). Great food, service and prices (along with RV/trucker parking)! If you're in the area, check them out.
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1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
I thought so, especially for the price (it was a great deal, IMHO).
Bringing "redneck" indoors in Michigan in February (I have to get these greasy things moved up to the garage next week).
I picked up a '96 NP241 DLD transfer case w/linkage, Cummins flywheel housing/starter/flex plate, and misc. other hardware locally this morning. I was hoping to find a NP241 DHD (heavy-duty), but this one was priced right, and was standard behind Dodge 2500 Cummins trucks (this one was behind a 47RE automatic).The same guy with the transfer case had a bunch of hardware/bolts I needed, along with these old valves & valve springs. The valves may turn into decorative pieces on the FC, while I'll try to utilize some of the springs for a spring-mounted flatbed install (allows the flatbed to flex independently of the frame).
I took advantage of my Jeep/Dodge dealership discount, and ordered this transmission TV (kickdown) cable, a flex plate dust shield (not shown), and a couple "Cummins Turbo Diesel" emblems from a late-model Dodge application. I'll mount the emblems under my "FC-170" emblems.
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1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
Its's a '60s-era National "Consoline" cigarette machine that I bought a couple years ago...looks great in my small, Mid-Century house.
I plan to fully restore it at some point. My kids vote that I should have it dispense candy. I argue that nobody needs that much candy. I still have to find a packaging company to sell me a couple hundred cigarette pack-sized boxes, too (not an easy task).
1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
Thanks. I'm 44 yrs. old, so I remember ones (with less character) in bowling alleys and whatnot, but this one has a great look/design. I just need to find a "purpose" for it, and something healthier to dispense.
1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
(Ignore the old cab photo; it's the only side-profile FC170 cab pic I had handy.)
I got a bit creative while staying warm inside today. I drew the side skirts using the same basic style cues from the original bed, and reuse the original FC fenders. Storage boxes mounted on top of the bed (vs. underneath) give more ground clearance, and also hide the Cummins 12v 6BT mounted in between them (mid-engine mount). An expanded steel mesh insert between the storage boxes would retain good airflow and protect the 6BT from cargo mounted behind it, while a laser-cut Willys Overland logo pays homage to the FC's roots.
The two storage boxes will hold all of our camping/bug-out gear, our Zodi Extreme Hot Water shower/shower enclosure, our 5000W generator, etc. The 21-gallon fresh water tank will be hidden under the bed. I will most likely add bicycle fork mounts and wheel straps to the top of the storage boxes.
Removable stake pocket racks could be added anywhere along the bed to carry our canoe/kayak, or other long items.
The original FC170 bed
I got a bit creative while staying warm inside today. I drew the side skirts using the same basic style cues from the original bed, and reuse the original FC fenders. Storage boxes mounted on top of the bed (vs. underneath) give more ground clearance, and also hide the Cummins 12v 6BT mounted in between them (mid-engine mount). An expanded steel mesh insert between the storage boxes would retain good airflow and protect the 6BT from cargo mounted behind it, while a laser-cut Willys Overland logo pays homage to the FC's roots.
The two storage boxes will hold all of our camping/bug-out gear, our Zodi Extreme Hot Water shower/shower enclosure, our 5000W generator, etc. The 21-gallon fresh water tank will be hidden under the bed. I will most likely add bicycle fork mounts and wheel straps to the top of the storage boxes.
Removable stake pocket racks could be added anywhere along the bed to carry our canoe/kayak, or other long items.
The original FC170 bed
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1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
"I've got friends in low places"...er...high places. My friends at G2 Inc. (Precast Concrete, Steel Erection & Crane Rentals) treat me very well, and helped me move this unwieldy beast this week (16-foot flatbed). It's amazing how easy the right equipment makes the job. Thanks G2!!!
Up & over the tree...
This will probably be the home for this bed for at least a year, as I continue to work on the rest of the truck.
I also got the front bumper, and various other bits removed that attach the cab to the frame. I'm getting very close to lifting the FC cab off the frame, and test-fitting it on the 2008 F350 frame.
I'm working through my steering options in my mind, too. My thought is to connect the steering column to a 1998-2002 Isuzu Rodeo/Honda Passport steering "reverser" (~65-degree angle), redirect rearward to another reverser of some sort, which would be connected to the factory F350 steering box. The rearmost reverser is the wildcard at this point, but keeping the stock steering box/location would mean that the factory steering geometry would remain unchanged.
Back to my Super Hurricane cylinder head lamp project...
I found this vintage turn signal assembly amongst my FC parts, and love the look. While the switch won't work (easily) for 110V lighting, my wife Amy had the idea to use the housing around a traditional 110V light switch (a small lamp cord switch was recommended by someone). We'll see if we can get it to work.
In the midst of all this stuff, I have been boxing & shipping FC parts all over the U.S., and soon to be, the world. I'll be boxing up some parts to send off to an FC acquaintenace in South Africa this coming week.
Up & over the tree...
This will probably be the home for this bed for at least a year, as I continue to work on the rest of the truck.
I also got the front bumper, and various other bits removed that attach the cab to the frame. I'm getting very close to lifting the FC cab off the frame, and test-fitting it on the 2008 F350 frame.
I'm working through my steering options in my mind, too. My thought is to connect the steering column to a 1998-2002 Isuzu Rodeo/Honda Passport steering "reverser" (~65-degree angle), redirect rearward to another reverser of some sort, which would be connected to the factory F350 steering box. The rearmost reverser is the wildcard at this point, but keeping the stock steering box/location would mean that the factory steering geometry would remain unchanged.
Back to my Super Hurricane cylinder head lamp project...
I found this vintage turn signal assembly amongst my FC parts, and love the look. While the switch won't work (easily) for 110V lighting, my wife Amy had the idea to use the housing around a traditional 110V light switch (a small lamp cord switch was recommended by someone). We'll see if we can get it to work.
In the midst of all this stuff, I have been boxing & shipping FC parts all over the U.S., and soon to be, the world. I'll be boxing up some parts to send off to an FC acquaintenace in South Africa this coming week.
1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
Despite appearances, this is actually progress (bed mostly removed, and closer to cab removal).
#SawzallFTW #IHeartMilwaukeeTools
#SawzallFTW #IHeartMilwaukeeTools
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1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
I'm not sure why it took my procrastinating self so long to actually do this (probably because I thought I'd already have the cab mounted on the "new" 2008 F350 Chassis Cab frame by now), but I finally measured the track width on the FC170 so I could get an idea as to how the 2005+ Dana Super 60 with dually wheels/tires would look under the cab.
DISLAIMER: The wheels & tires in these pics are not stock, but rather are from a '78 CJ-7, and were given to me as "rollers" by a co-worker who I have helped out with some things. Normally, I dig the skinnier "pizza cutter" tire look on Jeeps, but I actually don't mind the stance these have on the FC. I do not, however, like when the wheels & tires stick way out past the body lines/flares...just personal preference/my personal taste.
My daughter, Mira, and I took a very technical approach to getting an accurate track width (center-to-center between front tires). We eyeballed the center of each tire, and measured away.
So despite these trucks giving the illusion of being smaller vehicles, they're actually bigger than they appear. The full-width, late-model Ford front axle will look great under the truck, IMHO, particularly with the wide flatbed and dually rear axle (the FC cab is ~70" wide, not including flares, if anyone is curious).
DISLAIMER: The wheels & tires in these pics are not stock, but rather are from a '78 CJ-7, and were given to me as "rollers" by a co-worker who I have helped out with some things. Normally, I dig the skinnier "pizza cutter" tire look on Jeeps, but I actually don't mind the stance these have on the FC. I do not, however, like when the wheels & tires stick way out past the body lines/flares...just personal preference/my personal taste.
My daughter, Mira, and I took a very technical approach to getting an accurate track width (center-to-center between front tires). We eyeballed the center of each tire, and measured away.
- ~68" center-to-center, Current wheels/tires on stock front axle (79" outside of sidewalls, if anyone's interested).
- 68.3" center-to-center for the F350 Chassis Cab, whether SRW or DRW (per fleet.ford.com)
So despite these trucks giving the illusion of being smaller vehicles, they're actually bigger than they appear. The full-width, late-model Ford front axle will look great under the truck, IMHO, particularly with the wide flatbed and dually rear axle (the FC cab is ~70" wide, not including flares, if anyone is curious).
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1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
Forgot to mention...
If anyone has experience with Jeep Commanders, I'm curious to get your thoughts on the comfort of the 2nd-row seating (minus there not being enough leg room). I found a local salvage yard parting out a 73K-mile 2006 Commander, and thought the 2nd-row seats would work well for the FC after I flatten the engine tunnel/hump.
They have manual controls, offer a few degrees of tilt (I can also adjust the recline position when building custom seat mounts), and also fold down/flip forward. The center position can be either a seat, or a flip-down armrest with drink holders.
Thoughts? Opinions?
If anyone has experience with Jeep Commanders, I'm curious to get your thoughts on the comfort of the 2nd-row seating (minus there not being enough leg room). I found a local salvage yard parting out a 73K-mile 2006 Commander, and thought the 2nd-row seats would work well for the FC after I flatten the engine tunnel/hump.
They have manual controls, offer a few degrees of tilt (I can also adjust the recline position when building custom seat mounts), and also fold down/flip forward. The center position can be either a seat, or a flip-down armrest with drink holders.
Thoughts? Opinions?