parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

[Eliteman76]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

My dad ordered that F150 4x4, full tow package, deep gearing, oil coolers for everything...I drove that red car to lower michigan from Nebraska, Iowa on I-80 sucks ass with all the dips and hills but I managed to still pull 3500-4000 pounds for 1976 Ford Elite at around 70 in tow mode.
And it's the 4.6, not the 5.4.

Trust me, I was skeptic when I first got behind the wheel of it and started pulling...but his truck, no issues, freaking great on the interstate in my mind.

I know when I was hauling through the Sierra Nevada I-80 mountain pass in my '84 F150 with the 302, I had one simple thing. I ran balls to the walls wide open down grade in straight stretches 90+ and held it in second once I started really slowing up hill...fustraighting as hell at times...but when I see semi's running slower than 15 mph up hill and I was pulling 30 or so, it was not all bad.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

Dang. This truck has the 5.4L. I'm very curious to see how it does with the trailer unloaded.

[Eliteman76]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

well, I know with my dad's '97, I was able to roll 85 w/o issue unloaded coming home.
I know people bitch about the mod motors...but they certainly can run down the road at speed.

[Eliteman76]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

Just a mental reminder, can you guys help me run down a basic checklist of crap I should take?
Not counting hand tools, jack, but other stuff.
Just trying to not forget.

[2bbl318]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

Orange Juilus!!!

[milner351]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

don't forget a flashlight with back up batteries - a first aid kit - waterless hand cleaner, and extra tie down straps / nylon straps and zip ties - of course duct tape.

and one I see a lot - an aired up spare tire for the trailer!

A friend of mine borrowed my trailer recently and blew a tire - thankfully he had a spare and a "4 way" to change it with - but the spare wobbled - so he ended up buying me a new tire.... he feels bad the fender got mangled...

a winch is really helpful too if you are picking up a car that won't move under it's own power.

[Eliteman76]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

Thanks...I hate the fact the car trailer has the GM small 5x4-3/4" pattern, all my spares are Ford car 5x4.5" pattern. Went and got a spare from a buddy who has a stack of GM wheels and tires to borrow while I'm on the road, along with a really old, nasty rally rim as the backup to the backup.
I'm getting lucky...none of this hand winching with a pair of comalogs to get a car on the trailer...the guy has a rollback, and has offered to make it easy by loading the car up and sliding it on the trailer.
Of cource I have to bring 4 tires to do this...
I have been looking towards this for a month now...something about just rolling out to a cahse of old Torinos makes me excited.

Andy

[milner351]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

sounds like a great adventure - have a blast!

[oldsman71]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

:D yep Ill buy a cutlass just because its fer sale! and dont even know
what im going to do with it!! havent scraped a g body yet but built a stock
car with one!

I know of a great 87 in a junkyard near here. The body is really good an the interior in mint.

too bad yer so far away :'(

[Eliteman76]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

Well, talk about a cluster F...started with me being delayed a day, leaving around 10pm Friday night instead of 3pm on Thursday, and I ended up getting home around 4 am Sunday morning.
I'll post pictures hopefully later tonight...if I don't pass out...totally fried!
Wife was going to go, but got sick, so she bailed, I called up a buddy at 8pm on Friday and went road trip time beeyotch, you owe me!
Went and got him, was on I-80 going west by 10pm.

The drive out sucked...head winds, 30+ mph, watching semis sway a half a lane makes you rethink passing. I discovered the limits I think of a 2007 F150 4x4 with the tow package in heavy winds.
Thank God for the invention called the IPOD...western Nebraska...radio hell.

I about pissed myself at how much fuel I went through...with an empty trailer!
*(^$% wind.
I got out to the pan handle of Nebraska, pulled off the road after around 400 miles of straight driving at 3am. Was going to crash in the truck but said F it, got a room, and then my buddy returned the IOU favor by gassing the living hell outta the bathroom first...had to crack open the...wait, no, I about ripped the window open after that bit.
Anyways, Saturday, went down to the farm where the cars were, and out in a field was a row of Torinos, a 72 and 75 wagon, a 74,73, and 72 ranchero, a '73 Montego MX, a '74 XR7 cougar. the XR7 is a console car, but the guy stuffed 3 gas tanks in the XR7 and cracked on the right side of the console.
There were remnants of a '72 GT ranchero in the back of the 74 ranch, GT hood, fenders, doors, etc...so-so shape.
A couple front frame sections, with all the suspension.
Didn't find any big front bars or the GTS specific large rear upper arms.
I did find a straight front bumper sitting in the back of a semi-complete 72 GT ranchero.
I didn't see much of anything good for roll pans, all had damage. Some good trim, a couple '72 GT front ends, there is a complete header panel setup there off a yellow '72, had the headlight buckets, trim, surround and grille.
I will probably be going back for that.
'73 formal roof out there had a nice front clip...doors so-so, but had some minor rot. Quarters had rot on the lips.

I picked up a cherry '73 GTS for my buddy Steve in Colorado...depressing as it was as that clean car is destined to become a race car. It's a bench/400 car, nothing special asside from it was pretty much rust free, 85% straight, and more or less in complete shape.

There was also a galaxy fastback, I forget year as I don't know those well enough, 68-69? Not sure. Neat 50's 4 door mercury was sitting out there as well.

Got loaded with the '73 and head to Northern Colorado, dropped off the car, picked up a 351c/FMX and headed back for my pick, a wrecked '72 GTS back in the panhandle of Nebraska.
GTS + Dodge Ram = :'( :o

This GTS will yeild alot of usable stuff, sheet metal looks nice.
Basic cluster car, but yet the thing was a Q code. I found that odd.
Vinal roof car, so the roof has some minor issues but not bad.
Mainly light rust.

Frame appears to be unhurt, damage was all up high, sheet metal.


After we got loaded, we got back on the road around 9 pm this time...go back to Omaha, made good time but ended up stopping off at a rest stop around 2am for a 20 minute nap and got going again. Made it home just before a quarter to 4am.



Andy

[Eliteman76]

Re: parts run in the name of saving a car or two. What the hell is wrong with me?

All that trouble for this poor beast.