I finally got to bring home my wrecker today! It's been slowly digging it's own grave for about 5 years before today. (literally. It was sinking into the ground and a back hoe was needed to pull it out)

I only have a couple pictures of it from today, because like a goof, I forgot my camera before I left. Luckily, My friend Rich brought his. I was going to use my brown truck to tow it home, but the last time I towed a truck back from Larry's place, Alice (my brown truck) got really mad at me the next day and wouldn't run until I showed her some love. I didn't figure she would be very happy with me if I made her haul the wrecker home. The 3/4 diesel of Rich's was a much better match for the task than my 1/2 ton six cylinder.

Anyway, here we are loaded up and ready for the trip home.



Here's the whole caravan that headed home.



Once we got it unloaded, we spent a few minutes to oil the cylinders down, clean the plugs and throw a fresh battery in it. It fired right up and ran pretty well, considering it's been asleep for so long. I can't wait to get it back on the road!

 

Your friend has a sexy Cummins! That wrecker is pretty cute! I'd drive it daily! What does she have in her?

 

A special thanks goes out to FTE members, Rich (77&79F250), RC (whiskey runner), and Larry (larryb346) for all the help with getting the new toy home. I couldn't have done without you guys!

 

It's a 429 and a 4 speed. This is gonna be my new heavy hauler with Alice demoted to transportation and cruises.

 

I'm really liking that wrecker the more I look at it the more I want it lol. Gonna do anything to Alice in the mean time while she's demoted?

 

I noticed your from New carlisle, is that close to Poast town?

 

I've never heard of poast town lol. How close are you to the Dayton/Springfield Area?

 

The plans for Alice are to get her engine rebuilt after I get the wrecker dependable enough for daily use so I can send the original block out for machining. When it goes back together, she'll have a little more "oomph" than a stock 300 six. I also want to fix the paint, get the spray in liner done, and paint the inside of the cab. After that, ....just enjoy the heck out of driving her.

 

Sounds like a good plan! Ever thought of turboing that 6?

 

Nope. Too much for me. I'm just gonna bump the compression up a little, put a slightly larger cam in with a 600 Holley on an aluminum intake and a split header. That's all I want. Nothin' fancy.

I need to get crackin' on the wrecker today, but I have some other work in the shop that takes precedence. (so I have the money to work on the wrecker!)

The reason "Build" is in quotes is because this is NOT a frame off deal. I'm going to fix what needs fixing, throw some paint on it, and use the crap out of it.

 

That is a sweet looking truck. Looks like it's going to be a fun project. Do you plan to keep the boom on the back?


Jameson

 

Yes. That's the whole reason I bought it. I own a hotrod shop and what better way to get projects to the shop?

I got to drive the wrecker today! About 20' forward and 20' backwards. I had to move it over in the driveway so it wasn't blocking anything. The power steering works well, the clutch feels good and the engine runs strong. It shouldn't be too long before I have it on the road.

Modern wheels and tires are at the top of my list. It has four 17.5" Chevy split rims in the back that someone torched out the centers to make them fit the Ford hubs. In the front it has one modern 16" Ford wheel and one widow maker. I need six tires and five wheels for it. After that, some exhaust and brake work, fix some lights and some new glass and it's ready for an inspection sticker.

 

Awesome. There's 2 wrecker body F350 and a rollback on craigslist in my area. Wish I had the space and cash to pick one up.

 

Im close to dayton.

 

Now that's what a real truck looks like, come on dig out the hammer and pry bars, splittin rims builds character. Heh heh heh. I'm the second owner of a rust free 85. mile 78 f350 long wheel base dumptruck that I worked for 9 years and now we both have been retired. Henry is being converted over to a 5th wheel R.V. puller. I'm glad your keeping yours as a wrecker and I hope it serves you as well as mine served me. I've let mine down once and a while but it's never let me down. Keep up the good work. is your winch PTO driven off the trans or was it converted, just curious.