Mods
Banks Sidewinder Turbo, LUK Clutch
Build story
This truck has been in my life as long as I can remember, but only recently has it become mine. I grew up down the street from the guy that used to own this truck, and he only used it to tow is 5th wheel camper to Arizona from Northern Michigan every winter. I remember staring at the truck as we drove by because it was so beautiful.
The truck is a 1988 F-250 with a 7.3L IDI and a 5 speed manual. For a truck that was purchased in Michigan it is surprisingly only 2wd, but it makes sense for what the previous owner bought it for. When I bought it about 2 years ago it had been sitting for almost 12 years. The first 10 years it sat in a pole barn, but unfortunately it got pushed outside by a tractor where it sat for another year or so before somebody tried to get it running and driving again. When it was pushed outside by the tractor both of the bumpers got bent up towards the body and made it so the tailgate could not be opened.
This is when I came into the picture. I offered a very low price and amazingly the guy accepted it, he just wanted it gone at this point. All it took to get the truck started was rewiring the clutch safety switch and letting the glow plugs cycle. But this is when I realized why the truck was likely parked. The aluminum pedal support was cracked and would flex when you pushed the clutch pedal so the clutch would not fully disengage. I had a couple shops do some work on the truck because it is too big to fit in any of the garages I have access to right now, but after having the pedal support replaced and a new clutch installed I got to work giving it a once over and start driving it.
I have really fallen in love with this truck even more that when I was a kid. The truck is so clean and mostly rust free (only slight rust on the driver side cab corner) for its age and for how long it was sitting. And surprisingly minimal mice damage (only a few wires had the insulation chewed). Now the truck is squared away I am really excited to start putting this truck to work this summer to tow around the rest of my projects (1990 Mazda Miata, and a 1984 CJ7).
The truck is a 1988 F-250 with a 7.3L IDI and a 5 speed manual. For a truck that was purchased in Michigan it is surprisingly only 2wd, but it makes sense for what the previous owner bought it for. When I bought it about 2 years ago it had been sitting for almost 12 years. The first 10 years it sat in a pole barn, but unfortunately it got pushed outside by a tractor where it sat for another year or so before somebody tried to get it running and driving again. When it was pushed outside by the tractor both of the bumpers got bent up towards the body and made it so the tailgate could not be opened.
This is when I came into the picture. I offered a very low price and amazingly the guy accepted it, he just wanted it gone at this point. All it took to get the truck started was rewiring the clutch safety switch and letting the glow plugs cycle. But this is when I realized why the truck was likely parked. The aluminum pedal support was cracked and would flex when you pushed the clutch pedal so the clutch would not fully disengage. I had a couple shops do some work on the truck because it is too big to fit in any of the garages I have access to right now, but after having the pedal support replaced and a new clutch installed I got to work giving it a once over and start driving it.
I have really fallen in love with this truck even more that when I was a kid. The truck is so clean and mostly rust free (only slight rust on the driver side cab corner) for its age and for how long it was sitting. And surprisingly minimal mice damage (only a few wires had the insulation chewed). Now the truck is squared away I am really excited to start putting this truck to work this summer to tow around the rest of my projects (1990 Mazda Miata, and a 1984 CJ7).