Casey429

By the looks of it, there's an F-250 in hiding here. It has the proper hubcaps and rear axle for it. A nice set of the mag-style wheel covers would suit the F-100 nicely, along with a more proper 9 inch pumpkin.

If the kits look anything at all like the tooling mockups, we're in for a real treat! With some switching around of trim, beds, and drivetrains, there's a number of trucks to be built. Add some beefed up rear spings, different rear axle and some 8-lug wheels, a 2wd F-250 would be an easy conversion on the longbed kit. Any chance of parts to do a Contactor, Farm & Ranch, Camper, or Trailer Special? Even so, those would be fairly easy to build on your own.

Thanks everyone! I agree that leaving the ol' Reo alone is best, but I at least need to reattach the stack haha. I definitley like the Rdon't oad Boss as a daycab more, I think it'll stay that way. I can always just set the sleeper on if I get bored. Alex, I made the PA plate with something like this http://www.licenseplates.tv/1977_pennsylvania_license_plate_7599.html. I thought I used the Acme Platemaker, but they don't seem to have the right blank. Insert the desired numbers (this might actually be a passenger car arrangement, but it fits). I saved the image, inserted it into a Microsoft word document, sized it (just measure a decal plate and match it), then printed on photo paper and attached with a dab of epoxy. I printed almost a full 4x6 sheet of them, plenty for other projects.

Here's a quick update. The truck part of the equation is done, now I need to turn my attention to the bed, plow, and spreader. This one's going on the back burner for a bit. I have a special build that has a deadline. Stay tuned in the other On thw Workbench for that one, coming soon! At first, I wasn't too sure about the grille treatment. But now that the bumper's on, it looks 10x better. Here's that front pumpkin I was talking about. It does interfere with the oil pan a bit, but I fanangled it in there. The heart, now in Ford Blue. I redid the intake as well, but it's still crooked from the first time 'round. Thanks for lookin!

Thanks guys! To answer your question, Jim, the engine is Plasti-Kote Old Ford Engine Blue I had laying around. Shouldn't be hard to find, even in a Duplicolor equivalent at you local parts store. I used Duplicolor light grey primer underneath it, to keep the Cat yellow from leeching through. And Tim, I got the idea for the grill from your Super Value Ford LT tractor, so I must give credit where credit is due. That one also has me wanting to build a matching tractor with the larger L hood, or as an even larger LTL. A quick bit of research turned up this: L=Standard Hood. LT=Tandem Axle. LN=Short Hood. LNT=Short Hood Tandem Axle. LS=Set Back Front Axle. LTS=Setback Front Axle with Tandem Axle. LL=Long Hood LTL=Long Hood with Tandem Axle The hood size and model designation (800 and 900 were gas engines, 8000 and 9000 were diesels) dictated engine choices. I'm also brewing up some decals for this one. The signs that were previously on the doors didn't come off very cleanly, so I'll need something to cover that up. I still might swap out the cab lights for the ones in AMT's series of '90s Ford F-150s to update it a little more still. And, when I originally built this, I used the spare rear axle that's incuded (left in from the short hauler maybe?) for the front axle. So, I have myself a 6x6 Louisville. I don't know where the other axle is, I might have used it in another project. I don't know that it's totally accurate, but a friend of mine used to have a 4x4 LN-8000 dump/plow so a 6x6 doesn't seem so farfetched. Ironically it also had a 3208 Cat in it, but it was backed by a manual trans. It seems from research that Ford labeled this as their own V-225 in the early L series trucks.

Hey everyone, I'm (finally) back for some more. I haven't started any new builds recently, I've been doing alot of shelf damage repair instead. First up, my old LNT-8000 plow truck. This thing is at least 10 years old now, and it was showing. I was just going to glue it back together (i've discovered the virtues of 5 minute epoxy since then) and I got a little carried away. So far, I've foiled the grille surround to update it a little, and flattened and repainted the grille. I fixed some glue damage from a previously installed air conditioner, and since I have no idea what paint I used I repainted the roof white. I also repainted the engine Ford blue. It was all Caterpillar yellow, and I mean ALL of it, in its previous life. Trans, air compressor, and alternator are Testors steel, manifolds are rust, belts and pulleys are flat and gloss black. Plans call for the plow and spreader to get some fresh paint, as well as some reworking of the cab overhang on the dump bed, and some new paint on it as well. I'm also stripping the chrome off the fuel tanks, and they'll get painted black. I'm leaving the chassis and interior alone, I figure I need to leave at least some of it original. The only digital photo I have of the thing, less plow. I know I have more around, but I have to scan and load them the old fashioned way. And here's where we are as of now: Thanks for looking, and there's more to come!

Thanks for the kind words, fellas! Here's a couple more, in daycab mode with my dad's old Great Dane extendable from back in the day. And with its distant cousin, dad's Diamond Reo, also a survivor from back in the day. It got a semi-restoration in the early '90s, mostly just glued back together and a few things touched up or repainted. Looks like old Testors metallic green. It's suffering from some serious shelf wear at the moment, but despite dad's youth, years in my grandma's attic, mine and my brother's childhoods, and two moves, it's holding up well. It's been glued back together a few times, but I can't bring myself to give it a full on restoration. It just has too much character. Thanks again for looking!

Hey all, after a long slump (well over 2 years since I finished anything) I'm back for a while I hope. Anyway, I picked this up when it first got reissued, and after finishing and painting the fram and driveline, it came to a screeching halt. About 3 weeks ago, I tore into it full force, working on it as much as I could and here we are. Basically out of the box, but I changed a few things. I cut down the sleeper crawl through to close the gap a bit, made a new stack using the kit muffler wrapped in chrome tape and aluminum tubing, made new mudflaps from the covering of an old 3 ring binder, and brewed up some of the decals (door signs, unit number, Cummins "C", mudflaps, PA license plate). Hood stripes, ICC numbers, other license plates, fuel tax and DOT stickers are from the kit. Colors are Duplicolor Santa Fe Tan, Chevy Engine Orange, and Cummins beige, interior is Krylon brown. Testors for all the little bits and pieces that aren't those colors. BMF on air cleaner face, battery box lid, and tank straps. West-Penn was never a real company to my knowledge, but it seems to fit. I was shooting for a typical '70s small fleet/owner op look. The bunk isn't permanently attached and probably never will be. I honestly think the Mercury sleepers are pretty ugly, but that's just me. I was going for cleanliness, and I'm pretty pleased. I'm still getting back into it, so once I shake some more rust off I think I'll be alright. Enjoy.

A friend of mine has a '70 something R700 that's had its V8 Mack replaced with a 3406B and an Eaton 13 Speed. We've christened it the Mackerpillar, looks like yours is coming along nicely too.

How did I miss this? Count me in! My grandpap bought a brand new 1970 F100 Ranger XLT longbed, black, 2WD with a 360 and 3 on the tree. Then my dad traded it in for a new 77 F-250, which I still have (albeit in pieces lol). I've only seen one picture of it, but pap should be able to fill in any gaps. I can't wait!

Here we go Steelers, here we go! I like it. Now you just need to paint up the F-250 to match. I don't want to start a battle but I have just one parting word lol. SIXBURGH!

I never noticed the difference by year for the headrests, you learn something everyday. Every XL I've seen is non-adjustable. I'll have to pay more attention. I've seen some oddballs too. A friend of mine has a '93 XLT with the rubber floor, crank windows and manual locks. Another has a '96 XLT with non-adjustable headrests, manual locking hubs and an electronic transfer case. I bought a '95 parts truck that was an XL that had a chrome grille and front bumper, cruise control, A/C and came from the factory with no rear bumper! That was an option until the new bodystyle came along in '97, fun fact. Another tidbit is 1992 was also the final year of the Custom trim level. I think that's why I like these trucks so much, they were the last years you could get weird combinations of options like that. I'm liking where this build is going. There are still plenty of these 'ol workhorses on the road, but you never see them in plastic.

This is looking really nice. The crossmember swap is a good move, since the one for a 460 powered truck is unique to the big block. One other suggestion would be to reshape the headrests to match the non-adjustable ones on the XL seat. I'll be watching this one for sure.

Custom frame with TLT axles? I've got an Axial SCX10 and Wraith myself.

Looking good, I'm doing a similar build of my 1:1 '94 F-150, with an AMT kit though. I chopped up the front suspensionfrom the '80 Bronco as well to get the 4x4. The 4.9 six popper looks great, as does the 5 speed. The wagon wheels look spot on as well, and I always did like them with trim rings. My only suggestion would be to add some round stock to the front center caps to replicate the 4x4 front hubs, since they stick out farther than the rears. Your 1:1 looks pretty clean from a rust standpoint too! I'm wanting to do a build with the Kitchen Table six, and I think yours sold me on it. I wanna build an '92-'96 style XL, 2wd with the six and a 5 speed. As far as the real 4.9 goes, it's oneof the best engines Ford ever produced, IMHO.

Looks great, as always. There's a TMC unit parked on the side of the road I've passed daily on my way to school for about a week now. Judging from seeing it every day, I'd say you nailed it, Tim.

It's a great kit, aside from the lack of options within the box. I bought mine when wally world was selling the 5 dollar checker box kits. I did mine up as a base 383 model (I had a horrible decal issue, and couldnt get them to settle down) with R/T hood, doors, and tail lamps. I used some chrome valve covers, headers, and an air cleaner from the parts box. I don't have any updated pics after I switched out the wheels for turbine mags and added dummy sidepipes for a real 70's street pounder look.

The LWB kit has the same bumper as the Lightning, Flareside, and SWB kits. The bumper on the Eddie Bauers is in fact the same as the diesel trucks. Also, for '96 all trucks and Broncos came with the diesel bumper. Instead of making multiple bumper types, they made just the diesel one that year since they were getting ready to produce the new body style for '97. I'm building a replica if my 1:1 '94 and I used the Monogram parts since i had them laying around. I grafted on the spindles from the AMT 2wd suspension so the wheel mounting points would stay the same. This also allowed the use of the AMT radius arms. I also added some bits of aluminum stock to replicate the 4x4 front hubs. I added a decal of a Warn hub to the end, since I swapped them for the automatic hubs on my real truck. I also made my own coil springs and added some parts box shocks since mine has the quad shock option. No, my truck does not have an oil leak, but the position of the oil filter makes it near impossible to not spill it when I change oil.

Nice! One of my favorite rigs of all time. I always loved the massive hoods on the LTLs. Is the AMT LNT9000 the donor?

Reminds me of a couple former Werner units running around my area that have been converted to dairy tankers.

The 92-96 Fords did have tan as an option. I've looked at a few, but they seem to be more common in the 95-96 Eddie Bauer trucks and Broncos. I'm not sure if it was avaliable in the Nites (which was dropped after 1992). They are out there though. Here's a 1992 XLT

The only thing I know of is a 1/27 (?) scale r/c done by Radio Shack's XMODS line. However, I don't think they make them anymore. An ebay search may turn one up. I have the '65 Mustang and the '06 F-150, and they're great fun!

Very nice, Rommel. Always nice to see something other than a Cummins or Detroit. The C16 was the last of Caterpillar's big engines before the government decided it was too bad for the environment. It was replaced by the less potent C-15 ACERT. Many of the guys I know often refer to big horsepower engines like these as "Big Hammers". Another little bit of trivia is that the pre ACERT engine models are designated withou a hyphen, i.e. a C15 is non-ACERT, C-15 is an ACERT

Sorry highway, but a buddy of mine beat ya to it lol. And for being a Texas gate, it had a few rust issues. It needed about a 1/2" strip welded across the bottom lip the whole width of it. I guess all the moisture that collected there above the seam did its damage.

I didn't want to load up one post with my junk, so I used two! Next up is Li'l Bruiser. '85 F-250 4x4, 460/4-spd, just over 30k original miles! I'm the 2nd owner, and it was converted to a dump when it was almost new. From what I've read, Thiele industries in Windber, PA is no longer in business as of 2008, and I imagine they didn't make too many of these beds. And last is a truck that is very special to me. It belonged to my dad, and since we can't keep his Peterbilt, we're keeping this. '01 Ram 2500, Cummins/Auto, 77k. It has a Banks exhaust that dad put on, and since my brother and I couldn't leave well enough alone, we added Isspro EV2 pillar gauges and an AirDog 165 lift pump. It is more of a toy than anything, and I do use it for towing. I love hotrod diesels, but this will never be one. All the mods being done are in the name of longevity and improving stock components. Another special truck to me is Pearl, my '77 F-250 4x4. Right now I'm building upa mild 400 (original 400 got replaced by a 351M in the mid '80's) for it along with rebuilding the original C6 auto. Dad bought it new in '77 and it is a WIP. I don't have that many pics, since it's been in pieces for the last 5 years. This is from July of '77.