New (used) IH 7500 Dump Truck purchase, modification & fix up

[crashz]

A transfer case cooler huh? Never saw anything like that before. Are you sand-blasting the frame? A method of getting the heavy scale from the double frame is beat the heck out of the top and bottom flanges with a sledge hammer. Then get a fluid fillm like oil in there to creep in and stop the rust.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I will probably end up with a longer tandem for square bales, so I can pull a pup trailer if i want. Maybe a 6x6 if the right one comes along.

These things come up for sale a lot near me. I would consider them low priced. This one is a 1990 5 ton, auto, 6X6 with a little 10-12 foot trailer for $14,500. My brother in law got a much older one and it has done him well. They have a lot of drawbacks but also have a lot of good going for them for the price.

 

[mrmikey]

….maybe this is where the popping noise is coming from

Probably have something to do with it . If you can, you may want to go for a downturned exhaust if it'll clear the tanks, hard to tell from that angle.
What's a set of wheels worth as opposed to blasting and painting? We've got a company around here that bakes the wheels to remove the crud and then paints them.
Frame doesn't look all that bad, scaly but wet. I see you actually got the body pins out, any I've ever done requires a torch and a FBH to beat the burnt off pieces off, you lucked out.

 

[Hay Dude]

Guess I need to hack off the front frame and move the bumper back….although a front winch would be pretty cool there.

 

[Hay Dude]

A transfer case cooler huh? Never saw anything like that before. Are you sand-blasting the frame? A method of getting the heavy scale from the double frame is beat the heck out of the top and bottom flanges with a sledge hammer. Then get a fluid fillm like oil in there to creep in and stop the rust.

Yep. Thats a good way. I don’t think I’m going to sand blast. Thinking about wire cone brushing it. Not sure yet.
Also need to start investigating paints. I sure as heck only want to do this once.

 

[Paystar]

Back in the early days before I was fortunate to be able to have new dump trucks, ran a lot of ones bought used.
I used to just scrape the scale of the frames and dump box with a metal putty knife and paint with Tremclad and a brush. But the Tremclad you buy today isn't like the stuff of old.

Me, I like polished aluminum rims. Even if you don't actually polish them, use SOS pads, keep them wet with lots of soap and the rims look almost as good as polished. Easy, fast and never have to worry about them looking rusty.

 

[Paystar]

And if you want steel rims, there are cheap powder coated Accuride ones you can buy. they weren't much more than painted rims but they stay looking good way longer.

 

[Hay Dude]

After the “must-do” repairs get done, I hope to have some play money left for some nice rims and front floats

 

[two_bit_score]

Good for you @Hay Dude! Congratulations - nice truck!

 

[Gregster613]

I want to echo two_bit_score, Nice truck and project Hay Dude!!