I cant help myself.

boxhead · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010, 10:08 PM

Not that I need more projects but one thing led to another and I ended up with more toys at home.

A few weeks ago you may remember I was asking about sealing a whipper snipper fuel tank, well I ended up finding the local Maktita agent and ordering a new tank.
When I went down there to order it I spotted an old Dodge AT4 tipper truck, I peeked under the bonnet and spotted a 318 Chrysler engine.
I started thinking, "wonder if I could get that cheap enough and I could convert it into a transporter for the Cobra and a heavy duty rig for dragging cars home from out bush or a spare motor for the Charger I have.

I did nothing about it at the time but wondered, well I got a call to say the tank had arrived so I went to pick it up, spotted the Dodge again and had to ask.
The shop owners tells me it is owned by a guy in Darwin who bought it purely for the engine, he has a clinker boat he is restoring and in the process he has lost the original motor (was delivered to a shop the shop closed up and everything disappeared) and the truck was at there shop to remove the motor and dump the rest. So I said if I can take it home, I will pull the motor out and bring it back on a pallet, he rang the owner and a deal was struck.

The shop owner then says to me "I have another truck you may be keen on"
So we wonder through his yard and he points out a 1974 J series Bedford, the Bedford has a stairway on it.
He tells me it is the old stairway for TAA (I though he said Ansett - but it was TAA after checking) It has 4500 genuine miles on the speedo and apart from needing door seals it is a really good truck.
So we strike a deal ($500) and I agree to come down last Saturday, get them both going to drive them home.
The Dodge was easy, just added fuel and hot wired balast resister and away she went.
The Beddy was a little harder as it had a fuel leak at feed hose on fuel pump and has a clogged accelerator plunger in the carbie - also once started I found the water pump was seized, pulled it off and found it had rusted itself to the #1 cylinder liner (quick clean on wire wheel and good as gold), so then Saturday lunch time I drove them both home, I got some funny looks from the coppers as I drove past the Camel Cup.

So the Bedford will get used as a scaffold when I assemble my shed (was going to cost $110 per day to hire scissor lift after I got a licence to operate it) then I will be donating it to http://www.roadtransporthall.com/ind...&id=1&Itemid=2
And the Dodge will be converted to transport duties.
It will be a long slow process but should be fun.

Here are some pics.
(sorry they are only from my phone)

So once the shed is up with a dirt floor I will start on the Dodge.

jcraigau · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010, 04:45 AM

Boxhead you crack me up, always a great read and looking forward to some pics of the Bedford in action...

--JC

Towmaster · #3 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010, 04:58 AM

Boxhead ur a legend! We had a D5N dual cab truck when i was a kid. Dad lengthened the chassis by 6 foot and put a horse crate on the back. We used to go to all the shows with our horses and ponies and camp in the back. Great times. Now of course I have a few more horses....

Modena · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010, 05:41 AM

a Cobra riding in the back of a tip truck? Keep 'em coming boxhead!

*Cobber* · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010, 04:29 PM

Great scaffold and a piece of history.

BMK · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010, 06:48 AM

Mmmmm far to hot to be out in the sun working..

When will you have time for all the new projects.....

Merv and Sharon · #7 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010, 06:11 PM

That truck with the steps could be useful in the coming election. I can just see some pollies up there addressing the masses.

Rog246 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010, 07:49 PM

Hey Box, put a bit of Lexan around it & you could drag the Pope around in it next time he's in the ALice !!
He'd be up nice & high so someone could have a clear shot at him !! LOL

OHhh don't think I'm going to heaven now !........are stuff it ...wasn't going in the first place LOL

Rog

boxhead · #9 (**permalink**) 07-14-2010, 10:36 PM

I managed to fix my camera last night, so I grabbed some shots before I headed into work this morning.

I wonder how many Hyundai's this truck has helped make?

I then went up the stairway truck and looked down into the back of Dodge bed, yes, that is a frozen wheel in the back, did I mention it was cold this morning?

I had a look at the stairway today, they actually extend out the same length they currently are (double its current height), plus the top flat platform can be extended forward about 2 metres.

iva bigan · #10 (**permalink**) 07-14-2010, 11:17 PM

Boxhead
Here is an idea for your j3 bedford
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajaislam/2368279159/

Hope you like it .
Someone smarter than me could upload this photo ,thanks

Iva bigan

boxhead · #11 (**permalink**) 07-14-2010, 11:27 PM

BMK · #12 (**permalink**) 07-15-2010, 12:00 AM

I think you should join a support group - AA

Automobiles Anonymous.....

Plenty to do there now.

*Cobber* · #13 (**permalink**) 07-15-2010, 01:29 AM

You could get a part time job tree lopping with the stair truck, what a great piece of gear.

Legless · #14 (**permalink**) 07-15-2010, 05:16 PM

Boxhead........if only I'd known that you had a thing for obsolete heavy vehicles you could have had my old Ford Cargo tipper with a Hiab! It would have fit in really well with your fleet.

hogster · #15 (**permalink**) 07-16-2010, 04:44 PM

Put the stairs on the support truck. Big winch. Park the cobra in the right place and take the escalator to the top.

I'm glad I don't live in Alice, I would be single, broke, and need a considerably larger shed.

LOL

Great find boxhead.

boxhead · #16 (**permalink**) 07-16-2010, 05:32 PM

I am lucky that I have an understanding wife.
Who I might add has started to call me "Eccentric"

I have the big shed on the way, I have been advised it will be delivered in 4 - 5 weeks.

boxhead · #17 (**permalink**) 07-18-2010, 07:41 PM

I went out and had a look at the second Dodge yesterday, it is a 560 model and it also has the 20 inch wheels.
The chassis and wheel base is the same as the 575 (red one) but the 560 is physically alot lower, not as low as others I have seen but a far better option, I will also be able to get it another inch or so lower by removing a leaf or 2 from the spring packs.
A pleasant suprise was the fact that it is actually a V8 318, so that saves me having to find another engine.
Also a Truck Forum I have joined one of the members has said he will draw up some plans for a Banana back that will allow the Cobra to go on without scraping.
So it looks like I will have 2 hydraulic tippers for sale, Will then look at the funds I have and possably go with an overdriven 4 speed auto, I have been infomed that there was not much choice in final drive gearing in the Dodge range, so it could be difficult to find a cruising diff.
Between the 2 vehicles I now have a rust free and dent free (apart from very minor dents) range of parts.
Also the 560 is fitted with 2 fuel tanks with room behind them to run LPG tanks.

Aussie Mike · #18 (**permalink**) 07-18-2010, 07:52 PM

Looks like a pretty good starting point David. Very straight looking panels on it considering the life it's probably had. It shouldn't be too hard to get it looking nice.

Don't park it too close to the other one, they might start breeding.

Modena · #19 (**permalink**) 07-18-2010, 08:17 PM

sorry if I missed this Dave, but I assume you're turning it into a flatbed?

boxhead · #20 (**permalink**) 07-18-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modena

sorry if I missed this Dave, but I assume you're turning it into a flatbed?

I initially wanted to turn the hydraulic tipping dump bed into a hydraulic tipping flat bed.
But after chatting to some truck guys on another forum they almost all condemned the idea as very unsafe, so that is where the suggestion of banana back came in.
Or a tilted flat bed as per following pic.