Combination Project - Repair-it-yourself

[Skeptic]

I am still working on the grapple, I certainly need it to finish cleaning up after our wind storms the last week.
But, I had a friend call up and tell me that he knew someone selling an International truck and wanted to know if he could pass on my name. I said yes. It ended up being a bit bigger than the Scout II type that I normally collect.
I ended up with a 1981 International S1700 flat bed, it has a V8 propane powered 404 and an allison transmission. It runs great, has new brakes, new master cylinder, probably needs a new water pump. I couldn't turn it down when it came with four new tires besides the ones on it, and 3 good replacement heads. I got it for $700.
Now the plans for it, well, I may make a larger flat bed (the current one is 7 1/2 x 9 feet. It is rated at 14,000 gross, but it had been 26,000 gross (earlier in it's life it had hauled a PepsiCo fifth wheel trailer) and all the engine and suspension are the same.
I don't think that I can justify making a tilt bed like my tractor dealer has /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
The nifty part, it I have access to a lot of old International school bus engine parts.
Here is a picture.
Any other suggestions for modifications are very welcome. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JerryG]

Wow, what a deal. I would have bought it too.

 

[Junkman]

check to see if they shortened the chassis..... to me, it looks awfully short for a 28,000 GVW truck..... it might have had the frame rails cut down............
If anyone is interested, I know of a late 1960's or early 1970's Ford 600 truck with a dump body and a 360 degree crane mounted between the body and the cab that is available for $400 in Northeast CT. It was formerly a railroad vehicle and the crane was for servicing the tracks. Very heavy frame reinforcement..... send me a PM if you have any interest.....

 

[Skeptic]

The wheel base is definitely short.
From my understanding the vehicle was built to haul a 5th wheel Pepsi Trailer. (hence the really short wheelbase)
The flat bed was put on by the person that took off the 5th wheel structure.
Removing the 5th wheel structure really reduced the weight of the truck. We are thinking about adding some more weight by extending the flatbed. I am not sure about trying to extend the frame or driveline.
We can also take the GVW back up to just under the limit that would require a CDL.
The truck sure is built solidly.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I wouldn't be intimidated by extending the frame. It's really nothing but a thing.

You can find your frame rails, matching rails of C channel that fit inside, or formed angle that'll fit under the frame to double it at your splice. Chances are you'll need to drill and bolt and not weld your work. It's only lately that they've come up with weldable truck frames. If you do weld it up you're setting yourself up for a failure at the perfectly wrong time.

If you frame was shortened then chances are the brake lines and electrical will have coils where they coiled them rather than shorten them. If you have that then you can stretch the frame to it's original length without fighting brake lines and electrical connections.

I've done driveshaft lengthening--shortening for my race cars in the old days without a glitch one. But I've never done it for a street vehicle. So when it comes to that part I always go to the professionals.

Just take is slow and measure everything everyway too many times and you should not have a problem. If you watch your p's and q's you should find a grain bed or old dump one for next to nothing. Put that on your new truck and you've got yourself a jewel. Having a dump truck is like having Santa as your favorite uncle. You'll have a whole world of new friends.

I'll even share some of my attitude. I look at the kinds of folks that do something I've never done before. With a few exceptions I figure if they can do it then I can too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JDgreen227]

You got a great buy--I drove a 1983 S1900 diesel as my work truck for almost 100,000 miles until it met an early demise as a result of a head on with a semi tractor. It was my favorite straight truck of the many I drove over 30+years. Wish the one you have had been for sale in my area, I would have snapped it up as fast as I could.

 

[SPIKER]

Nice truck what a steal!

ya you can do lots with tha. I would get a 5th wheel for it againe, and makes it much easier to build some attachments lol.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif