Resurrecting Clifford the big red 87 R3500

[Georgeb]

Wow, you OK? Damn drunk drivers never think about the consequences. We had a family friend pass away several years ago after being hit head on by one.

Truck doesn't look too bad.

It was parked and I was on the couch. Yeah, thinking front clip damage. Gonna need to moth ball it untill all the insurance crap shakes out. Good thing is I have all the parts to fix it with my other square. Will see how this all works out now.

 

[Don5]

Glad you didn't get hurt in that accident. Pretty strange that your truck gets attacked by a lowly Jeep while it was parked minding its own business. Right after you post that it is for sale. George I think you better reconsider selling that truck. Somebody wants you to keep it awful bad. Just sayin.. It don't want to leave the family.

 

[Georgeb]

Glad you didn't get hurt in that accident. Pretty strange that your truck gets attacked by a lowly Jeep while it was parked minding its own business. Right after you post that it is for sale. George I think you better reconsider selling that truck. Somebody wants you to keep it awful bad. Just sayin.. It don't want to leave the family.

Yeah, depending on what her insurance does if she had any I may need to find a barn to shove it into for a while and come back to it later.
Glad she hit it straight on instead of just swiping down the side of it. Hope they dont want to total it but I have two other clean titles. One is for a running, driving truck with a good 350 in it.

 

[Old77]

man this sucks

 

[DoubleDingo]

Sure looks like a sign to keep it

 

[Georgeb]

I figure it's time for an update. The decision was made to sell the little econobox I have be using as my DD rather that get rid of my most beloved square Butterscotch. This truck has some serious front suspension rust on the control arms and is nearing the end of it's days as a driver. The silver lining on Cilfford is that my Dad has been enjoying messing with it and has pulled the core support forward so the fan clears and it runs, pulled what was left of the bumper off and has pulled the sway bar off the truck and out of the front springs. It was jammed into the left front spring so far it was lifting that corner of the truck 3" giving the illusion that the frame was seiously damaged because the tire camber seemed way off " tipped in on top" now that that is pulled out the truck sitts just like it did before and has full range of travel for the steering. Anyway, I was never fully all in committed to Clifford because Butterscotch has always been my favorite and has now survived 3 vehicle purges where I was kept rather than sold in a time of need. The box and rear bumper are also home made pieces and are bulletproof. So.... The plan is to cool it until the insurance is straightened out and then continue to asses the damage to Cliffords frame. If it checks out and is usable we plan to strip down to the frame and start working our way up from there ultimatly ending with a rebuilt butterscotch truck. A sort of new and improved version.

 

[Old77]

Really glad you kept butterscotch!!

 

[Georgeb]

Alright, here is a tech question.
I am considering running an automatic in the end on this one so the decision becomes TH400 or TH350? I have a TH350 in Butterscotch but it's in need of a rebuild. My 14FF is a 3.73:1 same as the 12SF but the tires will end up being 32" rather than 28" so there is some low end gearing lost. I know the 400 has a lower first but havent done the math to see if it offsets the tire diameter change giving me the same basic end ratio at the wheels. Anyone know this answer? Also, being the 3500 driveline uses a carrier bearing and two piece shaft I assume I will be needing a different drive shaft but what about the cross menber?

 

[Georgeb]

And another question. Is there a way to make the clutch easier to push on these hydraulic clustches? Part of the reason I would go to an auto as mentioned above is my Dad has trouble pushing this clutch in and I agree it's quite stiff. Also does anyone have any input regarding the trans gear ratios is asked about?

 

[HotRodPC]

No, the Th400 does NOT have a lower first gear. The Th350 is a tad lower first gear. So the truck is currently manual trans? I'm not sure which truck is which. Butterscotch and Clifford. Which one are you talking about converting to Auto Trans? And is it the 87 R3500? If it's a Full Floater, then that tells me it's a 3/4 or 1 ton, to be politically correct, Th400 is the correct trans choice.

 

[Georgeb]

To clarify.
Clifford is an 87 R3500 with a tbi 350/sm465
Butterscotch is originally a 78 C10 350/350

Going to merge the two including the southern cab but considering going to an auto for ease of driving for both Dad and Wife.

I plan to use the 3500 chassis and 14FF if tthe frame isn't too whacked.

 

[Georgeb]

No, the Th400 does NOT have a lower first gear. The Th350 is a tad lower first gear. So the truck is currently manual trans? I'm not sure which truck is which. Butterscotch and Clifford. Which one are you talking about converting to Auto Trans? And is it the 87 R3500? If it's a Full Floater, then that tells me it's a 3/4 or 1 ton, to be politically correct, Th400 is the correct trans choice.

So If the TH400 has a tad higher gears then would you want to have 4.11s or do they do ok with 3.73s? Last thing I want is a pooch truck with no guts. I like low gears for what I use them for. There must be a way to make the clutch easier to push.

 

[firebane]

So If the TH400 has a tad higher gears then would you want to have 4.11s or do they do ok with 3.73s? Last thing I want is a pooch truck with no guts. I like low gears for what I use them for. There must be a way to make the clutch easier to push.

The funny thing about a clutch isn't the pedal or the linkage which makes it super hard to push.. it is the actual clutch itself.

You might be able to find a clutch that is easier on the foot but these are trucks and I've never honestly driven a truck with a light clutch.

 

[HotRodPC]

So If the TH400 has a tad higher gears then would you want to have 4.11s or do they do ok with 3.73s? Last thing I want is a pooch truck with no guts. I like low gears for what I use them for. There must be a way to make the clutch easier to push.

The 3.73's are good with a Th400 or Th350. The 1st gear ratio difference between the 2 if marginal. We're talking like .04 difference IIRC. Now the 700r4 there is a significant difference with a lower 1st at a ratio of 3.08, where Th350 is like 2.52 and Th400 is like 2.48. I forget exactly without looking it up.

 

[foamypirate]

The 3.73's are good with a Th400 or Th350. The 1st gear ratio difference between the 2 if marginal. We're talking like .04 difference IIRC. Now the 700r4 there is a significant difference with a lower 1st at a ratio of 3.08, where Th350 is like 2.52 and Th400 is like 2.48. I forget exactly without looking it up.

You nailed it. TH350 is indeed 2.52, and 2.48 for the TH400. Doubtful you'd notice any difference.