Where is everyone #5

F700,800 came from the factory with 8.2l installed and Gm and Detroit stickers on the motor.

If my memory serves me correct, The Red Beard Library of WV has the information on the Detroit conversion kit that people used in the older models before the 8.2l

 

Nah. I always knew someone on the highway to report chicken coop. Either 881, or my favorite was turning and heading past ALPAC. Then south on 627 getting back onto highway 2 at Rochester.
I've even ran K road which goes from plamondon to janvier in my pickup bypassing highway closures.
Backroad map books for the win.

 

I hated running south. My service truck was poorly designed. Had a lube body designed for a truck the size of a T300 or 335 Pete mounted to an F550. Even with some drastic weight reduction mods I told the company were going to happen if they expected me to drive it, I was still within a couple hundred pounds of max GVW. Any time they sent me south I literally emptied every bit of waste oil, excess fluids etc from the truck. I've never had a violation at the scales thankfully.

 

Dad had one when I was in Highschool.

Gearing, I ran many 90k loads with a 41 foot hopper behind one. Engine was not quite stock with a 5 and 2. Just took sometime to wind it up. At highway speed ran pretty good. But When gas went over a 1.00 per gallon, 3.5 mpg truck become a thing of the past. Plus they were only good for 100-120k miles before rebuild. It hauled steel some too.

Great sound buzzing down the road at 5 grand and 90k gross with 3 inch exhaust!

 

I was OCD about being legal. More than once I pissed the service advisors off by refusing to go out on calls when short on hours or refusing to drive the truck with inoperable lights and such. I think I actually threatend to go home for the day once or twice if they wouldn't back off and let me get the truck legal lol.

 

Those F550 were awful to drive when loaded that heavy. The frame would flex like crazy going down the road.
They also had the nasty habit of losing the crane side duals. The ole "it's just a quick light lift, don't need the outriggers" lol.
The Topkicks handled the load better. Just couldn't put a ham fist in it, they would tip over if not respected.
I drove 2 topkicks empty, as in no decks, nothing but frame rails south for upfitting. -30 with Bandag tall lugs on all 6 tires. It was like 5 hours on a motocross track.

 

No crane on mine. Looked like a big ugly cube van lol.

I liked it when companies were smart enough to mount the cranes on the passenger side. 99% of us put all our tools and such on the driver's side for convienience. Tended to counteract the weight of the crane. Most cases all that ever went on the passenger side of the trucks I was in was slings/rigging, oxy/acetylene tanks and a selection of fittings, bolts and some other lightweight stuff.

Loved the Topkick over the F550. Even the 300 HP Duramax felt like it had more balls than the 6.7 Powerstroke.

 

In the mine the Topkicks were kings. F550s didn't last.
Main issue was the ride.
The mine tried everything to make it better. One was converted to rear air ride. It helped. One had front air ride installed. No exaggeration, it lasted 90km in the mine. Air bags blown and brackets bent.
I cut the front jounce bumpers off. That was the biggest improvement.