After finding a 70's popup Chinook. I finally got a long bed 87 ford range 4x4 with 90k. It is a factory automatic-Weird but it is.
The Chinook camper came on a wooden frame a guy rescued it from a pullaparts in Knoxville, tn. Had no floor and was complete shell. We rebuilt it and it is still a shell. It has new floors and walls. The lid was removed and rebuilt. It did come with usable canvas and windows. New plexi on front. Don't have pictures of the inside yet. will update as we get the work done.
The truck was a trash runner. Original to Alabama then Ga eventually picked up in Tennessee. NO rust, yea.. Only flaws is ford over tightens every freaking bolt the install. Torch is part of the regular tool set. And of course ford requires every size nut and bolt, both metric and standard. And the bots always have a different size than the head, So a crescent wrench is a normal for d tool.
Example_ to remove door cards. Pull shut Handle was a 9mm screw. The open door handle was a phillips. The window roll up arm was a star. Nice job ford of making all 3 different. I love the extra complications. Nice.
Bugs.. These items were repaired. Speedometer cable broke, heater core leaking, wiper water motor not spraying, lugs on one wheel could not be removed because they were not seated and required I use a torch to blow off 3 lugs and studs. Fuel sender float arm fell into the gas tank. Needed new seats, New door cards, dash lights and blinkers bulbs repaired. Bad antenna. Installed used factory stereo. Flooring was horrible, removed all and installed new pad and water proof carpet. Passenger side needed more camber in so spent 1 day removing the ford camber bushing. Had to build a bushing. Ford used no oil when they installed it and overtightened it. I believe ford employees just hammer everything down with impact tools.
Ford- Darn tough built truck. Just plan on working very hard to remove or repair because of the improper assembly. (No rust on vehicle) and every bolt we removed was a bear. No matter where. Under the dash or under the truck cab. All the same.
Continue---- Truck had been painted with bed liner paint black. lovely sanding for 2 days. Shot it white. Closed all compartments and service ports on camper except the one propane hole. (kept it and the wheel wells to assist in support and strength for the floor. Fresh paint on camper.
Mating truck and camper. Steel square tubing completely across in like 5 areas. Was able to plumb fuel tank across to tank port on camper. Did not need to remove any structural framing from the ford frame. Was able to frame in as it was. Did have to build out for the back camper floor and to mount bumper and step. Did have to get a coveter to split fords blinker and stop in one wire to correct signal to use new, completely sealed (We had to seal) LED lights.
Ford control arms bushing. Both replaced. Ford used 2 big rivets to basically force you to remove the entire front wheel arms. Night mare unless you blow away the rivets (favorite ford tool the torch) and remove the plate and reinstall high strength bolts. (What is Ford thinking)..
Current status. Got a lot of stick work framing to do on the back end of the camper. Wanted to document work so far and share a couple photos. Nice to find a forum of same interest. We love American made quality. This is real equipment.
Jim
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