So don't ask me why but for some reason I got a wild burr to start messing around with the old flatbed '89 first gen we have. I think its probably because I miss my old '91 I sold. So the truck started out about a month ago as a bone stock d350 dually with 215/60/16's or something in that range. They were absolutely bald so over winter it was going to get some tires, then one of my buddies needed some cash and had a set of 315/75/16 Pro Comp A/T's on almost new Ion wheels laying around. I got them dirt cheap and the tires are about 60% so I had this great idea I was going to try and stuff them under the old 2wd, and make it a single wheel. Little did I realize quite how low a 2wd with 200,000 miles on stock coil springs sat. So I ordered the Moog "S" springs, then once I got them I started to put them on and realized how junk the front end was, I mean I knew it was a little "loose" but everything was toasted. So I made my mind up at this point I was just going to do it right, because I was planning on keeping the truck till it falls apart anyways. So then I ordered all new Moog front end parts. (ball joints, tie rods, sway bar, pitman arm, borgeson steering shaft, shocks and a few other odds and ends) So after a week or so all my parts came in and the install began, once I got it together I quickly saw there was no way these tires were going to get close to clearing, so I ordered a 3" body lift from performance accessories. I was only going to lift the cab because the flatbed was already alot higher than the cab and it would have no trouble clearing in the back. Once I got all of that on I noticed the wheels on the back would not fit because the one ton rear end has the 5/8 studs so I cringed as I just barely drilled out the holes in the rear wheels to make room for the larger studs. I also had a fun time trying to find 5/8 acorn lug nuts, luckily good old Ebay came through. And on the front I just took off the spacers, and used the 1/2in studs that were holding the spacers on. Also had to buy more lug nuts. By the way Ebay is the way to go with lug nuts I got both sets for $30.
So after bolting all that up, I threw on a 4" turbo back exhaust, cranked the VE, Denny T fuel pin, 3200k gov spring, and a bhaf. Once I set the truck on the ground I still had a little trimming to do on the front fenders, but after that they clear with absolutely no rubbing. Also today decided to paint the front bumper, and cant decide whether to paint the grille or not? What do you guys think? I just ordered a Lund visor, and the truck is going to get a 2 tone style black stripe down the cab. It will be the factory height because the truck has a few blems and they are all within where the stripe will be. Do you think I should change the mirrors? It does pull a trailer every single day in the summer and spring, also should I leave the factory moldings? The black will go right down to it. It's also gonna get a fresh coat on the flatbed, and new wood all the way around, and also going to tint the windows. Let me know what ideas you guys have. Like I said why I'm doing all of this I still really dont know, but its something to take up my spare time.

 

By the way, this is the truck I sold that I miss lol...

 

I really like your flatdeck. Did you build it?

 

Boy, I wish I had your spare time. And wallet! That's a sharp looking truck. I'd paint the grille, but I'd probably leave the mirrors and get a pair of those fish eye type mirrors so you can see the end of the trailer better. Unless you were going to put a set of 2nd/3rd gen towing mirrors on. I personally like those a lot.
I'm in a bit of a quandry myself about whether to leave the moulding on or not. I want to redo my white paint, and put a blue stripe down the side. I have the bed on though, not a flatbed... for some reason I just can't decide!
A bit off topic, but I was wondering where you ordered the Lund visor from? I really want one but Lund doesn't have it listed for our trucks on their website. Did you just call and ask?

 

Thanks for the compliment. Yeah we built the bed about 4 years ago, it came off of another truck.

 

Ha yeah it keeps getting a lot more costly,we have a fait amount of down time in the winter as our work is seasonal. I was leaning towards painting the grille too. Ill probably just wait and let my buddy paint it when he does the stripe. The thing with the moulding is I'm sure if I take it off it's going to leave quite a mark so I'll have to bring the black stripe down father to cover it. I kinda like the old school look it gives it, I just don't know how it will look with black right beside it. As for the Lund I got really lucky a local 4x4 shop had one left over from several years back that they shelved away and never sold.

 

I was thinking that if I left the molding on, I would leave a gap between it and the bottom of the stripe so there was some separation. It might look dumb, but in my head it would look cool!
Dang, I need to find a store with one of those visors laying around....

 

leave the molding man its a good seperation point. when my truck gets painted in the spring im leavin mine until i can find a chrome strip to replace it even more seperation

 

i'd like to know where i can buy new molding, and new wheel well trim

 

Those are almost good mirrors as they are.

However, you can improve them a bunch.

Going by the way that the "stems" are attached onto the back of the heads, I am gonna guess that they are generic look-a-likes to the genuine thing that came on all the good Fords and Chevies.

Dodge had a similar mirror, but ruined the look with a three-legged mount.

Go to a swap-meet and pick up a genuine set of stainless FORD heads for those brackets; you will probably find the entire set-up, brackets and all.

The Ford head has a taller stem and the stem enters the side of the head, instead of just being riveted onto the back.


Now, the absolute best thing you can do to improve your backwards-looking experience is to DRILL NEW HOLES and move those brackets as far FORWARD as the door will allow.


I re-mounted mine forward many many years ago; and, now, when I drive a truck that hasn't had them relocated, it about drives me nuts.


Get some big "fish-eye" spots, NOT those silly peel-and-stick ones, the real thing that stands alone on it's on mount.

Get the kind that has the bracket whose hole goes onto the stem-bolt of the mirror itself; NOT the clamp-on kind.


The only mirror better than the style that you have is a genuine West Coast truck mirror.

 

I was going to do this under the stripe, along the rockers. Blake Clarke's 1st gen has this and looks like the bee's knee's IMHO.

 

You may have a hard time finding genuine stuff, but Jim Lane said he went to his local autobody shop and they had various styles to choose from. You might start your search at your local shop and see what you come up with.