Mudrig's new Ford 3000

[Sean in PA]

Just an FYI - That is not a 3000 grill. Both the early and later style 3000 grills were two pieces. That grill looks like the style from a later 2600/3600 series, but the background on those were originally black, so either it's very faded or someone repainted it incorrectly. That grill was not designed to be installed in that shell, so if you get the shell back to it's original shape, the grill won't fit. I would just bang the shell out until that grill fits inside and call it done.

 

[Mudrig150]

Just an FYI - That is not a 3000 grill. Both the early and later style 3000 grills were two pieces. That grill looks like the style from a later 2600/3600 series, but the background on those were originally black, so either it's very faded or someone repainted it incorrectly. That grill was not designed to be installed in that shell, so if you get the shell back to it's original shape, the grill won't fit. I would just bang the shell out until that grill fits inside and call it done.

It's a 3600 grille, and I bought it knowing it wouldn't be a direct fit, I just prefer this grille style.
It's silver because the mesh isn't painted, but I might just clear coat it and leave it silver because I think it looks neat.
The reason it won't fit right now is because the whole grille shell is bent to one side, so both sides are skewed enough to make the grille hit on the top corners, and it's also making contact where the top is all caved in, so neither style grille will fit until it's straightened out.
Brackets on the original style grille don't line up at all but they're broken anyway, at least, the lower grille tabs are.

 

[gears]

Great work Mud, there's just something satisfying (to me anyways) about making what you have work. I just spent an hour out in the barn fabricating 1/4 of an inner fender for my old Dakota (PO got hit and cut chunks out to get it on the trailer)....

 

[Mudrig150]

Drawbar obtained, had to fight it to get the drawbar into the bracket, and unfortunately the swing plate bracket is bent just enough that it doesn't swing freely... oh well, it moves with a hammer at least.
It was a nightmare to find since I haven't seen a single 2000 or 3000 with the drawbar for sale or parted out.

Hoping to pick up the year-a-round cab that'll go on the tractor this saturday.

 

[Mudrig150]

Just noticed something really worrying... while up under the tractor I noticed I could see light through the wheel center... turns out both centers are super thin around the bolt holes from rust, and the left side actually has some siezeable rust holes around the bolts... I only have 1 good rim, while having two leaking tires, two rusted wheel centers, and 1 rotten rim that has the loops breaking off.