No, not my own ’66 F-100, although it too was working when I shot this one at the lumberyard. As I prepared to pull out onto Highway 99 with a load of materials, a Long Load truck carrying utility poles-to-be went by with the obligatory flag vehicle in its wake: a familiar face! Of course, it’s hardly the only other ’66 F-Series around, but usually they’re not seen doing this kind of job.
Typically, this job is the province of modest and substantially newer pickups of the Ford Ranger and its ilk since, understandably, you don’t want a breakdown while doing this. And in truth, I was a bit worried about this truck, which indeed sounded very “off”. Its FE 352 V8 chugged as though arrhythmic, sounding like it either wasn’t firing on all cylinders; or it was, but not at the intended intervals. How many times I’ve rued not getting an F-250, with its big chunky axles, wheels and tires, and suspension and brakes to match. Of course, they ride like hell when empty.
There it goes, ka-chugging down Highway 99.
Since we’re on the subject of lumber and work, here’s the latest addition to the Niedermeyer fleet of Curbside Classics as of 6 PM last night, right after we finished setting the trusses. Attic trusses are a wonderful invention: 60% additional floor space for very little extra cost. And with a couple of experienced helpers, they were set in under three hours. Now on to the roof before the rains start.
’66 F-250 and Paul still getting the job done. Good stuff!
Same color as my ’64 f-100, looking good.
Where will the outhouse be located?
One of my first jobs was working in a factory that made trusses. There was a guy who could figure out the pitch/length/angles etc. in his head.
Nice looking house! Wouldn’t trade trucks though.
Ford trucks rule, all others drool!
That F-250 appears to original, and in outstanding condition, considering it’s age. It looks like it may have led an easy life. Having owned four 1/2 ton pick-ups, and having tested the GVWR’s on them all; I always wanted a 3/4 ton. A man’s truck, with 8 lugs and those beefy rear hubs. Until I got one. A ’01 F-250. It rode like a brick, was a little too high off the ground (I refuse to have those sissy steps), and as it turned out, that extra GVWR was only needed for dirt or gravel. A 1/2 ton will handle 90% of most chores. But the 3/4 tons do look better.
+1 on the Trusses. Your home looks to be built like a Tank. If I’m scaling it right it would be above “Chicagoland” standards!
Love the framing part…but I’m working on infrastructure now and that takes forever. At least for me. Gotta get some Cat 6A STP Ethernet/Phone cable and a distribution hub to go with my two existing rolls of RG6 Quad Shield…but first the rest of the regular wiring has to be run, but before I can do that there’s the upstairs DWV plumbing and HVAC.
You get the picture. The sooner I get it done, the sooner I’ll have something to write about my ’68 C-10 and ’57 Handyman.
Tell me about it. I’m doing my own electrical and plumbing, and we had to pull the underground power feed cables through 180′ of conduit with three 90 degree ells. Lots of lube! But we made it.
I owned a 1966 F250 for a few years when I was just getting started on my construction career. It was a good basic truck and it did ride like a stage coach when empty. To be honest, my current 1993 F250 doesn’t ride much differently. It has power windows though.
That looks like a very nice job on the framing there, Paul. Sheathing all around is a good thing. The trusses looked to be properly braced and plumb. Is that a 2×8 bottom cord on those trusses? If so, I like the planning ahead for a quality insulation job. I have been a framing contractor for over 30 years here in Ultra Violet Land and I give it a big thumbs up. Of course that and $3 will get you a cup of coffee almost anywhere in town. Carry on.
Actually, the trusses have only temporary bracing for now. We’ll do the permanent bracing this coming week, after we put a floor down up there to work from.
The truss has a 2×12 bottom chord, so that its rated for 40psf live load. The living section up there is 16′ wide. I’m going to put a bedroom, bath and a sitting room up there; big windows on the gable ends, and a few strategic skylights.
The upper portion of the top chords are 2×8, including the section of the slanted interior wall/ceiling. We’ll insulate that with rigid, to get adequate R-value there. I’m a bit of an insulation freak. Blowing in cellulose in that rather tiny top “attic” and the knee-wall area will be a bit of a challenge.
This is my first new house building from scratch. I’ve had a few old houses moved, and then re-done them, and did one addition by myself, but this is a bit of a plunge for me. But I’ve got a great guy working with me, and its coming along really well.
I also kept it real simple. And I used a variation of “advanced framing” plan: No jack studs at all. Let-in 2×10 header, on the 2×6 studs. Less wood, more insulation space. Windows ordered to fit in the regular 4′ wall spacing interval.
A lot of those wide-load escort types are contract employees with whatever company hires, screens, trains and certifies them. They use their own cars; probably the company either puts the gumballs and sign frame on for them or steers them to where it can be done.
I’ve never done if – never fallen that low – but I’ve seen them in truck stops and on the road. Ford Escorts and Dodge Omnis doing it, with fat-ladies driving…
It may be that poor old truck was all that sad sack had for his use. I wouldn’t want to chance it…no matter how sound the vehicle or how well engineered it was, OLD STUFF BREAKS. And I wouldn’t want to be standing there with a wide-load waiting on me, while I try to explain how the distributor bearings chose just this moment to fry…