bench building, help me decide..

urjb

Red Skull
Joined
May 24, 2020
Messages
161
Loc
Pollock Pines, CA
..not that Id listen anyway :flipoff2:

I've saved two projects for my old age/retirement and I'm wishing for a ride with some rattles and whistles.

truck #1. '71 F-250 4x4. body is beat, but have all the big stuff to replace it, running gear is solid with a slipping clutch. FE engine ran when I parked it. has paperwork issues that I can solve with a body swap. was originally purchased as parts for another rig @$400

truck#2. '65 F-100 2wd, Poverty edition, no bling, looks like it was painted white with a brush, 6cyl (240?) automatic.. supposedly ran when parked, Short (step) bed with no floor in it. originally purchased for $800, has paperwork issues, last owner is deceased, I have a ***le in possession.. I can fix this, just needs a couple extra steps.

parts on hand:
lots of bump body parts and misc.
extra step short bed
carbed 460, C-6, NWF black box, BW transfercase
couple 302s
married 205
good 460 heads and alum intake
flanged axle 60 rear from a bump F-100**
D44 from 76-77 F-150**
D60 front from a dentside Highboy
a few truckloads of misc Ford parts

**these are supposed to go under another project that will probably never happen

I kinda like the idea of the higboy cleaned up and useable fairly stock resto-mod
I kinda like the '65 as a street truck.. stupid 460, MANUAL trans.. lots of burnouts. would leave the twin I-beam in place because I'm weird.

but.. Ive considered the possibility of making the '65 a pre-runner (hay hauler tribute?), or a 4x4, also thought about just putting the '65 body on the highboy frame as a SWB.

at this point Im thinking of pulling the '65 out of storage and getting it running and registered.. but winter is coming.. maybe push it a little till spring.. Fawk, I dunno.

any inspiration from you guys?
 
High boy with the 60 front on 37s (maybe 40s) as a usable offroad truck.

Do the 65 as a prerunner with the beams up front. . Have them cut and turned with some coilovers and have a go fast 2wd. Long travel leafs, some good shocks, and the 60 rearend and go have fun in the whoops. The 460 would be fun and since its not a cralwer then the manual would be a good option.
 
It’s got that patina.. is that still in style?
 

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The international dump truck is a separate dilemma. I’ve considered a repower.. but probably gonna keep it mostly stock. It was my grandfather’s.. I’ve already molested his flat fender, so maybe I’ll leave the dump truck alone.
 
Didn't mention budget. For '71
  • full custom rec tube frame
  • 4-link F & R
  • coilovers, bumps, say bars
  • Supercharged Godzilla crate motor, 6R80
  • NP205 + doubler, 1410 shafts
  • SD tons
  • 43s
  • Interior cage, engine cage
  • skids and sliders
  • Bob the long bed
  • decent seats, A/C, huge audio system
 
Or budget for '65
  • Full custom rec tube frame
  • modern front suspension to achieve ride height
  • 4-link rear, narrowed 9, 40 spln spool.
  • Kasse 830 ci BBF, nitrous, 6R80
  • Interior cage
  • steamroller drag radials
  • parachute (per nhra rules)
  • chop the roof
  • quality paint job
  • high end interior, A/C
 
arse_sidewards said:
The 71 is already a cobbled turd, build it.

Light "make it drivable" resto on the '65.
Click to expand...
i can get turd polish in a 55 gal drum. :flipoff2:

ive seen rustybelty guys build al sorts of junk.. this is minty in the midwest.

1763753683441.jpeg


I was lookin at the '65 yesterday.. its pretty solid..
Im thinkin' phase 1: make it drive, or try..
phase 2: get one of my 302s prepped and installed.
then maybe I'll get a TKX trans, which should serve well regardless of what engine comes next.
 
Making a mostly solid plan (before wasting money) is an important step to actually finishing any project.

The other thing to consider is timeline. Blow it all apart and not drive for years vs. do incremental upgrades while keeping it on the road.
 
Still think a bobbed long bed 'bump w/ toolbox and enlarged but intact wheel well body lines would look cool. Just can't put a fuel tank there or run leaf springs.
 
What's the use like?

I'm 40 minutes from work, 25 min from the store, and it's over 90 degrees for 6 months, so any car I put on insurance needs to have ac and get 15mpg or better

If I lived in a 3 stop light mountain town, I'd drive some cool ****...


But yeah, what's the budget?


I love highboys, but... everything about them is wrong if you want to upgrade anything

Frame is narrow, makes it a pain to put in newer tcase or fuel tank, or front axle, power steering boxes are rare, nearly all are closed knuckle front with drums

Coarse spline d60 rear

It's a truck that snowballs once you start upgrading things, but, they sit on a super duty frame pretty nice, lots of bang for the buck

I put a 6bt and dodge at/od in my 75, on 35s, got rid of cab mounted tank, cobbled 1/2t chevy disc's on the front, ran truck on the 12gal 80s custom fabbed saddle tank while collecting parts.

**** that
Next truck is going on 2008 f350 chassis:laughing:


If you don't need to rack up a ton of miles and don't mind limiting the tires to 33"ish, maybe clean it up, paint it, maybe aftermarket efi and an electric steering column and have the coolest F'N truck in the work parking lot
 
Intended use of both trucks is just cruising..

I DD’d a f-100 bumpside for years.. 120 miles a day. I know what I’m in for.. long story but the kid ended up with it, and I drove it after he’d had his way with it for awhile.. decided I didn’t actually miss it.. lol.
Even tho it was fairly rough, it was still cool and got a lot of compliments.. I kinda miss that part.

I have a TJ if I want a trail rig
I have a 3500 tow pig
I have a F-350 beater work truck
 
And.. just to clarify.. not on the table is:

Super doody frame swap, or axles, for that matter.

Godzilla

7.3 anything

Crown Vic ifs

I’m kinda old school.. I think these trucks are “right” the way ford built ‘em.. just need a few minor tweaks.. dic brakes and power steering mainly. I have the lowboy steering box and have done the swap before. I have a complete dentside front half for the little one
 
Made a bit of a financial commitment today.

Looks like it’s getting a wide ratio top loader 4speed for awhile.

1764195887536.jpeg


So.. I need to source a pedal assembly for the manual swap.. the 65 isn’t here right now, but do any of you know if by chance if the pedal assembly from a 67-72 will swap into my 65? Just kinda planning ahead for what pieces I’ll need to hunt for next.
 
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