1969 F250 4x4 Highboy 7/9 rubicon

[1971ford]

It's on the to-do list

Unfortunately it's at about last place

[greenhiboy]

Hi Ryan,

Great looking truck! I just bought a 76 F250 4x4 and want to put a flatbed on it. Is there anything you would change about your flatbed design? What year mustang tank did you use? Is it the 16 gallon or 20 gallon version? Where did you mount the filler? Have you noticed it being any stiffer off-road? I read that the frame is very flexy. Did the flatbed take any of that away? Keep us posted on how it does at Rubicon!

Mark

[1971ford]

Hi Ryan,

Great looking truck! I just bought a 76 F250 4x4 and want to put a flatbed on it. Is there anything you would change about your flatbed design? What year mustang tank did you use? Is it the 16 gallon or 20 gallon version? Where did you mount the filler? Have you noticed it being any stiffer off-road? I read that the frame is very flexy. Did the flatbed take any of that away? Keep us posted on how it does at Rubicon!

Mark

Thanks!
Flatbed's are cool, mine paid off today (pictures below). Good question, not sure if i would change anything. Hmm. There are things i am still going to add, but i don't know about changing anything. I guess i planned it out decently There has got to be something that i could of done better
Mustang gas tank is a 1970 20 gallon. Filler is mounted in the rear C channel piece of the flatbed. Check out this thread: http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 6&start=45
Haven't noticed it being any stiffer. After adding the headache rack and boards, it has to be about the same weight as a stock bed by now. Highboy frames are indeed very flexy. I've taken my highboy on some trails when the stock bed was on and it really shows the frame flex. PIctures area couple pages back in this thread. I'm not sure if the flatbed took any of it away, haven't wheeled with it on yet. I don't expect it to take much of it away though, the .120 metal structure probably flexes with the frame and the frame will still flex pretty good between the flatbed mounting and the cab mounting.
I've decided it won't be going no the rubicon because i've come to realize how bad things are about to get with me going to college and paying $20 to commute every day. Lifting it how i wanted to (4") with 35's for the rubicon would take away more mileage, i can't afford to do that right now. I'm going to get 33's and a 2" lift for it instead.

But, i am still going to take it up to Strawberry pass, which is a very cool trail, not the rubicon but it has some tricky stuff that should be great in the highboy... i'll have pictures this summer of that.


Installed an autometer 2 5/8" sport-comp 0-73ohm fuel gauge today! First time ever having a bump with a fuel gauge!!! It is so cool!!!!!
And depressing.
I drove it for 10 minutes and the needle dropped quite a ways. IT's too big of a sweep, it lets me see how fast i'm burning gas too well
No more running out of gas on the side of the road! (it was a once a month type thing!)



Then i worked the highboy for the first time


Towing 8,000 pounds

[1971ford]

[robroy]

'Evening Ryan, that is a truly classic photo, and a lot of wood!!! It looks like it took it well.

Robroy

[1971ford]

Tomorrow's the big day.

[1971ford]

Almost forgot! PIcked up a np435 to replace mine with! Mine has real bad gear noise in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. So I will get this new np435 looking good and then i'm pulling the engine/tranny out, swapping the transmissions, putting in a cam in the 390 and replacing the rear main seal.

Should have some superduty front springs this week to make my own packs for 2" lift... and the 35's are going back on..

[1971ford]

Turned out pretty good. Damn good for a 4x4 that will see trails anyways

Quite a bit of orange peel. Can't wait to colorsand and buff it out, or atleast some/most of it. I think i'll wait one week before sanding any paint though.

I just can't wait to un tape it in an hour and roll it outside into the sun.

It's 5 coats, I think...
Used 1.75 quarts.

[BiggDogg]

It's orange right? Whatever the color, it looks good! Looking forward to the "all back together" photos.

[1971ford]

redish orange

[robroy]

Good evening Ryan,

I love the color--well done!!! I like the idea of practical paint jobs that you don't need to worry about, and it seems like your investment to payoff ratio is excellent. I should probably do something like that to #50, and I probably would if I had even 10% of your initiative and energy!

Robroy

[Florian]

Looks beautiful!

[1971ford]

Thanks guys!

Almost done with the home brew lift. It will be done tomorrow and i'll go take some poser shots testing out the new springs.

[67fordman1]

Good looking truck! Did you do all the body and paint yourself? Great job!

[1971ford]

Thanks! I did do all the body work and paint, pretty cool to say i did it all myself. Still need to wetsand and buff the orangepeel out, can't wait!