1971 f250 DESERT truck- 10/24 race prep

[JWW]

Looking good!

[1971ford]

I was able to work on it a little bit today so i cut/notched the dash and roof tubes.

The cage isn't very "tight" but will do its job great.

for the cab cage i still have to add in the 3 roof pieces, possibly a dash to roof upside down "v", door bars, and gussets.
THe dash tube is resting right behind where it will actually be, because my tape that was holding it in the right place kept failing so i set it behind where it will go.
And the roof tube tape started stretching so its sagging too




Honestly i would love to have it more tight to the cab so if we were to roll the truck, the cab wouldnt get as much crunchy-crunchy, but we'll just have to weld a new roof on if that happens.



Tomorrow i will have a few hours to cut/notch the 3 roof pieces. I will also cut 2 more holes in the bed floor and then cut/notch the two main bedcage tubes. Then i'll start on the 4 tubes that come from the main hoop to the two main bed cage tubes. Then in a couple days ill do all the crossbracing...

This should all be tacked together including sub frames within a couple days. THen i'll take it down the street to the welding shop i work at and have my boss weld it all solid.

Then i need to start mapping out spare tire mounting, SEATS mounting, center console, tranny cooler , etc.

[19674x4]

Lookin Good RYAN!!!!

[lee_ford]

That looks great. If you get sideways and upside down at 100+MPH that cage should handle the weight of the truck when it hits the ground. I am glad you are having someone you trust do the welding. I have seen too many rookie mud-dabber weld jobs pass tech inspection. Ask your boss what a mud-dabber weld job is.

[1971ford]

yeah, i dont think the cab cage should do much crumpling
I could use the welders at the shop and weld it solid myself and get some decent welds on it but i want to know that the welds won't be what fails and kills us


Im taking a break right now from working on it. I cleaned the frame where the subframes go, cut 2 more squares out of the cab floor for welding access where the subframe overlaps onto the top of the frame for more strength, re-notched the dash tube and i ran out of grinding discs that i use to notch weird shaped notches so i can't do the roof supports today And the drill is still dead so i can't notch the bed cage tubes so im cutting the bedcage tubes up to shape.

Oh, and the UPS guy came, he brought me about $650 worth of racing parts... that someone donated for the build . ill have pictures later

[1971ford]

Today...
-wirewheeled the frame where the subframes are going to mount
-cut 2 more holes in cab floor for access to welding the part of subframe that overlaps top of frame
-flattened bottom of side tubes to hit subframe evenly
-cut main bed cage tubes to size
-cut 2 more holes in bed for main bed cage tubes to hit frame

i forgot to get pictures of the subframes in place.


they main bed cage tubes are even with the bed as they are now but i am going to cut a couple inches out of the back so its a little lower

We will need some decent side mirrors, there are still 4 more tubes that will block the rear windows vision.


And check this out...
A random member of Race-dezert forums asked to see a list of parts i need for the build. So i whipped up a quick list and the next thing i know he has 90% of the list in the mail to me He wouldn't even let me pay shipping. Way cool Adding it up, It's about $550 worth of parts.
2 KC lights (im going to test them when it gets dark tonight in the street!)
Moroso 6-switch panel with breakers
Spare tire strap down kit for both spares
Dual output Parker fresh air pumper
2 window nets
tranny cooler fan, with switch
Fuel cell filler tube with cap, I am going to mount end to bedcage.

[rjewkes]

cool deal. Familoy, he considers you family.

[BradyCouchman]

this is very nice...just wanting to keep track of this one...

[1971ford]

hmmm. debating whether or not to put these bigger mirrors on.
really if it wasn't for the work involved i would swap them right on. I just HATE pulling these door panels off. such a pain. Then i have to drill holes and get nuts on the back inside the door. yeah im just lazy


finally pulled the parking brake gear. it should be quieter without the swingarm banging around. a little nice to have the brake lever out of the way in the cab too. also pulled the center caps from the wheels because they are a pain when changing wheels just because of maneuvering around them taking the lugs off and on.


wiring.... oh jeeze. it's already a mess and we have a few more gauges to put in, about 10 switches with breakers, a few buttons....


subframe access holes in floor. didnt feel like mocking the subframes up again though sorry


without caps

[BradyCouchman]

this is how i cleaned up my wireing....

power for everything not stock


switches for all the lights.


under hood, i used a solenoid to turn power on and off for the radio and what not.

oh and yes i did put gramets in there after i took the pic.

i did this to get all the aftermarket electronics off the stock under gauged wires...

[1971ford]

Wow!!!
pics of whole truck?
edit: nevermind just saw your welcome thread, very cool rig!!

[BradyCouchman]

Wow!!!
pics of whole truck?
edit: nevermind just saw your welcome thread, very cool rig!!

thank you i am very much enjoying what you are doing with yours, looks like a ton of fun!

[trukcrazy]

Ryan, I am quite impressed with what y'all are doing with your truck. I don't post much right now, but felt that I should this time. Great work.

[1971ford]

-installed radio (did this last night actually, when it was too late to be grinding)
-pulled bench seat out and threw the bucket seats in for fun, man i can't wait until they are mounted!
-knocked out the roof diagonals that i just put in
-made template out of fence post for new roof diagonals (they will be 1.5" this time, and will have two bends in them so they will be tucked right up against the roof. that will give us actually about 3-4 inches more room for my dad's head His head was practically against the old diagonal
-trimmed/notched main bed cage tubes
-cut more holes in the bed, cut/notched vertical supports above axle for bedcage
-cut/notched one of the tubes that goes from top of main hoop corner to middle of bedcage


I love it when i get a box of crow Fire suits soon to come


had to keep some old school so i grabbed the original AM radio bezel from my '69 f100 resto project, and cut it up to fit a stereo Soooo cool having tunes in there!


we will have to make a new brake pedal arm, well we dont have time now but eventually. takes too long to bring your foot up/over to it.

When the cage is all done i plan on making these holes smaller, more closer around the tube than a gaping whole but need room to weld it for now.




only have... like 20 more bedcage tubes to go But im only doing about 4 more for now.

[BradyCouchman]

wow you are really going all out on this thing, when i first saw it i just thought you were messing around with it but you are going all out.

also i wish i had black plates on my truck. if i did i wouldnt have gotten my historic car plates