1971 f250 DESERT truck- 10/24 race prep

[1971ford]

I've got it for sale for a whopping $200. That's what i paid for the POR-15, and bolts. Not to mention new bushings, wire wheels to strip it all to metal, fuel line f350 front end, brand new MOOG coil springs, new shocks, etc. I'm guessing i put about $500 into it. Then about 6 months of labor.
I figure somebody wanting to restore their bump would pick my chassis up and be half way done! $200, that's very little for half of your project done.
I also have a 360, a c6, TONS of parts, everything needed to covert to power steering with saginaw box, i could go on.

[The400-100]

I will look into shipping costs to Oroville WA... Definitely interested...

[1971ford]

Sounds good

Today I took the seats and harnesses out of the truck, cut the old shoulder harness tabs off, ground them down, and re-welded them closer together because ths shoulder straps were sliding off. Now they stey on. Yay.
I then pulled my leaking (melted on exhaust) Speedo cable, cut the cable off at the tranny end, and got a big screw and screwed it in to the cable part. Ghetto but it is a good fix to a leak. Speedo didn't work and just leaked so why not hack it off and plug the hole.
Then i scraped a couple tons of grease off the frame. Then i tightened random bolts.
I also wired my offroad lights back up.

And guess what. During my inspection, i found that the cab was not bolted down. Yeah... so i fixed that.

Then went for a cruise...

[The400-100]

Still lookin into shipping quotes... Gotta find a way...

[1971ford]

Not too much of an update but only 44 more days until we launch off the start line in Yerington Nevada (May 28th weekend).
SO like we did before the last race, it's hustle time. 50% of the work done to my truck was the few weekends before the last race because that's when i have some serious motivation. So the hard work begins again.

The List of what to do within 6 weeks... But more like 3 or 4 weeks so we can thorougly test everything.
-Spare set of rims for spares (Currently have 5 spare tires), mount all spare tires on spare rims
-Rebuild leaf packs with wagoneer leaf springs or other thin leaves, to handle race weight and more ride height
-Fix/replace front shocks - Have a guy that likes my build and has volunteered to build me a set of shocks. He built all the coilovers on his buggy and does great
-Mount 16" travel Fox reservoir shocks that i am gettting for FREE this weekend from a buddy
-Bump-stop, limit-strap, and extended brake lines on the front and the rear
-Spare tire mounting for both on-board spares. They will now be layed down on the cage and not standing up. That was nothing but problems.
-Buy new fuel cell top plate to allow for a spare tire directly above the cell and a filler tube going to the cage for dump can filling.
-Bedside bracing... Still haven't securely braced my bedsides, just rewelded my old broken tab.
-Replace fuel filter... It's about time
-Gather and load up spare parts/oils
-Mount gps antenna that a buddy is letting us borrow

My father dearest just bought me a present... so i can cross off the top fuel cell plate off the list.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 09bd&rvr_i

So this weekend i am picking up some 16" travel Fox reservoir shocks for the rear, handing my 10" travel front reservoir shocks over to a buddy so he can custom build me shocks using the bodies (or he will make new bodies).
All the other stuff will be done shortly as well.

[1971ford]

Updateeeeeeee

-Got a set of FREE 16" travel FOX reservoir shocks!!! They are 2.0's, so if we last long enough in the race they will fade but right now, i do not care! I'm just glad to have something besides stock shocks to unleash the travel that the truck now has, and a softer ride with a real shock.
-Got a set of bumpstops from a fellow racer, they are off a 4runner i think it is. Mike Koenig's Total Chaos sponsered truck runs them. I'll be putting them on the rear when i flip the hangers and do a bunch of other stuff next weekend.
-Finally found a set of spare 8 lug rims. they are black/chrome steel rims. 16x7. Nice and narrow I'll be picking them up this week, and mounting my spare tires soon after.
-Dad bought me a present. A new fuel cell top plate for my cell! I'll be putting it on once we get it and mounting my remote filler stuff that i already have. It will go to the top of the bed cage tubes with a roll bar over it.

Of course i had to see how cool i am going to look. I plan on mounting these things this weekend. I'm going to pull the spring plates off and have my boss weld tabs on them for the lower shock mount and currently brainstorming for the top.


So this weekend i plan on swapping the fuel cell top plate out, mounting my remote filler, flipping leaf spring hangers (Making rearend higher, more up travel, and room for new softer bumpstops), extended brake lines all 4 corners, and mounting the rear shocks. I'd say mounting bumpstops up front and limit straps but I'm already pushing it for one weekend! we will see what gets done.

We have a race in 6 weeks from today. Need to have the truck race-ready in about 4 so we can test

[fomocoguy]

Cool! I think those are the longest travel shocks I've ever seen...

[FreakysFords]

I know washing machines can be a little obnoxious when they go shaking, but isn't this a little extreme?

Cool finds bud. Looking forward to seeing the install

Frank

[1971ford]

yeah, these are fairly long
But there are longer! 18" travel shocks are often used on leaf springs as well if you have the money. But, it's recomended that you go with 16" travel because at 18" you are pushing it. A lot of things come in to play with lots of travel. One being driveshaft+tranny slippage.

I'm going to pull the spring plates off the '69 restored chassis to make this process go faster. I'll take them to my boss at the welding shop to get some tabs added on tuesday or wednesday, then I will put them on wednesday hopefully. Then the lower mounting will be done and we can do top mounts this weekend.


yeah that washer got some bad shakes so i installed some stabilizers

[1971ford]

Oh and here is me earlier today
I'm waiting for the pro photographers to get their shots up so i can show you the crazy double jump we had to learn to mega huck over.
It's not really related but oh well it's offroad



You'll see what i was in soon. I actually was out of the truck for one moto taking pictures so i'll get those up once i get it all sorted out.

[1971ford]

This is what i was in, in the above pictures
http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 62&t=49913

[1971ford]

Ok didn't get to mount the shocks, that will have to be next weekend.

Instead i did a few other things.
-PIcked up some 16x7" steel chrome/black rims for $40, to use in my spare tires. Nice and skinny! Unlike my 10" wide ones which can go die now.
-swapped out the fuel cell top plate for a new one from Jegs. This one has a angled filler neck unlike the old one tha thad a big 3" cap. This one also looks pretty, and it has a flapper valve, and a ball in the vent fittings. Very nice.
-Bought some jeep wagoneer front springs off craigslist for $40. Got straight to business and ripped them apart. Got the rearend of my truck disassembled and took the packs apart, put all the wagoneer sprigns in the old custom packs and took one old leaf out. I now have a 8 leaf pack. I also went and got longer center pins... grade 8 bolts with the heads rounded off to fit in the axle/spring mount. Although i only did this on one side, because the other side was long enough. I bought extra grade 8 bolts to re-do it to be stronger though.
-Re-assembled my rearend and checked the ride height, it's a good 2" higher, YESSSSSS. It looks perfect.
New parts:



Yes, a nut fell in and i did have to put my hand in all the gas and search the whole bottom of the cell for it.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have the remote filler mounted. I need to get it done ASAP. Currently running duct tape for a filler cap. shhhhhhhhhhh!


Now i KNOW what you're thinking. "oh noes! how ever will you check your fuel level now that high tech stick aperatus can't fit through the filler hole!"
Well Jeg's had me in mind and installed this fuel gauge feature so i can continue to use my invention








skinnier springs

New pack



more uptravel. I need to remeasure but it should be about 6-7" now. It will have about 12" down


Perfect....



Hpoefully next weekend everything here will be solid mounted:

[FreakysFords]

sweet!

[robroy]

Good evening Ryan,

That's a great update! I really like your new gasoline dipstick! That's nice and straightforward.

I'm always amazed by your skill with making custom changes to the suspension on your trucks. I think your new ride height's looking perfect!!!

Robroy

[fomocoguy]

The ride height looks perfect now! I hope it functions for you as good as it looks. I also hope you didn't have any knicks on your knuckles before you sloshed around in the fuel cell....