1971 f250 DESERT truck- 10/24 race prep

[1971ford]

You need a hobbie

This IS my hobby

All that work to get it where is was, and you want to change it all. I wish I had money like that to burn on my truck...

Yeah, the reason for the front end rebuild is to drop in the brand new, built c6 (old tranny was slipping, leaking, and not nearly as strong as this beast) and most of all, to mount my 16" coilovers.
The coil and shock setup that It had was just not right. It handled the bumps fine but when we hit any big rut, rollers, or a jump, it is just brutal and tearing the truck up if anything.
I knew all along as I was building the old shock mount setup that I"d be grinding it off in not too long for coilovers. The coils were never meant to be on there long.

Another plus about the front end rebuild is i am losing the inner fenders, core support, skinning the hood, and other little things that were just extra weight.

[1971ford]

First off. The tires. While driving the last race in the truck I couldn't go over 40 or I had no control at all because of the bald 35's. Now I have 4 good 35's, excited to have traction.


Cleaned and painted firewall and some frame sections
Mocked up fender and grill. Can't wait to hang it all.



A LOT of weight


I'll be hanging these bad boys soon



Empty carcass


Pulled the cell. I need to complete disassemble and "restore" it. It's all banged up, paint is falling off, and there must be abunch of water between the bladder and case because it drips water like a mofo




Spent LOTS of time with a 4.5" grinder and a plasma cutter. Spent about 4 hours non-stop on thursday then 6 hours non stop today (friday)


HUUUGGGEEEEEEE Thanks, once again, to squirelmurphy!!!!!!!
(he donated the autofab beam mounts, so excited about them!!!) Very happy to have them and they look amazing on the truck, and they will widen the track width 2" which is absolutely perfect... I can still tuck my tires in the autofab fenders (might have to trim a little, we will see)
So I stripped the frame with a wire wheel, then a flap wheel, then painted, then tacked the new beam mounts in place. I don't know if i am going to weld or bolt them on. Probably weld. The bolt holes are about 1/8" off for some reason, and I still would need to drill several holes on both. I don't see them ever coming off in the future so why not weld, right? Any reason not to?



RAWR I eatz you

[1971ford]

Just bought these. New bump stops. Rubber bump stops are SO yesterday. All about nitrogen charged 4" travel hydraulic bump stops.

[BigBlueF250]

You should put your rigs together with wing nuts so they are easier to take back apart again

Ever think about putting the 35's and directionals on the 4x4 while you work on the 2 wheeler? That would look badazz!!

[1971ford]

yeah make for quick tear downs and rebuilds. Do they sell grade 8 wing nuts?
Actually the front fenders and the bedsides are going to be on dzus fasteners so they pop off with the turn of a screwdriver. Hood will be on hood pins so it comes right off. Grill will have just a couple bolts holding it on as it will be hung from the engine cage. So it will come apart pretty quickly still

And yes I have thought about putting the 35's on the highboy! I was going to do it this weekend actually
It will probably be next weekend though.

[BigBlueF250]

Thought I would pass that on to you now.......I've been told that several times by my friends about my truck and car projects over the years

Be sure to post some pics if you swap them

[Ranchero50]

Looks pretty good. On the weld vs. bolt, what happens during another catostophic failure of the front end? Might be easier to bolt on another bracket if the Beam folds under the truck and takes the bracket with it...

Can you see your gauge s with them layed down? Shouldn't take much effort to make some over under pods for them and they'll look just that much cooler

Jamie

[71highboy]

look like fun

[1971ford]

I've decided on bolting the brackets on and welding. Bolts and probably 1.5" of weld on each corner of the bracket. Keeps the holes from ovaling, not screwed if bolts come loose on me. Although i will use lock-tight and lock nuts.

Hung the bedsides. Kinda. Basically I had my brother Hold the bedside as I slipped a piece of tubing into the rear shock mounts and welded it to the shock mount and bedside to hold it. Welded the front tabs back together as well. This is all just to hold the bedsides as I build mounts. I have 3 mounts done. 7 or so to go.


Mocked up front end to where it was originally. Planning engine cage. I got the DOM 1.75 today and the JD2 bender is setup. I'll probably start the engine cage tomorrow.


Couldn't help myself but to mock up the shocks.

[rjewkes]

are you gonna run a support bar for the top of the rad that'll also be the point the hood pins come from?

[1971ford]

Someone say, support?
This is only half way done as well. Still have 20 more feet of tubing to add.

Should be sitting on coilovers tomorrow. Got my hydraulic bumpstops today.

bumped out

[Menace Kustoms]

Is that the actual location of the bump stop you're going with? You don't seem to be using al of it's travel in that picture.

[1971ford]

Good catch, no I just set it there on top of the i-beam. It will be fully compressed at full bump. i still need to order bump cans. I'll weld the bump cans to the beam pivots so it all can be removed if needed.

[1971ford]

Today i was going to mount the fab the coilover mounts and get them in and have the truck rolling on the coilovers but then I talked to my dad and he said that the truck being in the garage isn't that big of a deal and it can stay there for another 3 months while I'm building it if need be... there fore I am going to do it right the first time and tear everything down and do it at once.
Meaning I will be doing whatever i do with the front end (J-beams or new beams/radius arms), building dual swinger crossover steering, and mounting coilovers at the same time.

Today I pulled the PS box, stock steering, and steering column. Also added to the engine cage and threw some paint on for now.


attach my hood to this and I have a "one piece clip" haha




Finally got the new welder set to the sweet spot. Pretty happy with all the welds on the engine cage. Now I need to cut out some of the dash so I can weld the tops of the tube junctions.

[FormerMarine1981]

Nice welding skills Ryan. Are you still going to make it a SWB??