1971 f250 DESERT truck- 10/24 race prep

[1971ford]

The Hawthorne I'm referring to is in Norther Nevada... out in the middle of no where, super boring drive, boring city that is military based, and rough race, but it's still cool
I will definitely let everyone know where all the races are at ahead of time, but this season all the racing is going to be in norther nevada, don't have the money to race in so-cal yet.

First race of the season is on may 28th in Yerington NV

[1971ford]

BIG change. I hope you spot it

[westco]

SHORTBED!!!...looks way better...I just started breaking down my 69 F250 crewcab/shortbed, I am extending my beams to start with a will link the rear.

[cheek]

Wow that looks awesome Ryan, how the hell do you work so fast!?!

[fomocoguy]

Holy crap! So, is that standard short bed length or is it a bit shorter? Are you cutting down your bed or doing a tube deal with no bed?

[1971ford]

Westco... thanks... and we NEED to see pics of your build. Please start a build thread... i want to seee! You on dezertrangers?

Cheek, I started cutting the bedcage off at 10 this morning, finally got that off, then mapped out the cuts for chopping it down. This took while, making sure i didnt ruin my frame, then i cut the 16" section out. Then we moved the back end up and my dad helped get the frame square. THis took the longest, a few hours. But now the frame is as square as square gets. It's within a 1/16 in spec. Then I tacked it and ran a bead on the outside of each frame rail and put the spring hangers back on so i can roll the truck back in the garage. Still have to weld the backside, and do fishplates. But if i didn't have to stop early to go to work the whole long to short bed swap would be done in a day, it wasn't too hard.

Oh, and note to self. REMOVING FRAME WIRING AND GAS LINE BEFORE CUTTING FRAME. Luckily, the no gas has been in the line for a few months. but now i have some wiring and plumbing to do...


Joe, It's standard short bed wheelbase, 115". 16" was removed.
My "bed" is just bed skins, i skinned the bedside skins off the floor/wheel wells. All i have to do is chop 16" out of the front of the bedsides, dont even have to section it. I probably won't bother sectioning the rear, i'll wait for fiberglass bedsides.
Bedsides will be hung off the cage and can be pulled off in seconds for testing or whatever.

[1971ford]

shooting ear muffs FTW

[Ranchero50]

Looks good but what's the benefit? Seems it would make the truck more nose heavy and you don't lose any weight in the front doing this...

Jamie

[1971ford]

You're right, I'm not losing a whole lot of weight. The reason for doing it is because the suspension is going to be easier to tune, truck will be easier to corner and handle.

I'm going to have the fuel cell mounted same place as it was (a little higher for more ground clearance), one spare tire will be hanging off the back and one 2/3 back on the cage, battery, jack, tools, and oil will be pushed back as much as i can.

The engine is just under 700 pounds. The fuel cell when full is somewhere around 250 pounds, 150 pounds half full. Optima is 40 pounds. Both spare wheels, 100 pounds. Tool boxes, 25 pounds. Jack - 40 pounds. Spare driveshaft, random truck parts - 70 pounds. I wont count cage tubing as the cage is front to rear, fairly equal in weight. The cab does sit a little forward, main hoop right behind it helps bring the general cab weight to the rear.
Then we've got the dana 60 that drops down at take-off which is about 500 pounds. leaf springs, hangers and shackles are another 100 pounds.
So a very rough estimation on race weight in the rear is 780 pounds NOT counting dana 60.

I don't think it will nose dive but I also wouldn't be surprised if it did. We will see.

[mybros71]

What kind of weight bias do guys in your class aim for?

Nice job on the frame section. I don't think I would do it on a driver or something that wasn't gonna have a bed cage though. I've always been told that no matter how well you do it, you will ruin a frame if you weld on the span. Your frame isn't gonna care though. Especially if you get a wild hare one day and build a set of trailing arms for the rear.

[SmokeyBurnout]

You do some good work fella. I look forward to checking out the status on your truck everyday. Keep it coming!

[westco]

[quote="1971ford"]Westco... thanks... and we NEED to see pics of your build. Please start a build thread... i want to seee! You on dezertrangers?

On RDC and buy parts on DR....I remember when you first posted your build on RDC, you've come a long way.....good job.

I have thought of starting a build thread but I'm not to good at posting pics and keeping up on it, but I do appreciate the fact that you can go back and see your progress....I plan to cannibalize my Bronco and use all my parts for the 69, the Bronco won't pass smog and without the built 9", King's and bumps it's pretty much worthless.

Planning on the LeDuc swapmeet (that is if it ain't still cancelled) to find some 3.0 c/o's for the 69....can't wait.

[1971ford]

For the weight bias, i"m really not sure what the perfect ratio is considered. If you jump the truck and it nose dives, you better start looking at putting weight in the rear and shock valving. I guess close to 50/50 or 40 front/60 rear would be a good ratio, not sure why you want to be front heavy, couldn't really see being rear heavy a good thing either but it would be better than being front heavy.

Thanks smokeyburnout

Westco,
Id like to see a build thread even if its only a couple pictures!
The swapmeet was great, weather turned out to be pretty good after it cleared up!


Found a thing or two at the Leduc swap meet in so-cal

PA300 police siren $15
3 BFG TA 35" tires $90
4 light light-bar with ballast holders, very nice rack $100
National f100 springs $75
box of spindles $40
trailer hitch $40
baja champion lights $30
Autometer fuel gage $40
2 fuel cans (thrown in with other parts)
4 big FORD stickers (horsepower enhancers) ($5)
4 autofab hood pin sets (with braided lines and hella horn $40)
3 braided brake lines
Hella horn
Air filter pre-filter $5
limit straps $20



Then my dad got a brand new looking ICON race radio for $100.
And a Billit distributor

A buddy has also informed me that he has 3 more of the BFG TA 315/75/16 tires i just bought, sitting in his backyard so i'll be buying those as soon as i have the money. So that makes for 6 BFG TA's on the truck!

ANd as i was typing that, another buddy told me that i can have his 4 BFG TA 315/75/16's he's taking off one of his trucks!

[67mann]

Is that your mothers car.....everythings leaning against

Sounds like ya made a good haul.....race truck is changing rapidly

[westco]

Looks like you found some goodies....I bought myself a pair of new 3.0" Fox c/o's 14" travel for the 69....I was freaking giddy as a school girl.... wait wut?