Have decided its time to make a build thread and document some progress, but first some of the history of the truck/specs.

79 ford f350 T18 granny trans married to Np205 transfer case, dana 60 axles front and rear 3.54 gear ratio, and the 400 engine with 110,000 miles.

From what I know it was owned by a cattle appraiser who used it to pull a 5th wheel cattle trailer all over the state, needless to say he wasen't a very good driver.... managed to jack knife the 5th wheel trailer into the sides of the cab. it was then sold to a farmer who used it for everything and neglected it quite a bit, brake line went out so he parked it I then bought it 7 years later.




the previous owner's fix for a rusted out hanger was wrap a chain around the frame through shackle


some oil in cyclinders and a remote gas tank along with a carb rebuild and some gaskets it came to life

 

when I got it the floor wasn't this bad but.... it got worse

 

The plans for it started out as-
Get it running just beat the heck out of it and not put $ into it and then rip axle out and send truck to boneyard...
I then realized it was way too good of a truck to junk out and a classic, so plans turned into-
4-6in lift
35s-38s
weld the cab floor up
reinforce the frame at end
crossover steering
build a different flatbed for it which turned into putting a box on it (will get to that later)
paint the cab roof white while the rest of the body is a drk to light blue
get the engine tuned up completely and mount a fuel cell in box
shackle flip in rear (another long explanation needed for what changed)

stuff that broke/wore out-
Rear cab crossmember cracked/punched through front drivers side cab mount rusted apart and punched through frame mount, clutch pedal bushings were sloppy, water pump wuld start pouring out if u filled the radiator up. a lot more but can't remember off the top of my head

 

Am I havin deja vu? Or have you already started a thread before? I swear I've seen that chain holdin the shackle pic before...

 

that was the thread I made asking questions regarding the lift

 

your gonna want moar powah!

 

You're gonna have to change those 3.54's

 

will be changing the gearing no doubt

bored and stroked 460 is in the works later down the road

 

I ended up getting a set of highboy front leaf springs from a salvage yard for 20 a piece. had to take apart the leafs to clean since one was bowing really bad. Also picked up a set of rear leafs with hangers/shackles off a early 80s ford


Did a shackle flip in rear and highboy leafs in front I gained maybe 3-4 inches. and I caught the damage to the stock lowboy leafs just in time... main leaf was cracked and the center pin was stretched 1/4" and was pulling though the leaf spring hole. while I gained a noticeable amount of lift I still was not happy. And the rear shackle angle was horrible and didn't flex at all so it was a no go for me

 

You cant get a much better starting platform for almost anything offroad related than a 79 with a 400 435 205 and 60s. I would have e-beat your a$$ into submission if you scrapped it. Hell, the title and door tag is worth as much as the scrapper would give you.


460 strokers seem to be contagious. "if you build it, they will come"


I see your epically awesome mini tractor in a F350 and raise you.....






A friends 69 Kaiser M715 and 53 CJ5.

 

don't worry the 79 is NEVER goin to the scrapyard I love it so much and have put a decent amount of coin into it so far... and..... im a die hard chevy guy but always liked the looks of the 67-79 f series pickups



HAHAHA I can't believe I didn't notice that.... but I think u win ha

 

At first I thought it was a photoshop but then I realized it was in the background.


wait....no. First I thought "why in the hell would anyone want a tractor that small" I have been drinking though.

 

So did ya stay with the skackle flip or no?

 

That's all I do

 

*ahem*

gd10cl