I posted this in the Ford section but thought I would post it here as well.

My boss wants to build a truck for his daughter who is turning 16 next year. He is blaming me for giving her the off road bug so he has asked (instructed) me to take on the task.

She has it in her mind that she wants a Ford but doesnt seem to care about the year. In fact, all she knows is that she wants a full size Ford 4X4, which makes my job easier.

Since my experience with Ford is limited, this is where I need help. What are the ideal years to go after as far as axles and drive train (think beef). The truck will end up with custom long travel suspension on 38"- 40" tires.

Lemme hear some opinions

Consider a Bronco (as for what years I dunno I'm a Chevy girl so I'm no help there)... just out of she'll have the extra seating... when you're 16 you want friend room and I doubt she'll be hauling anything to need a bed. I personally think you should tell your boss for now 38's or 40's on a truck for a 16 year old is a bad idea. That's asking for trouble..... building up the engine, drive train, axles and so on is fine... but if it's lifted up to fit them, she'll roll it (cuz when you are that age face it you do dumb crap and with a big truck even dumber crap). You get into handling issues with that size for a daily driver which I guess hers would be? Start her out with smaller tires/lift until she gets the hang of stuff then upgrade... costs more but when you are a newbie it's better then messing up your truck because you have no clue what you are doing and trash it because you started out with something you can't handle because of lack of experience....

I hear ya on the Bronco, I tried to sell her on mine but she wants a truck:rolleyes:
As far as the tire size, yeah i've had that discusion with them as well and all I can say is,,,,, never mind, I wont say it. We can build it to be stable by keeping it squat by clearancing the fenders to accomodated the meats. She has driven my Dodge which is radicaly modified and my Jeep which,,,, well, isnt a Jeep:D so she understands that it wont drive anything like a car. Lets just hope she never forgets that.

Find a 70's as for what I know they are heavier built in the body. No matter what a kid says sooner or later they need to find out if it will handle like a sports car It doesn't matter if it is a 4x2 or a built 4x4. I know for a fact that just the body alone will hold up better in a rollover than something built later. Of course this will have extra protection added if you build it right

Kevin,
Do her a favor and have her put some time into the design and construction of the rig. The level of aprication goes way up at that age on something that you have first hand experiance putting together. I hope she is not the type that is used to getting what she wants all the time. I would be less worried about her driving it if she knew what it takes to build such a rig and realizes the damage that can be done in the wrong hands. The "friends" are the ones I would worry about.

Please remind me of all this in 6 years when Ashley is that age!

Dave

Have you spent any time talking with her dad about why it would be a bad idea to put a truck that size in to the hands of a 16 year old? Or is a case of "What my little girl wants, my little girl gets"? A truck that size is going to be poor handling, steering, and braking (Compared to a car).. Just a matter of the weight and center of gravity.

I think the guy's putting you in a bad spot, because if you build it that big and something happens (She wrecks it, rolls it, etc.), the blame might be on your shoulders...
I would tell him that you recommend a mild lift and maybe some 35" BFG MT's, on some Centerline Hellcats. It would still look great (I'm sure, the main thing in her eyes), and be still be capable for some milder off-road use). Plus it would have a good center of gravity, and brake and handle fairly stock. Add some duel Turbo mufflers to cover the sound department (Another critical element in the mind of the typical teen.....And me for that matter :p )
Another issue would be the peer pressure from friends who would talk her into doing some seriously stupid sheeot.. It would still happen with 35's but at least it would be more stable.
Also, I'd put in a full cage, just in case something might happen, and hope they wear their seatbelts.

JMO, Mark

Kevin, I think the early 70's are the best. Sorta like the original Bigfoot. :D:D:D:D.

77-79 had the 31 spline 9" in back, rev 44 in front, 205 and C-4 (or C-6 and big block, from what I've been told)...

I think everyone is jumping the gun and doing a bit of stereotyping with the "don't let a 16yr have a big truck" thing...If she's a spoiled little bitch then she would probably be asking for a beamer - I've met her dad once and he seems down to earth, so I would guess she is too, but I could be wrong. I think she'll be ok in a big truck, as long as Kevin teaches he how to drive it ;)

P.S. - is she single?? :flipoff2:


:usa:

Thanks all, mid 70's kinda where im headed. Mostly because I used to have a '76 and it was pretty beef. Im just trying to get some make year specific info on drive trains and axles and im to fawkin lazy to go look it up:flipoff2:

Hey Dave, yes she is very involved in the build up. She aint no girly girl, shes been riding quads and playing in the dirt since about 8. Start putting Ashly behind the wheel:p I got James started when he was 10 in fact he ran Millers/Lockwood in my truck when he was 15 with no spotter. Let em get nuts before they hit the streets and maybe the stupid shit will be boring by then.

Welby, oh yeah. These saftey issues have been discussed and will continue to be discussed (with her involved in the discussion) and im sure as we move forward this thing will go several different dirrections. Once, I started to build a Baja Bug and by the time I was done it was a 56 Chevy with 60's front & rear :smokin:

Thanks for all the input.

Here's what I'm thinking. Late 70's about 4" of lift 38" tires lot's of sawzall. The CG will be down and she'll still be able to have a ball in it. Little things like upgrading the shit outta the brakes and make sure the steering is square will be big, but hell, I say build it and build it mean, that way if she doesn't like it maybe on of us can pick it up :D

Show her some Early Bronco pics. Hook it up with some 38's, dana 60's, and a sick roll cage. That gives her the wind in her hair option, and more seating.

All you really need is to find a good Highboy to 77 or 78 I think... and your all set nothing really to build up except to add set of tires and rims...that would do the trick..

RAMSTIEN EH? THATS WHERE MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN I WAS STATIONED IN WIESBADEN ..ANYWAY I THINK THE OPPOSITE YOU CAN BUY A DECENT TOYOTA MID 80'S STRAIGHT AXLE WITH MINIMAL WORK PUT 33'S A LOCK RIGHT IN FRONT AND BE A SAFE RELIABLE 4X4 WITH ABOUT 5,000.00 AND BE ALOT CHEAPER IN INSURANCE TO BOOT LET HER LEARN 1ST THAN GIVE HER MORE POWER ....MY .02:usa:

78-79 ford bronco...Rev 44 front, big bearing 9" rear, c6, 205, big wheel wells, beefy, little maintainance.

Originally posted by Gozuki
78-79 ford bronco...Rev 44 front, big bearing 9" rear, c6, 205, big wheel wells, beefy, little maintainance.

Bingo, this was what I was going to say too! I know you said she didn't want a Bronc, but these 1st years of the Big Bronco have removable hard tops and with the top off it looks just like a truck with no rear to the cab. You can find these with 390's too...I don't think they came stock with 427 big blocks though. Only 2 yrs of Big Broncs without TTB's. They are cheap too, esp compared to EB's. I'm tempted to build one of these...if I ever finish my current projects.

How about he tells her to go get a job and earn this truck, then maybe she'll know the value of it and not go out and destroy it like most idiot kids who are given a truck?

Originally posted by Gozuki
78-79 ford bronco...Rev 44 front, big bearing 9" rear, c6, 205, big wheel wells, beefy, little maintainance.

I dont know about a Bronco Kevin, He might blame you if she gets pregnant in it :flipoff2:

I would say the 73-79 Ford truck/Bronco 6 in lift 35's.....You could do the 70-77 chevy 3/4&1 ton truck/blazer either brand will do....:beer: :D :D