Paper build your ultimate truck.

[redpitbull44]

If you're like me, you find yourself day dreaming about the perfect truck. All the little modifications you would do to make it way better than stock, and hopefully invincible off road. You probably have several streams of thought running, one for "what I can afford" one for "what I wish I could afford", and one that goes something like "why didn't they do this from the factory?". When I get these epiphanies of engineering I typically write them down. I see something somewhere else that I think is just too cool, and I make a literal note of it. I may or may not make use of it, but at least I have a written reminder.

I am starting this thread to invite you guys to share your ideas for the perfect truck. I would prefer you be as specific as possible where it is practical if you would please. Just listing year/make/model/engine/trans/t-case/axles/suspension/wheels/tires is ok if you wanna be a wanker. What I want to see are specifics. I want to see you use your imagination, and be specific. You may want a KPHP60, but do you want that axle with 3.08 gears or 5.13's? Open or locked? What locker? Want to run all stainless brake lines? Mention that. Want diff, trans, and t-case breathers that are to the top of the cab? Jot it down.

I don't want this to turn into a bitch fest or a pissing match. If one guy says his dream truck would have Thornbirds on it, leave the fucker to stew in his own idiocy. Please, don't crap up my thread with your witty insight. If you feel the need to give somebody shit, do so in a PM.

I think this could be fun and helpful to guys who are looking for ideas on their rigs. If you want to play along, get typing! If you want to talk shit, take a hike. Newbies are welcome to throw in their two cents, just PLEASE, don't be an idiot. Thanks.

Looking forward to seeing how this develops.

[PROJECTJUNKIE]

Been thinking about a 67 ford crew cab shortbed, 4Bt, 5spd, maybe AT with OD, some 3.07 half ton axles, 265/75/16 ATs, maybe dual AC. Fresh paint, upholstery, put it to use.

This would be the wifes DD, currently putting 2k miles a month on a Gmc yukon 4wd Need the mileage, and size, and half ton towing capabilites as a backup towrig.

My current tow rig is a 1988 F350 4wd crew, with 96 front clip, 6BT, NV4500, 37" BFG Bajas, KP60, 10.25, 4.10s, Pac-brake, B&W turnover gooseneck hitch.

[fatdan460]

well some of this will be semi unrealistic, but here goes;

start out with a rust free oxford white 1985 f150 regular cab long bed that's been fully restored, and i mean fully, like in it's damn near new off the show room floor but with a boxed frame stainless and braided anything and everything so lines don't fawking rot out in 3 years. a simple modular wiring harness that is clean and hidden with no excess bullshit wiring, basically think full bodied truck built like a ground up buggy to get rid of most of the shit that was dumb from the factory. good solid functional bumper that look nice and can take a beating, 12k rear winch tucked as tight as possible, 15k front also tucked in tight as can be. i'd love to go full hydro, but any rig i'll have will see street time, so assist it is. caged maroon interior with a relatively stock dash just with newer updated gauges in it, i'd like a nice pair of suspension buckets, but something that still retains some level of comfort so you can enjoy the seat time more. a decent stereo, nothing crazy, but sometimes you just have to blast the tunes while playing. i really wish there was a way to incorporate a snorkel without it looking gaudy or killing airflow, so figure that out.

axles: built tons would work for me and keep the weight down and clearance up. a kingpin 60 front built to 79 ford specs but with the highest spline count strongest chromos and joint available. aftermarket c's and knuckles, hi steer, 5.38's and i always wanted an e-locker, but find a way to get the actuator deal off the goddamn cover and keep it safe and functioning <--that's more of a want than need, a detroit would be fine.
rear: a sterling that's been cleaned up and disked to shave weight, idk if anyone has ventured into chromo's for them yet, but if so i want them as i've seen a few grenade shafts and it's ugly when it happens, 5.38's and a detroit.

motor: a stroked 460 somewhere in the 550 c.i. range, but a very mild motor, say 650hp or lower and focus the build on torque and strength as i'm not really into 6500+rpm shit if i don't have to wrap it out that high. fuel injected and able to run off of pump gas are musts because as i said anything i own will see street time all year round. and it's a pipe dream, but if this could get double digit mpg's like 12+ i'd be in heaven. i'm not much on motors anymore, so imagine an appropriate build in your head

trans and t-cases: e40d fully built to handle my engine and then some, firm shift kit, but no full reverse manual b/s, i still want it to shift on it's own. stand alone programmable controler. i'd prefer a zf 6 speed made to work with a 385 bellhousing, but i have shitty knees and clutching sucks for me after an hour or so. as to t-cases, a 203/205 doubler would suit me just fine, but i would like it to be a divorced setup so i could have equal length d-shafts if possible. 1410's throughout.

suspension: this gets tricky for me, simple and reliable are keys for me. i guess i'd like a cage radius arm type setup up front but with coilovers to smooth things out and add comfort for high speed stuff, and retain leaves in the rear, i'm not a fawking rock crawler, so i can get plenty enough travel and flex out of leaves in the rear and it'll add to the reliability and utilitarianism of the rig. say springs in the 5-6'' range tuned to still be able to haul a sizable load, but still flex, a shackle flip and no blocks, definitely a shackled anti wrap bar.

tires and wheels: this gets into the land of make believe. i love ground hawgs. imagine if they came in a true 44'' height, say 19.5'' wide, actually round, slightly softer, stickier compound, and an 18'' rim size, and add in some kind of side biters to the side walls similar to the side wall of a ss sx, that would be tits to me. rims would be something simple and old school looking, say an 18''x14'' chrome modular wheel with some simple 32 bolt beadlock rings on them, nothing gaudy.

truck would be on the verge of bgtl, but i like big trucks, this would basically be all the shit i would have done to my old 85 i had back in h/s, but the fawking frame went to hell and cracked in a bunch of spots. basically this truck just sitting on my imaginary hawgs.

[88beast]

heres mine
good all around is what im going for
83 ford f350 cc 8 foot flatbed
custom 9 inch front axle with 60 outers
dana 80 rear
24.5 wheels super single fronts dully rears all knobby tread
motor would be a dt466 or dt360 problly 360 for mechanical fact
8 speed trans
divorced 205 t case
heavy duty ujoints and full undercarriage gaurds
bumpers would be beefy
front would be a custom built 1/2 inch thick monster with a 25k hydrolic winch mounted in it tow hooks and a front hitch but itd look like a semi bumper
rear would be a beefier version of the standard flatbed one with stainless filler plates with tons of lights
one 6 inch stack with a flapper
headache rack
oba
exhaust brake
4 bucket seats and 2 center consols
front consol would have 4 cup holders upfitter switches and all
itd have an 88 interior
outside color would be blue and inside black with blue accents
air bag suspension all the way around
air horns
intake would come up over the cab like the old ford cabovers
all diffs etc would be sealed like in a humvee or vented high for water crossings
best quality everything possible
motor would make 600 hp or so
air lockers front and rear
gears well itd b gerared right to work as needed
toolboxes below the bed housing tools and all also oba tank under the bed
hydrolic dump bed
bed would be steel with wood floor teak if possible
intercooler
relocated batteries
block heater
genny like on semis
power inverter
4 batts
oil psi, oil temp, water temp, air pressure tank, air pressure line, air pressure bags, pyro, boost, volts, tranny temp, and problly more gauges
sight glasses for all fluid levels
tv in rear
killer system with subs below the back seats
high lift jack mounted in cab
dvd and satilite for the tv
heated seats
rear climate control
headphone jacks for the tv
power everything
built in gps nav like the new cars
and tons more
hey he said be specific

[just4cuz]

Actually I have a few in mind, but if I could only have one Ford it would be a 67-72 3/4 ton long bed. I had a 68 and it was a great truck and a couple of friends had 3/4 tons that we all built into prerunners back in the early to mid 70's. Worked the during the week and played and pitted on weekends, hell mine even had a ladder rack on it! It was perfect for a viewing platform at the races. Other friends had various 1/2 tons as well, but I liked my 3/4 ton.
Today I would swap the 360 for a 351 Windsor with fuel injection, a 5 speed manual trans, a shaved 14 bolt with a Detroit Locker, 4.10 gears, disc brakes and a truss welded to the housing. I would then swap out the twin I beams for TTB Dana 50 front axle with lots of welded reinforcement on the beams, front steer from an 80 or newer truck, F350 front coils and custom radius arms using 80 and up leaf spring mounts under the front of the cab. The radius arms would have heims in them and the fronts at the beams may just get welded to the beams, so the whole thing is like a big lower A arm. Shocks would be some nice reservoirs. I would only expect this to have 10 to 12" of suspension travel, old Stroppe race trucks had 8" if they were lucky. The frame would be fully boxed or multiple crossmembers added and the T-case would either be a Borg Warner or an NP 241 or bigger, which ever transfer case netted the flattest belly. Stainless steel fuel and brake lines, F350 Alcoa wheels and a tire around 35" tall and no wider than 12". Bumpers would be tube, but strong, front skid plate, from the front frame rails to the suspension crossmember. Fuel tank would be a big Bronco tank in the rear with a skid plate. The interior would have one of those old fashioned foam dipped stock steering wheels (like the Stroppe trucks and broncos all had) and the seats would be either the old Bostrom truck seat with suspension in them or some newer King Ranch leather buckets. Paint would be the old Stroppe color scheme, white truck with the bottom half painted Poppy Red and a Metallic Blue roof.
This truck would probably set 2 to 3 inches higher than a stock 2wd dentside 3/4 ton. If you did not look close it could be mistaken for a raised 2wd truck.
The Windsor and the trans and t-case would be lighter on the front end than the FE engine and the stock 4spd truck trans. It would have A/C, PS, PB, tilt wheel and a nice sound system. I would look for an old Gem Top aluminum shell for camping trips.
This would be my ultimate Ford all around truck for exploring the Western US. It would work well in the desert, mountains and anywhere in between. Not a rock crawler but a great off road exploration vehicle that could be used on the highway easily also.
Just think of a modern 3/4 ton version of a Stroppe race truck from the early 70's.

[150]

Well the one truck i have always loved is the 1978 f-350 it would be a huge mud truck and just fun to drive

body/ frame
it would be a king cab long bed for bringing a bunch of passengers.
i would plate/ box whatever part of the frame needed it. build a cage for it with 4 point harnesses and suspension seats for each passenger.
make tube bumpers front and rear with a 16.5 winch in the front and rear and lots of tow hooks and d rings.
flat belly pan with 1/4" plate along the whole underside.
basically everything in the interior would be taken out and the floors would be bedlined.

axles/ suspension
i would have rockwells with the diffs mohawked.
air locked front and rear.
disk brakes on each corner and at each diff.
i would most likely just have leaf springs all the way around with traction bars

drivetrain
460 fuel injected or possibly cummins swap.
intake inside of the cab.
radiator and batteries in the bed.
everything would be waterproofed.
4 speed tranny and NP 205 possibly with 203 doubler

and then i would finish it off with either 49" Iroks or 54" boggers

[harley9703]

I'm building my dream truck

/forum/mud/937357-97-f150-rocks-supercharged-build.html

Naw seriously though, I'd like to put more money towards certian things that I won't be able to afford for some time.

Things like;

* OEM 2" shafts for the rockwells
* OEM Wicked 6 hubs
* OEM Girdle
* U-Joints
* 2) OEM spools
* OEM locker
* 2.5ton Steer

*Profab

* Aluminum block 5.4
* 3.4 whipple

* Fiber Body
* Tubular frame

* 44" Boggers
* 54" TTC claws
* 26x16 Stazwork wheels
* 23.1x26 R2 checkmark

* Aluminum 460, stroked, with 8.71

Edited******
Things still needed right now and are next to buy
* Rod ends
* Tube
* F.O.A. Coilovers
* 2.5ton steer
* PSC full Hydro

[crazyredneckanyhow]

Ok lets see here. Id have to start with a rust free 78/9 F-150 Reg cab shortbed. Dump all the factory frame and drivetrain. Build a new frame out of 2"x6"x1/4" box tube. Cut the front fenders and bedsides at the bodyline around the wheel wells. Approx 4" would be takin out. Rear suspension would be 4" Deavers with a Ruffstuff shackle flip And custom hangers at the front. Front suspension would be 6" Deavers for a 99-04 Superduty. Also with a built in 2" drop hangers. Rearend would be a 14 Bolt full float with an ARB and 4.56 gears. Also have RCV shafts and discs using Ruffstuff brackets. Front axle would be a 78/9 D60 with Reid inner/outer knuckles. Also using their highstter/crossover arms. It would again have 4.56 gears on an ARB. Both would have Ruffstuff covers. Steering would consist of a 78/9 F-250 4wd box and 1.5" 1/4" wall DOM for draglink and tierod. F-150 drop pitman arm and PSC hydro assist. The truck would have Triple bypass remote resi shocks. Shock hoops would be tied into a cage that would go from front to rear. Interior would consist of a custom dash with a full on set of Autometers. Five point harnesses. A nice set of bolstered seats. Drivetrain would be a 94- 5.9 Cummins with twin turbos. Cant really go into exact specs as i havent researched it because i cant afford it lol. Trans would be a g56 6spd backed by a 203/205 doubler. 1410 joints front and rear. As for tires I would go with a set of 44" Pitbull Rockers on a custom beadlock. Front bumper would be a protofab prerunner unit with a rear bumper made to match. 12k winches front and rear. Inbed mounted fullsize spare tire. Im sure theres more i cant think of right now.

[Proeliator]

Hmmmm, '47 Ford truck body, tube frame, mid mount motor (blown 605 on alky), Lenco tranny, U1300 axles, rear steer, four linked with coil overs...probably stick with the same Titan tires I have now.

edit: Since this is a "dream build" scratch the 605...I'll take one of these: http://www.jonkaaseracingengines.com...ford-hemi.html

[Randomquikfingrs]

Originally Posted by Proeliator

edit: Since this is a "dream build" scratch the 605...I'll take one of these: http://www.jonkaaseracingengines.com...ford-hemi.html

Can you actually wheel with a motor like that, or is it a run for 30 seconds, then full teardown/ rebuild kinda thing?

I've always been curious.

[fatdan460]

Originally Posted by Randomquikfingrs

Can you actually wheel with a motor like that, or is it a run for 30 seconds, then full teardown/ rebuild kinda thing?

I've always been curious.

other than being about 280 c.i. bigger than what they run, seems it wouldn't be any different than what the monster truck crowd runs. it'd just have more displacement and no forced induction.

[F-150]

'80-'86 F-150 extended cab, 6 foot bed. Hood scoop that looks like a vagina, and actually feeds the engine. I would paint the truck green or grey. Of course new wiring harnesses.
.
Dana 60 Kingpin high pinion front disc brakes detroit lockers front and rear
Dana 60 rear disc brakes

Custom ladder frame with an 8 point cage that bolts to the frame.

Engine:
460 bored and stroked out to the max the engine block can hold. I would start with a good set of iron heads and put 1,000 hours into porting them with large valves. I would go to Schneider Racing Cams and ask for the widest torque curve with the most average torque. I would get a Weiand Stealth intake manafold. Accel DFI Generation 7 with Accel TBI, large fuel injectors, HEI or TFI Mallory distributor, hedman headers, turbo chargers, what is the highest octane gasoline can get, 120?,

Transmission:
Built AOD, 1-peice forged input shaft (700-800HP), 4 friction intermediate clutch, 6 friction forward clutch, 3 friction reverse clutch, and 6 friction direct clutch. Dirty Dog Performance modified C6 torque converter 2,500 rpm stall, I would think about getting a forged out put shaft as well. Bauman shift kit and transgo high rev governor. Probably get those black frictions for racing.

Transfer Case:
LoMax NP 205 and Goliath Klune V or Atlas 4 speed.

Custom drive shafts with large u-joints.

Tires:
BFG Mud terrains, the better ones, 32-37", whatever sticks.

[Proeliator]

Originally Posted by Randomquikfingrs

Can you actually wheel with a motor like that, or is it a run for 30 seconds, then full teardown/ rebuild kinda thing?

I've always been curious.

You wouldn't want to use it for rock crawling, but other than that it would just be a tear down every season like any other alcohol "race" motor.

[gbkeith]

Start with a '73 Bronco.
-4bt. Injectors, cam, 12 cm turbo housing
-E4od. Stallion torque convertor made for my torque range and weight
-Ford Np205. Dodge Cummins output shaft for the hell of it.
-Jana 54 front axle. Use the housing from a F150. Instead of narrowing it to eb length, split the difference, taking it all out of the passenger side to move the diff away from the oilpan. C's, knuckles, and brakes from a ttb 50. Arb locker, 4.11's, rcv shafts. Moved 2 inches forward. Cut the fenders and put on flares centered on the tires.
-E350 FF Dana 60. Narrowed, 35 splines, Arb locker. Moved six inches back, flares centered up on the tires.
-Simple, old school bumpers. 9.5k winch in front
-bout a 1.5 inch body lift and a hood scoop, whatever it takes to make it fit.
-radius arms extended 6 inches, with a bend in them to clear the tires
-3 or 4 inch suspension lift. Whatever the smallest that lets me fit everything is. I want to try full size bronco springs in back, turn them backwards and I get a longer spring but still get the axle as far back as possible.
-35 inch MTR's
-lizard skin and dynamat everywhere I can put it
-Old school trailer special badges like they put on the seventies pick ups with the rear axles moved back, just for the hell of it

[EricsGreen98Tj]

So here I go....I want a fullsize 79 Bronco frame, boxed, with a 95ish Crew Cab on it. Then shove the rear diff as far back as possible to center the well in a little 3-4' bed behind the cab. I would like to have a 7.3L PSD(or mabey a mild 460) but I want to put a NP435 behind it, along with a tripple sticked 203/205 doubler with LOMAX in one of em. Then I'd have to have 16" travel 3" coil-overs(King or FOX) at all 4 wheels with air bumps with a 3 link in the front and single triangulated in the rear(no trac bar). I'd do a full interior roll cage and tie it into the front stinger bumper and rear DOM tube bumpers. I'd keep the top 4" of the stock fenders and then make the rest out of tube and tie them into the tubework of the fenders. I'd want to keep the COG as low as possible so I'd highline it as much as possible. Id also have 4 HID 8" lights on the front bumper and 2 on the rear. Dual gastanks and Warn 16k winches front/rear. It would have to have a Lund visior over the windsheild(no cab lights) and some 3/8" aluminum rockers with a DOM tube step that would start at the front fender well and run all the way to the rear bumper. I think I'd have to have a 14B FF in the rear with discs and a HP60 in the front with 5.38's for the 460(or 4.10 with the 7.3L PSD). I'd have 42" SS SX's and a spare on a swingout along with some kind of tool box in the "bed". It would have to be hydro assist made with a DOM and 1 ton gear and definatly a high steer setup . Id put some reclining suspension seats in the front and probably keep a bench seat in the rear but I'd have harness for the rear occupants too. Driveshafts would be from Tom Wood's and they have CTM u-joints in em...I'd also want the largest spline counts I could get for the axles with a full spool in the rear and an E-locker in the front(or mabey an OX).

Id paint it all dark charcoal grey and all accesores and add-ons would be flat black.

[Oregon Bronco II]

1988 Bronco II
Turbo'd and Supercharged and built 302
Matching disc 60's w/ 5.38's w/ F&R Detroits.
Completely leaf sprung
NP435 (yay for 6.69:1 first gear)
Doubled, with either BW's or NP's
40 inch PBR's
OBA, OBW
F&R 16.5 winches
Dual Batteries
Hydro assist
Internal cage
Bumpers and sliders
360* lighting + rock lights
Boxed frame
GT Grant steering wheel

[buschmaster86]

Mine would be a aluminium samurai shassis dana80 dynatrac axles and gm lightweigt v8 turbodiesel aluminium rolcage with cabriosofttop rear-front-top winch snorkel and 54 inch boggers or very high small mischelin militarys

[fatdan460]

Originally Posted by buschmaster86

Mine would be a aluminium samurai shassis dana80 dynatrac axles and gm lightweigt v8 turbodiesel aluminium rolcage with cabriosofttop rear-front-top winch snorkel and 54 inch boggers or very high small mischelin militarys

yep, read it again, still not seeing how this fits in the FORD section

[blitzbronco]

My dream build would be around my 79 bronco. Some of which I am currently planning on building. It currently has an Edelbrock thunder avs carb which I might swap out for either the Edelbrock or Holley TBS fuel injection. Other than that the engine which is a 400 does very well. The bronco also has a NP435 which is staying but might upgrade to a hydraulic clutch at some point. Also need to throw in the larger twin ARB air compressor and a tank plumbed in the back. Also upgrade my front winch to a Warn 16.5 and move the 12 to the rear. Make new bumpers front and rear. The rear bumper also incorporates a tire carrier, gas can carrier and the hi-lift jack along with the winch.

This is where the build will start(kind of). I would like to put a NWfab blackbox-I in front of an Atlas transfer case which might be a 5:1 setup. The front is a D60 with 5:38’s and an ARB locker (Currently I have a 95 D60 with ball joints since this is a dream build I would upgrade to a king pin setup). It would be a 3 link setup with coilover shocks and a high steer step with full hydro steering and a truss (possibly an ARTEC). The diff would also get shaved for just that bit more clearance. I would also move the axle forward about 3 inches. The rear would be a 14bolt (since I already have it) with either a Detroit or Grizzly locker, 5.38’s and disk brake conversion. A rear truss (again, possibly ARTEC) with 4 link setup and coilovers also. The whole thing riding on a set of 42”pit bull rockers.

Now that the drive train is done, on to the rest. Cut the sheet metal from the front to the rear at the second bodyline from the bottom which is basically about 6” up. The front and rear will be narrowed. Run some tube around the fenders and tie it into the 2X6 (maybe 2X8) square tubing boatside/rock sliders. The boatside/rock sliders will also have the roll cage tied into it and also be tied into the frame. The roll cage will fit under the top which will get reworked to fit the narrowed rear and also fit a convertible top also (keep the rain and snow out). Seats will be either Corbeau or Mastercraft along with a new rear seat which will be removable. Cover the inside with either bedliner or try the lizard skin and paint it medium gray.

Outside covered in bedliner and painted in a combination of the ACU and the new Multi-cam camo.