I have a regular cab, long bed 1988 F-250 4x4 with an EFI 460, ZFS542 5-speed, BW1356 t-case. The truck has a 3" body lift from the previous owner.
I will be swapping in a KP HP D60 front and 10.25" rear from a 1990 F-350, using the factory F-350 springs front and rear, with Sky's shackle flip/ shackle reversal setup, haven't decided on 3" or 5" yet, but this truck will be getting 38-40" tires on re-centered Humvee wheels. I want to keep this truck as low as possible with the largest tire possible, up to 40".
I have thought about doing a "drivetrain lift", I.E. raising the engine/tranny/t-case mounting points up to achieve a flat underside for the installation of a flat belly pan.
I have done searches for both clocking the 1356 UP, and the drivetrain lift. I don't really want to do either of the above.
What I am thinking is using some sort of spacer (like some 1" od .25" wall tubing in the shortest nescessary length) between the frame and the belly pan, or making a perimeter rail to stiffen the pan, as well as an x brace to accompany it, possibily making said perimeter rail tall enough to clear the bottom of the t-case. The pan would run the length of the lowest portion of the frame. Also, thanks to the body lift I can do psudo-boatsides w/ rock rails that tie into the frame.
Has anyone done anything like this, and if so, what is the best/ most durable way? What is the best way to bolt a pan up, while still being decently easy to remove? Also, is 3/16" steel plate thick enough, or too thick?
Empty weight is 5,060 lbs with 35" tires and aluminum wheels.
Thanks in advance for any input you guys may have. I can visualize this thing, but there's always a cleaner, better way out there.
I will be swapping in a KP HP D60 front and 10.25" rear from a 1990 F-350, using the factory F-350 springs front and rear, with Sky's shackle flip/ shackle reversal setup, haven't decided on 3" or 5" yet, but this truck will be getting 38-40" tires on re-centered Humvee wheels. I want to keep this truck as low as possible with the largest tire possible, up to 40".
I have thought about doing a "drivetrain lift", I.E. raising the engine/tranny/t-case mounting points up to achieve a flat underside for the installation of a flat belly pan.
I have done searches for both clocking the 1356 UP, and the drivetrain lift. I don't really want to do either of the above.
What I am thinking is using some sort of spacer (like some 1" od .25" wall tubing in the shortest nescessary length) between the frame and the belly pan, or making a perimeter rail to stiffen the pan, as well as an x brace to accompany it, possibily making said perimeter rail tall enough to clear the bottom of the t-case. The pan would run the length of the lowest portion of the frame. Also, thanks to the body lift I can do psudo-boatsides w/ rock rails that tie into the frame.
Has anyone done anything like this, and if so, what is the best/ most durable way? What is the best way to bolt a pan up, while still being decently easy to remove? Also, is 3/16" steel plate thick enough, or too thick?
Empty weight is 5,060 lbs with 35" tires and aluminum wheels.
Thanks in advance for any input you guys may have. I can visualize this thing, but there's always a cleaner, better way out there.