So it has already begun. I have had enough of trying to fix my frame and the shoty welding that was don on the front of my truck when I had the solid axle done last summer. Here is a list of the reasons I am starting litteraly from scratch and building it right, unfortunately it will be the second time I have built the truck. But it will be the last time for a long time that I do anything like it on this truck. SO on with the list.


1. I am sick of the truck bottoming out ever time I hit a bump
2. I have been planning on putting a V8 in it for a while
3. Most of the welds that Reg did are junk and look like chewed bubble gum.
4. The rear of the frame rotted out
5. Last but not least the frame is just junk.

So here are the plans for the new truck. Frame is going to be built out of 2x3 3/16 rectangle tubing. The engine is going to be coming out of a 87 F350 and the engine is a 351w.

Axles are ford 9" out back and I am in the process of hunting down a Dana 60 for up front.

Transmission is going to be C6 with a reverse valve body, and the tease is going to be a NP 203/205 doubler.


Anyway pics will follow later tonight.

 

Why not just get a new frame? It might be cheaper. But cool project.

 

I agree, will be nice though.

 

Sounds like a good project... can't wait for some progress pics!

 

looking forward to seeing some progress.

 

sounds badass. hope it goes well!

 

Hey guys quick update. I took a bunch of pics the other night but my computer craped out so I will see if I can post them from work.

So here is what I have done so far. I was able to track down a C6 4wd tranny for free. I will be picking it up this weekend as well found a NP 205 so hopefully that will be in the shop this weekend as well.


Will post pics later.

 

Wow, sounds great, I have thought along this line too, new box tubing frame 5.0L, 5 sp, etc.
Why the C-6, I know it will stand up to your foot pressure… but it is a three speed.
When you are cruising on the hi-way, OD is a good thing.
My first 5.0L project ('88 STX, short box 4x4, TCI C-4) was great and fun to drive but on the road and at speed the rpms were to high for good gas milage; I know what’s gas milage when you have a 351W.

Good Luck with the project, sounds great and PLEASE post as many pics as possible or send me some at “nnf000@gmail.com”.

Oh ya, make sure it is a “W” not an “M”…!

 

I was looking through your threads a couple weeks back and realized you never posted up your diesel. Get pics of that too!

 

It is a "W" I know the guy who is selling it. and I will keep you posted.

It is going to take a bit to get it going full speed becasue I need to get a plasma cutter and a tube bender before things can really start making head way. The plasma cutter should be bought with in the next month and the tube bender with in the next 3 months. If everything goes as planned. I also need to get my hands on BendTech pro, this way i can cut out all of the geuss work. That time I have to wait to get those tools will give me ample time to do all the math work out what, how and were I want everything.

I was thinking something along the lines of the Toxic Green Truggy they did on Extreme only on a working mans salary. In stead of rockwells i will be running 60's. in stead of a big block 502 i will be running a small block 351W. The back will be douve tailed. the front I am not planning on it but we will see. But no matter what I will be taking my time doing it right the first time around and making sure everything works the way I want it to.

 

IM SO EXCITED FOR PICTURES.

 

Did they even offer an "M" 351 in 87/88?

 

Ok so I was on the local New Brunswick off road club forum last week and noticed that a guy was selling his buggy. So I thought I would look at the build and see what he had for sale. Turns out he is selling pretty much everything that had to do with the build. So I was able to knock off a whole bunch of tools and materials that I needed for my build.

I ended up getting a protools 105 bender with 1" 1 1/2" as well as a 2 " dies, over 80' of 1 1/2" tubing as well as NP 203/205 doubler with the north west fab doubler kit, as well as phantom gauges. Covering everything from speedo and rpm to air psi and fuel psi. In total there is 8 gauges. More then enough to tell me how my 351W is working.

Anyway my computer is still down and I can not up load pics from my iPad so hopefully this week I will be able to post pics of the progress along with build progress.

 

So I finally found the photo bucket app, so now I have no reason not to keep you guys up dated.nso I am going to start with the pick of why I started this build.

First is the shitty job the guy who did my original sas pics.



There is a few more pics but you guys get the idea. Now on with the build pics.

I pulled everything off of the frame over the course of the summer. And then rolled the frame in to the garage with the engine a Dana 44 under it. I then removed the engine tranny tease and Dana 44.once that was done I had the task of turning the half rotted frame in to smaller manage or pieces.




Once that was done I proceeded to make my new frame.






Now keep in mind the is just the portion of the frame that is under the cab and the hood. The back half will be tubed out with 1 1/2 x.120 wall d.o.m. I had to stop here because I ran out of 2x3 rectangular tubing. The basic farm is there but there is still a fair amount that needs to be finished like all of the joint need fish plates. As well as the boat sides need to get started but I am waiting on the bender and tubing to do that. So all in all I am just scratching the surface of this project but I hope to at least have it on its own weight no later then the end of the second week in march. This way I can have it finish welded by mid April. The engine and drive train in by end of may and then run the wiring and interior no later then mid to late June so I can at least get some use out of it befor next fall. So if anyone is in the Oromocto New Brunswick area and wants to lend a hand it would be greatly appreciated.


Also here is a pic of the C6 I picked up for free. So the money I was going to spend on buying one I can now put towards a monster in a box kit. :)



Any and all ideas and thoughts are welcome.

 

Nice work so far!

 

Looks interesting. Looking forward to seeing more pictures.

 

Nice! Progress!

 

Nice work! When is the estimated finish date?

 

seeing as the frame is off the one jackstand, it looks like it isnt square.

welds look good but if the frame isnt square you're gonna have to redo them

 

No it is the floor that's uneven. I messured and cross messured it is square.trust me I chased it down trying to get it as square as possible in the end iris a 8th out on the left hand side. Nothing the suspension won't soak up.

 

I am hoping and praying it is done no later them mid October.

 

Just a bit of a update tonight I will be getting some 3/16 sheet metal so I can begin to make my fish plates and get this part of the build done. Then once I am finished putting the fish plates on it will be on to body mount points and boat sides,

 

Also just a side note. I am posting everything from my iPad and IPhone. So if there is a weird spelling mistake it is auto correct not me being a dumb a$$.

 

Should be beef. Like the fully boxed frame. Can't wait to see more.

 

Update- got the fish plates welded in. Just waiting or the snow o stop for a few min so that I can do some more measuring on the cab so I can start building and locating the body mounts. Anyway here is some of the pics from today's progress.


The template.


All eight fish plates cut and ready to be welded in place. These are made out of 3/16 sheet.


And the fish plates welded in.




Anyway until I can get my hands on some more 3/16 plate that's all the progress for now. Let me know what you guys think.

Cheers