I have a 88 longbed with 42k miles that I picked up years ago to build into an all out drag radial racer and even built a 410w and a 75mm turbo. Well the motor never made it into the truck and now I wana use the truck for daily driving so Im going back to my roots and dropping a nice 2.3t in it.

I have tons of questions I hope to get answers to here and I will lay out my plan here for your gus opinions.

The motor is a fresh stock shortblock, worked over head with custom roller cam,Bobs intakes and header,custom .70/.63 turbo by Evergreen,LA3,35lb injectors {for now},Spec stg3,TC t5 and a NPR front mount. I will upgrade to Stingers PIMP setup at a later date.

I have a drum brake 8.8 out of an Explorer {1994 I was told} and I want to use it with a Aubrun Pro I have with the stock 3.55's. What kind of problems will I find putting this in place of the 7.5?

I have a set of drop beams that came with the truck but was told they may be for a 89+. How do I tell? {pix below} And if they are for a 89+ can I still use them on my 88?I want to have some good brakes on this thing using as many stock parts as possible. What are some of my options there?

I have a set of 90 Lincoln LSC 16" wheels with 225's on them that will be getting some powdercoating done.

Truck will be getting fresh white paint after its running and it already has a glass 2" hood. Truck has zero rust other than where factory paint has flaked off and the bare metal was exposed.Nothing more than surface rust you can wipe off with a finger.I will be replacing all bumpers,trim,grill and seals with new stuff from LMC. Im keeping all the chrome also. Gona be Oxford White with the top of the cowl hood done in sliver with lots of new chrome...I want it to shine like a piece jewelry!

For the interior I really want to do something special. Im changing the factory blue to either grey or black or maybe a combo of both. I have a set of leather SVO seats I would love to use.I already had a 2.3t 87 Ranger with a t5 and bench which made for some really crappy shifter handles...buckets it is this time. I plan to use Speedhuts Revolution GPS speedo and tach in my own dash cluster,Siruis radio and I want to try to swap in a newer Ranger column with tilt and a nicer steeringwheel if possible....is it?

I will be driving this truck over 100 miles aday once its done so a good sound system is a must.Since its a reg. cab and Im 6ft 1in and 260lbs there will be no room behind seats but I still would like to have a small sub. Was thinking since my exhaust will be routed down the passenger side of truck leaving the floor under my side open would that be a good place to actually cut the floor out and make a dropped floor under my seat for a small speaker box? Anyone done this yet? Nothing to big and tucked up well above the bottom of the frame.

On to the "before" pix!

 

Took the Centerlines off for good today and tried on the new shoes. They are nothing fancy by any means but Im diggin the period correctness of them. Needs drop bad.

 

Good progress this weekend.

Had to have my block helicoiled to fix two stripped headbolt holes. Got that fixed and put in some ARP studs.

Got the head bolted down,intakes,header,mounts and some other small things. Just need to set up my valvetrain and mount the turbo and then it gets dropped in the truck.





Also got most of the truck gutted since its goin in for paint on the 18th. Still need to powerwash and chem strip it. I want the best paint job I can get so Im removing everything I possibly can.It will be getting all new seals,rattle strips,trim,etc...





I still cant believe how clean and untouched this truck is. Pulled interior all out and didnt find one missing screw anywhere,I was almost upset to cut off the plastic splash guards on the doors behind the door panels because I have never seen a set untouched before!

 

When its time for physical assistance with the truck, you know who to call. I still owe you for all the help you gave (and are still giving) me on the Fairmont. I have Saturday, Sunday and Monday off usually.

 

Thanks Justin! I should have the truck back from paint the week between X-mas and New Years and Im on vacation that same week so thats when the wrenches will be flyin.

 

cool project!

are you worried about the helicoiled block?

 

Not at all. Holding 90ft lbs right now.

 

Awesome build, always wanted to do something like this and would still like to someday. Should be a fun and reliable truck when done.

 

going to make a sweet little daily, i like it!

 

pretty sweet build!

 

Recent pix from last few days. Spending a little more time on body before I drop it off this week {had to push back drop off date a couple days}.

I now have everything I need to do my hydro clutch swap for the T5 and motor is basicly ready to drop in which I may do before it goes for paint.

Stripped off all the factory blue and the rattle can stuff and took down to bare metal. Truck is gutted and only can find about 3 small dings that need to be fixed.











I powerwashed it the other day and did a quick detail under the hood for now. Started test fitting the front mount and marked where I need to do some trimming for a nice fit.

 

Bye bye...see you in 2 weeks!

 

Well back to finishing my motor tonite. Got the valvetrain all setup and closed up the engine for good. Turbo mounted,lines run and this is about all thats going on motor before it gets dropped in.


I realized tonite that since Im converting the truck to a manual steering box that I had no way to mount my alternator since it used the Merkur powersteering pump bracket. Well after some digging around I came up with my own adjustable mount with crap I had layin around. BTW, thats a Powermaster 140amp 1 wire that still needs a cleaning.







Nice clean setup,Im happy.

Also got the Explorer 8.8 on the table tonite and started gettin all its parts ready to go in. 3.55 gears,31 spline Auburn Pro,TrickFlow girdle and I think Im goin to change it to spring over since I dont want to have it lowered 4+ inches by putting it in spring under.

 

nice man

 

Went and snapped a couple pix on weds. Had to get a stock hood since the glass hood needed way to much work to make perfect and would of blown my budget out of the water. Didnt really need it with the 2.3 so to save me a bunch of time and money we decided to go with a stock hood. Should be in primer as I type this and getting color by Monday.
Also had the windshield replaced today as well.

 

Well since the site crashed and killed off all my other attachments I will just post those older pix here.

 

 

Well I went and looked at it today and other than the final rub its done. Turned out better than I had hoped! Here a couple teaser shots until I get it home in the next couple days and get some complete pix of the whole truck.






Next I need to find somebody who does decals. I want to have a stripe and the FORD on the tailgate done in black reflective tape like the old Mach1 and Boss stripes..

 

Paint look good!

 

sexy!..can't wait to see it together.

 

Went and picked it up last tuesday. Looks better than I had hoped!





Been workin on it all weekend and got some of the trim,decals,lights and 1st coat of bedliner on. Also swapped over to a manual steeringbox.

 

Nice! tailgate looks money. looking real good

 

Looks real good!

 

Here is photoshop idea #1. Remember Im going for a total 80's/70's Ford throwback look with this truck...

I love the matching font between the decal and the badges.

 

that would look sick... just what i want to do to my 88...