Skill_Kills
Member
So, I got a killer deal on this truck for $300 and decided it deserved a 7.3 with way too much power. It deserves a build thread so here it is.
Starting off in the weeds behind my buddies shop is the first picture i took, He was looking for glass for his '46 and brought this home instead since it had good glass and the frame was dang near perfect too. he didnt want another project so i picked it up for $300 =)
Hauling it home
Bare frame and axles i was going to use from a '90 F350
After sitting bare frame for a little while i found a deal on a wrecked early 99 2wd 6spd. Yanked the motor out of that and we found that the frame height would be ideal to just use the front section on top of the 53 frame.
Some old timer said i couldnt take a 7.3 out without lifting the cab.... I showed him =)
Heres the start to lining the two up
First time with the motor in and the cab on
Putting the 10.5 in. It lined up with a couple existing holes which made that easy compared to the front
At this point the fun parts started to show up since it was around black friday/christmas time. Here's the S486 compared to stock =)
Parts from Ballistic Fab for front radius arms. NOTE TO ANYONE READING!!! DONT BUY FROM THEM. IT TOOK 2 MONTHS FOR THOSE PARTS! I learned my lesson twice.
Back to boxing and bracing (you can see the brackets on the Ibeam too)
Radius arms done. I'm kinda proud of these things. mostly because of how much of a pain they were to get lol
Everything boxed and braced to the back of the cab (kegs in the background are going to be the fuel tanks)
Back in with the motor and cab back on to work on the floor and firewall
Comp 910s, ARP studs, pushrods, and other goodies installed to work on clearances
Important donor section from the 99 cut out
Cab mounts placed from the 99
Start of a new floor and trans tunnel. Tunnel is made from piping from our feed mill
seperate 8" piping just for around the exhaust
Pedal placements
Had to cut the mesh out just to get enough clearance
Heres the firewall complete from underneath. Pretty proud of this too.
Mounted a seat from an '85 f150 i have out back and steering wheel positioned as well
Traction bars made and driveshaft shortened up to fit
Frame was all boxed in and motor went on for the last time after the chassis saver dried. Putting in the sexy new Southbend clutch
Finished up some stuff on the motor before the cab started to get in the way again. Fuel lines all ran back to the pump as well
Cab on for the last time!!!
It looks big in there about now
Full Force 250/200s going in to finish the installation of new parts
Brakes and steering all done.
Everything still fits back on the front. Tires will need to get swapped for something smaller
Radiator is a little tall too, but it looks like powerstroke vans came with slightly shorter rads in them
Thats how she sits currently! I've kept every part of it Ford so far. Trying to keep it that way too
Starting off in the weeds behind my buddies shop is the first picture i took, He was looking for glass for his '46 and brought this home instead since it had good glass and the frame was dang near perfect too. he didnt want another project so i picked it up for $300 =)
Hauling it home
Bare frame and axles i was going to use from a '90 F350
After sitting bare frame for a little while i found a deal on a wrecked early 99 2wd 6spd. Yanked the motor out of that and we found that the frame height would be ideal to just use the front section on top of the 53 frame.
Some old timer said i couldnt take a 7.3 out without lifting the cab.... I showed him =)
Heres the start to lining the two up
First time with the motor in and the cab on
Putting the 10.5 in. It lined up with a couple existing holes which made that easy compared to the front
At this point the fun parts started to show up since it was around black friday/christmas time. Here's the S486 compared to stock =)
Parts from Ballistic Fab for front radius arms. NOTE TO ANYONE READING!!! DONT BUY FROM THEM. IT TOOK 2 MONTHS FOR THOSE PARTS! I learned my lesson twice.
Back to boxing and bracing (you can see the brackets on the Ibeam too)
Radius arms done. I'm kinda proud of these things. mostly because of how much of a pain they were to get lol
Everything boxed and braced to the back of the cab (kegs in the background are going to be the fuel tanks)
Back in with the motor and cab back on to work on the floor and firewall
Comp 910s, ARP studs, pushrods, and other goodies installed to work on clearances
Important donor section from the 99 cut out
Cab mounts placed from the 99
Start of a new floor and trans tunnel. Tunnel is made from piping from our feed mill
seperate 8" piping just for around the exhaust
Pedal placements
Had to cut the mesh out just to get enough clearance
Heres the firewall complete from underneath. Pretty proud of this too.
Mounted a seat from an '85 f150 i have out back and steering wheel positioned as well
Traction bars made and driveshaft shortened up to fit
Frame was all boxed in and motor went on for the last time after the chassis saver dried. Putting in the sexy new Southbend clutch
Finished up some stuff on the motor before the cab started to get in the way again. Fuel lines all ran back to the pump as well
Cab on for the last time!!!
It looks big in there about now
Full Force 250/200s going in to finish the installation of new parts
Brakes and steering all done.
Everything still fits back on the front. Tires will need to get swapped for something smaller
Radiator is a little tall too, but it looks like powerstroke vans came with slightly shorter rads in them
Thats how she sits currently! I've kept every part of it Ford so far. Trying to keep it that way too
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