I would join the party, but I don't have the time or money.

 

Picking this up tomorrow!



850 has blown head gasket comes with another motor and is king pin Dana 60 upfront! I'll still make it 2wd with a leaf sprung mono beam...smokin deal

 

I would NOT do the F450 front axle. They sit way high and weigh a ton. I would go with the F250/F350 independent front end with coils

 

The F450 suspension is MASSIVE... I was just under one looking at the ZF cross member. The axle itself should work just fine though, on regular F250/350 front leafs. Of course you will want to ditch the 10 lug dually hubs, but as I said earlier, if it were ME, I would find a monobeam. The older (pre 1980) F350 monobeams would be 8 lug, but would have the steering linkage behind the axle, and probably a real headache to change over. Not sure if any of the 80-86 F350 2x4's had monobeams, this would be the easiest.

 

Will most likey fabricate a new setup, using the leafsprings style

 

It will be 5 lug, and using built up 9" rear

 

Mr CUBE Nitrous Ford Bronco - wild ride! - YouTube

 

Just use an F450 axle and hacksaw off every other lug...

 

got the truck, wouldn't start, and will start to begin tearing into it tonight

i hear the f100/f150 early 80s frames are considerably lighter then the diesel mid-late 80s frames...how about the early broncos? will the regular cab bolt on to the bronco frame?

 

I don't think you really need to worry about frame strength, 1980-1981 F100-F350's had the swiss cheese frame and seem to hold up fine.

I do remember seeing pictures of an F150 cab on a Bronco frame, or a Bronco on an F150 frame.. either way it should work but the length will be off.

 

The length of the cabs are different? Or just in general on the bronco? What about fiberglass panels? Anyone experiment with that?

Here's how she sits today

 

 

Wow. You are just south of me. The bronco frame is really short and would require a custom bed(very short). The front mounts for the pickup cab bolts to the bronco frame but not sure about the rear mounts.


Those IDIs are reliable motors, but not so good pumped. My 450ci PSD puts out 470hp/1000tq at 35psi boost with minimal mods. If the truck didn't weigh 8200lbs with a worn out unlimited slip, it would get better than 16 flats in the 1/4.

If I had that truck and planned to drag it I would...

Cut the frame to take a standard steel short bed with fiberglass bedsides from Fiberwerx to cover the slicks.
Gut the cab and run aftermarket gages.
Go to town on the inside of the body and bed with a hole/saber saw.
Plexiglass rear and side windows
Monobeam front.
Keep the Sterling rear axle and add a Detroit locker. Plenty strong.
Convert the rear suspension to four link with coil overs.
Rebuild the E4OD myself with some Suncoast/Transgo/Sonnax/Alto parts. (Just like I did for my 4r100. I have the special tools) and would run the E4OD on a Baumannator controller
Ditch the IDI for a Cummins. Much as I love my PSD, If I had the money, my Superduty would have a Cummins in it.

Just sayin...

 

The reason I'm using the idi platform is because it's an old, looked over, under powered foundation. With the appropriate mods I feel fuel is the only limiting factor. I love these old motor and just wanna push it to the limits...

Thanks for the other input! It's always welcome!

 

Besides that it'll be something different than everyone else has. Kind of curious to see how it comes out and how it performs.