Hey guys. long time poster on the 335 engine forum as I have a 400 in a 72 Galaxie. Don't get much need to browse these other pages.
BUT... considering a long term project and need advice before even starting.
Just discovered the Ford centurion (not brought out over here in OZ). I always liked the Bronco but only 2 doors. Centurion looks the part but really want the closed in back like an F truck and a separate tray. I want the back wheel just behind the rear door and the short tray/chassis, know what I mean?
What would be the best frame and body to achieve the 4 door 4x4 with compact tray?
Want RHD so going to use local as long as they aren't too pricey, otherwise has to be built before 1st Jan 1984 to bring over.
Suggest an F350 frame of some kind to start off yeah so I can get the HD axles and 460?
I have no intention of major towing so don't need large tray for 5th wheel etc.
Also diesel over here is dearer then gasoline so not a lot of incentive for that. Would rather build a cranky 460 and run on LPG (propane) which is a lot cheaper like on my 400.
If I had to go electronic 460 and get the EO4D, not a major, and that would get me a better interior but probably make a swap more involved and the starting parts more expensive. Not the cheapies over here like in the ol' US of A.
Thoughts anyone?

 

The Centurion is not a product of FoMoCo, it's an aftermarket conversion performed by Centurion Vehicles of Michigan.

 

yup agreed. After a little digging before this post, found Centurion was the aftermarket engineer/builder. Not a lot made so no way they would engineer RHD models for the Australian market. Apologies if it came across otherwise but I still thought it appropriate to call it a ford.
Still need help on the main project though. Can you assist?

 

When first introduced, Centurion drove their conversions nationwide, stopping at selected Ford dealers to show them off...and in the hopes that the dealers would sign a franchise agreement to sell them.

1989: Centurion showed up at Santa Monica (S/M) Ford (CA), where I was working as a back counter partsguy. S/M was the largest selling Ford dealer in the world, but they weren't interested.

At that time S/M had the Hertz contract, 1000's of vehicles were 'courtesy' delivered to Hertz throughout CA. For handling the paperwork, FoMoCo paid S/M $100.00 for each courtesy delivery.

 

Is there a reason why you want to convert one of these old trucks to something that you can buy already in a newer truck? It's going to take a lot of modfications to make one. People usually find a crew cab pickup, and set the crew cab on a shorter frame and then make a flatbed for it. There would be no short bed that would fit correctly.

1. A crewcab is going to be hard to find and expensive. I do not know about Australia but over here in the states we have "crazes" were something gets started and then everyone has to follow and have one too. Right now crewcabs are part of a craze, finding the largest truck you can and jacking it way up in the air with big tires and black rims

2. Another craze over here are 4 door shortbed pickups just like you want. But they are all newer. Pickups have become people haulers, not stuff haulers. You cannot hardly buy a new pickup with a single cab and a 8ft bed, unless you buy a stripped fleet model. Ford is going to sell what the masses want, and that is it. And the little trailer manufacturers are making out too. It's very common to see someone taking their trash to the dump in a brand new 4 door pickup, pulling a small trailer behind it with all the trash in it, the little "bed" in the back of the truck being empty.

 

Hey Franklin.
Thanks for the input, it depends I suppose on how much you would expect to assemble one in the US vs. here in Australia.
F trucks here in OZ are hideously expensive. In regards to late model trucks, Not only do they have to be converted to RHD (anything younger than 20 years old I believe), at somewhere between 20-30k, they also attract a luxury car tax (see web link below for an aussie car sales website for example), very much a prestige vehicle.
Older ones were produced here for some time and they hold their value as they are factory RHD as well as very robust trucks.
I agree, some of the newer ones would fit the bill nicely with an alloy tray.


New & Used Ford F350 cars - Find Ford F350 cars for sale - carsales.com.au

Closest I have seen was this one below and honestly probably would need further investigation. I don't have the money to buy outright (or at all really) which is why it was going to be a project. This one may not even have a 460 in it, very likely a 351C but that is minor(I hope-regulatory not the fit)
At the end of the day, if I get enough info about the desired chassis to start doing estimates, etc., it may not be cost effective, in which case I will drop it like a poo covered stick.


1984 Ford F-350 Ute | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Mandurah Area - South Yunderup | 1045413286

keep it coming guys!!

 

Centurions were built a bit up the road from me, in White Pigeon, MI. You can still see a few running around here.

 

As a thought, would it be possible to source a four door/4wd truck with rear end damage as a donor and shorten the chassis, move the axle forward etc.? As long as the chassis shape would allow it of course.
this would probably be a lot easier then trying to source two different wrecks.
Thoughts anyone?

 

Essentially shorten the chassis to make a LWB into a SWB? Yeah sure you could do it, just like you can stretch a chassis as well, but you will need to get it engineered.

Pretty sure you wouldn't need an engineers cert to bobtail the back off it though.

 

Yeah realise that, although if I did a proper job on it I'd just chance my arm at the rego. Even with some legit engineering involved there is the potential to be cheaper than a body swap. It would depend on the truck I reckon.