The 6" channel iron from the bed fit perfectly within the frame rails to close up the rear of the frame.




Everything is cut and ready for a trial fit. No fancy tools here, just a 4 1/2" angle grinder from Harbor Freight.




Mocked up and almost ready to weld


Here we cut the bed and placed back onto the frame. I had a lot of extra angle iron and channel iron from the remaining portion of the bed to create a new rear bumper.

 

Awesome. And you have tubeless tires, even better. No widowmakers to deal with.

 

Nice job on your conversion!

 

Have you been watching roadkill garage? lol

Nice save on the truck btw

 

I hadn't ever heard of the show Roadkill Garage, so you peaked my curiosity and I looked it up on YouTube. This truck is so cool, but way above my abilities. Here is the episode I am referring to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVs_...ature=youtu.be

 

I was able to use some old fencing that I refused to throw out last year to complete the bed. Next up, I am thinking this beast needs a pair of bullhorn style pipes and stacks.

 

How does it handle with the wheel base shortened that much? I've got an F500 and was thinking of doing the same thing.

 

Before I messed with it, the wheelbase was 150something inches and is now 103" and this beast rides as stiff as it did before (this has all springs - front and rear -and no shocks). In the next few weeks, I will probably remove the helper springs in the rear, as well as, a few from the regular stack to see if it will soften the ride and have some give......on the flipside, this thing can turn on a dime now.

 

Looks like fun. Nice Job

 

Nice job on that bed. Especially the side boards. Kind of an art deco look.

 

Wheels and Tires - I found an ad on Craigslist offering wheels and Firestone tires off an 1.5 ton International dump truck with 75% tread. The rear tires are 10r22.5 with an aggressive tread and the front two are 9r22.5 with highway tread. Not a bad investment for $275.

 

I found a set of wheels and Firestone tires for the beast. A local scrapped his 1.5 ton International dump truck and wanted $275 for the wheels and tires (75% tread). The rear tires have an aggressive tread and the fronts are a highway tread

 

Nice! Have you thought about painting the mirrors, grille and front bumper white to match? Or I like it as-is.

 

neat. I am anxious to know - How did you make out reducing the size of the spring packs - did it help out with the ride? I am thinking of removing all but 2 leafs and installing air bags.

 

I never changed any of the spring packs. It rides pretty stiff, but as I take it out more and more, I am getting used to it. I am actually thinking of adding 5" lift blocks to the front to level it out.