This is a truck I am doing for a coworker. 69 Ranger with a repaint from about the mid eightes. Plan for the truck is new or redone everything exept the body. FE has been rebuilt by Eller machine in Arlington tx and will be fuel injected; bored and stroked to over 430 cubic inches. Heidts heavy duty front end; tubular 1 1/4 upper and 1 1/2 lower control arms, coil overs with 500lbs springs, dropped spindles, Wilwood disk brakes, and 1 inch sway bar. Custom stainless fuel cell. Mustang bucket seats that I am going to "rework" to get more room in the cab. Heat and AC. 18x10 with a 285/50/18 out back with a 18x8 and probably a 235/50/18 in front. He hasn't totally decided on wheels but will probably go with American Racing cast center Torque thrusts.

Here is the Heidts kit he used. Not cheap but holy crap this is a nice kit.

1965-1972 FORD F-100 Heavy Duty Superide II - HEIDTS

It is supposed to be a bolt in kit but I welded it in. I ended up moving it forward about .300 because if I used the bolt holes the directions reference in the frame for location the wheel base would have been incorrect. Note to everyone....Plumb bob everything to ensure you are in the right place before installation.


When I got the truck it had 3 inch lowered DJM beams on it with disc brakes. Rear had the shackle flip in front and extended hangers front and rear.

So far I have removed the old "new" suspension, cut out the factory cross member, and welded in the Heidts front end and boxed the frame just behind the new cross member. Boxed section has 3 inch lightening holes. Just going from the dropped beams to this kit lowered the truck about 4 more inches.

Next is to notch the rear frame, clean up the frame, then send it for powder coat. After the frame leaves for blast and PC I will clean up the underside of the bed and the cab then coat each with Raptor liner. Then I will clean up the firewall and paint it the original red color. Once the frame is finished I plan on putting the cab back on the frame, installing the engine and tranny, then routing the exhaust. More to come. Enjoy the pics....

Before and after swap

3 inch beams



Heidts



Process...

Level truck on stands and find the wheelbase.





Cut out old and fit new.

 

Final clean up, prime before weld, and boxing plates.





welding in..







After rosette welding and smoothing holes...





And all in with temp primer....







With sway bar

 

Gonna tackle the back next...

 

Very nice. They don't make a kit for the f250?

 

Man, you could almost make a living from doing this. Happy to follow along watching you again.
You and Hackster ought to go in together on a Shop. Give me a minute. I'll think of a good name for your business.

 

Nice additions so far.


....what does your coworker plan to do with the DJM beams & rear shackles? I've been kicking around the idea of installing this setup on my '69 F100. I just hate to pay the new price for their beams with the silvervein (hammertone) powder coating that I do not like and they won't sell the new beams in just plain steel.

 

It does make one curious as to why. They hiding something? Can they be stripped?

 

That frame sure would look good in light to medium grey powdercoat... even silver.

 

Thanks.

I'm sure you could make it work. Scotts hot rods front end might be better for you though. They will make anything and you could get the right bolt pattern for the 8 lug if you wanted to keep that.

Thanks Jeff. I actually have started a business. Gotta start somewhere? The name is Comet Fab and Auto (reference...my other and first hot rod my 65 Comet). I have 3 more "jobs" lined up after this one. I am also about to become a distributor for one of the major wire harness companies. I will put it in my sig if allowed by the forum when the deal is done. I will be extending a nice discount to members.

I could definitely get along with Sean; too bad we are a couple thousand miles from each other. I think he is going to start a shop as well.


Thanks man.

He is going to sell everything as a package. Its all new with very few miles on it. I can find out all the details of what he actually has and get a price if you want.

The shackles are staying on the truck though.

That is a great idea; I like it. Not sure if I can convince him though. IMO if he went that direction I would really need to fill all the holes. It would be too noticeable. That's a lot of work too fill those holes; I did my frame and I think there was like 30 or more holes on each side. I'm pretty sure he will just go with a flat or satin black but I will see what he says.

I was also trying to convince him to let me paint the engine a satin red including using the stock air filter housing on top of the EFI. Right now the block is just black with aluminum heads and intake. Regardless, I think he might do it.






On another note: a couple of things I did not mention about the build. Hydroboost brakes and Ididit tilt steering column. American Autowire harness

 

I have the front suspension/spindles on my '69 from a '77 F100 with all new rotors, calipers, hoses, kingpins, bearings, etc., that I installed 2 years ago. I'm really just looking for the beams but, you can ask him about it, if you would. Thanks.

About six years ago, DJM would sell the beams with no finish on them --not anymore.

 

I'm gonna watch this build! Any idea how much difference in height with the Heidts kit?

 

I'll see if he wants to sell just the beams.

Going from the 3 inch dropped beams to the heidts looks like it was about 4 inches lower. Ill take measurements from the rocker to the ground once we get the engine in and back together.

 

Very nice fab work!

 

very nice work

 

So what are you doing about the grille? The front end of any vehicle is the focal point. This is what attracts looky-loos. Not to mention those who want to see the "Truck" If you can't attract them, you can't show off your truck.
I'm currently working on a 69 Ranger grille. All original and show quality.
P.M. me if interested.
I'm the best around, you'll pay more to have it done by someone who "Polishes" vs. Someone who restores.
I have been restoring grilles for 11 years now. Absolutely no competition for the price.