Hello all. I am new to this forum and have to admit that I dont own a ford. I used to have a 94 Bronco. I did a SAS, 6 inch lift, 4.56 gears, detroit tru tracs ft/rr, 35 inch boggers and a slew of other mods. Unfortunetly I had to sell it and "replaced" it with a Suzuki Samurai and a jeep cherokee. ( It hurt to say that!) Now I am looking for a new truck.

I need it to be a daily driver, but I don't drive that much. Maybe an average of 5 miles a day for the entire month. It has to hold 4 people on acasion. ( A squeeze on the large bench would be fine.) I do like to go off roading and would like to do it more than I do. The type of off roading is mostly mud, but I realy like to do trails with a bit of everything. My Bronco was set up good for trails but it had all half ton stuff and just a 302. It had alot of problems with self distruction ( brought on by the driver.) Around here there is mostly swamps and guys generaly run 38s and larger.

I am looking at several truck right now. The one I have a question about is an 1982 F350, 4x4, 400 engine, auto and 39 inch swampers.

My questions are these...( and yes I did some searches and will continue them)

1) Is the 400 a good engine? What are the Pros and Cons of that engine?
2) The front end is a dana 50 TTB. I know that I dont want that. From what I have found' to do a SAS I basicaly take the front end off a 87-91 (I want a King pin front) and put it under the 82. Is there any thing else I need to know about this swap?
3) Is this a good truck? What are some problems with this year of truck?
I have read about holes in frames to make them lighter, but what other things are there?

The other trucks I am looking at are a...

79 F350, dana 70 rear, 60 front, 460 bb,c6 trany,and 44 inch boggers.

87 F150,one ton axles, 4.88 gears,460 bb, c6 trany, 208 transfer case, detroit in the rear and 44 inch boggers.

I am also looking at a couple of blazers, but I wont bring that blasphame here.

What ever truck I end up with I want to have one ton straight axles and at least a locker in the rear. If I have to do that after puchase that is fine .

Thanks for any help.

 

First off, there's nothing wrong with the XJ or the Sammy. Both are awesome foundations for an off road rig. With that said, on to your questions.

I have no personal experience with the 400. From what I've read, they can be built for some good HP and torque gains. Here's a 400 vs. 460 dyno chart a fellow FTE'er did.

The KP D60 is found in 85.5-91 F-350's, you're cutting out a few years. However, if you're not doing hardcore trail running and mostly in the mud, I'd stick with the TTB D50 and stuff a locker in the rear. If you're set on the swap, yes, it's a bolt in affair, but you'll have to fab up your track bar.

For me, I'd see which rig is going to need tires first. I'd also look at what kind of work I'm going to have to put into it. You don't mention gear ratios for the '79 or '82 and I'll take it neither is locked. So for those two you might be looking at a gear change and purchase of lockers. The '87 could use a little lower gearing in my opinion, but would work as-is. How are the trucks mechanically? Again, am I going to get a truck home and have to do a total engine rebuild? Axle rebuild? Etc. I'd also check out the quality of the lift in each truck. No sense throwing good money after bad.

Lastly, nothing wrong with mentioning the Blazers. I know the majority of us are die hard Ford nuts, but if something is going to suit your needs better, don't ignore it.

 

Welcome to FTE

As original, this truck would have had Dana 60's front and rear. Dana 70's were only installed in F350 2WD's.

400's: While some people love them, some don't. I'm one a the don'ts, because I saw 100's of them and know what occured.

This smogged up terd of an engine (the 1975/82 versions) was very prone to cracking cylinder heads even when the engines were nearly new.

Some were replaced under warranty, some were not. The dealership 'customer pay' cost (parts & labor) to replace the heads was $700.00 (!), which was a lotta money back then.

The heads not replaced by dealers may have been welded up.

 

The XJ and Sammi are both good plate forms, but for the time and money it would take to get either to handle the punishment I think it would be better to start with a one ton truck.In the end anything I build is going to have one ton stuff then I might as well start there. Right now my sammi has 29 inch swampers, spooled rear, locker up front, mild lift and a winch. And it is good for most things that I do. But it wont hold all the kids, and it wont go in the DEEP mud.

Only one truck of the three that I am looking at now has been regeared and only that one has a locker. Mechanicaly all are about the same. the 82 is the cheapest but needs a "u"joint fixed in the front axle ( sas and a locker in the rear). The 87 I would want to re-do the steering to a full cross over/ high steer, and the 79 I would want a locker in the rear.

The reason for the SAS is my bronco had that when I started but after a few years of pounding and replacing parts I switched to a straight axle and it hanlded the abuse better.