I finally decided to join FTE after spending much time looking up information. Currently in the middle of rebuilding a 1997 F250 that will be an f350 parts wise but still legally an f250. I started with a 1994 f250 regular cab longbed xlt 4x4 with a 351 auto that had 109k on it. I traded a neighbor firewood for the truck. Always liked the truck as I'm a big fan of OBS fords but it was a shame it sat in his yard for 5 years and the underside rusted right out. The plan was to use it on the woodlot to haul firewood and tools but I soon found an extremely clean chassis for $500 from a 1997 f250 that had a 351 in it as well but was removed and thats when the real project began. The chassis had all parts on it minus the body motor and tranny. I stripped the new chassis down to just the frame removing all lines wires and parts and cleaned the old oil off it. Because of the little amount of rust due to oiling I was able to use a small spot blaster to remove all the rust (still took a couple weekends). I used kem bond primer and some generic chassis paint to coat it. I contemplated using POR15 but have had great luck with kem bond on other equipment. After cleaning the axles and suspension I soon decided I wanted nothing to do with fixing the d50 and I wanted to swap in a dana 60. After a month of searching I found a set of complete axles from a 1996 powerstroke. The axles came with all suspension and steering components as well as 2 new dick cepek 35's and the driveshafts. paid $850 for it all which I felt was a good price. Once I started to disassemble the suspension and steering I realized something I overlooked. The leaf springs were skyjacker softride 4" lift springs all around. the truck came with a drop bracket on the track bar bracket, drop pitman arm, drop sway bar links, cv driveshafts, steering damper shocks on the rear leafs, and triple shock mounts on the front. Now I'm very happy with my purchase. Currently I am cleaning up the lift components, installing new bushings, tie rod ends, and ball joints and am about to install everything. As you can see my small rebuild is soon turning into a full blown restoration which unfortunately I should of started this project on an f350 powerstroke with a zf5. I still have a ton of body work and a tough decision to swap a cummins in or not as I've always liked diesels but don't desire to pay the going premium to drive around in a status symbol. OBS powerstrokes are pushing into the teens for decent truck and about 7k for a rusted out truck up here Hope to get picture up soon

 

I should mention that the truck will be used to haul a 4000lb tractor a few times a year, a 4 place snowmobile trailer, and a 12000 lb excavator 300 yards down my road from the garage to woodlot. If the excavator goes elsewhere someone else with a class a will haul it as it as I don't yet have my class a and that is going to much over the f250 ratings and more than I want to throw at the 351 and e4od.

 

Have any pics?