I'll try to explain the best I can, just stay with me as I'm bouncing a lot of ideas in my head.

History: I have three OBS Fords.

• 86 F150 Base - 2WD, Single Cab, Long Bed, I6, 3Spd, non AC (Proven 130k miles). My great grandfather's truck bought new in 86 and been in the family ever since. Sentimental value.
• 87 F250 Base - 4WD, Single Cab, Long Bed, 460, 5Spd, AC (103k miles but can't confirm except thats what title and odometer says). Just bought the other day.
• 92 F150 XLT - 4WD, Ext. Cab, Short Bed, 5.0, Auto, AC, power everything (Proven 90k miles). Wife's grandfather's truck. Sentimental value, she won't let me sell it

Goal: Have one truck that can haul a single car trailer with a Jeep behind it. Using the 87 as a donor and upgrading either the 92 or 86. I want to use one to haul a vehicle and the other will just be a driver for weekends and because both were relatives trucks that are hard to get rid of. So I'll look like Samford and Sons with two trucks at the garage when it's all said and done



Ideas: The 87 was a farm truck since 03 till now. It's rough, rust in the bed, small rust in the cab corners, dents in one door and hood. Interior has not cracks but is faded. Lots of dirt on the floor. But has all the drivetrain I want for now to make an old OBS tow rig



I have attachment issues with the two other trucks. So I thought to take all sheet metal from the 86 and swap to the 87. I would need to figure out the cab issues with the firewall arrangements from an 87 to 86 and find an 86 dash with AC since my 86 dash has no vents. Not sure about electronics either, but possibly have to figure out HVAC controls and dash instruments. I do know the 87 should have a mechanical speedo like my 86. If not I could do custom gauge setup in the 86 dash. Both frames are good on both trucks but instead of having to swap the drivetrain from the 87 to 86 and axles and figure out the coil vs leaf front end issue, I thought swapping sheet metal would be better.




My other option is to swap the 460 carb motor in the 92, replacing the EFI 5.0, swap in the sterling 10.25 and then figure out a coil vs. leaf front issue.



With the 87 having a dana 50, my plan is to find a dana 60 to swap into what ever truck I plan to use, so the coil vs leaf issue I can cross that road later.



I want AC for comfort and I thought about swapping the 460 in the extended cab for extra room. But I always wanted to take the 86 to become a 4WD and and to replace the I6 with something with a little more grunt.



I will be hauling this around once I finish it

 

If you want to use what you have, the F250 is the better foundation to build on. Strip it down, repair, and prep for the use you have in mind and swap the sheet metal from the 86. When you are done you will have a truck that you have turned every nut and bolt on and will have absolute knowledge of what is good.

IMHO it would be much simpler and cost effective to sell the 86 and 87 and buy the truck you want in the first place instead of building it. Even if it costs $4000 to $8000 to get the truck you want you would probably still come out ahead, not to mention you would have more time to build your jeep.

 

The real question is what does the Jeep and trailer weigh? The 5.0 will do the job with the right gears, and you can get more power with relative ease. I bet you would find that the factory tow rating is not much different between the '87 and '92. Ford really down-rated the 5-speed trucks compared to the autos. It's surprising how little some F250 configurations are rated for.

 

Rough estimate on the Jeep will be 4500lbs.

Trailer will probably weigh 2000lbs.

Not sure I want to sell the 86 and 92. The 86 I can remember riding around in it when I was younger. The 92 I would sell but it's the wife's. I'll probably leave it alone and work the 5.0 over. Take the 87 and 86 and make one nice truck.

Thats the way I'm leaning now although if we ever use the 92 to haul anything, I may have to pull the 5.0 and put something better in

 

Go with the 460.

 

Those early 460's were pretty gutless, but will likely pull a trailer with much more ease then either other motor. (enter the I6 gods and how that motor is the ultimate everything). The torque will help keep things moving down the road better then other options.

 

Freshen up that 460, swap the good sheet metal from the 87 to the 86 and be done. You'll have the appearance of the old truck you inherited with the ability to pull what you need. Plus you'll leave the wife's baby untouched which should keep her happy.

 

Yep.. put the sheet metal from one of the other trucks on the F250 rolling chassis, that is the better tow vehicle by far.

 

I say keep the 92 as the every day driver, family truck

Use the 87 460 truck as your powertrain and swap the 86 body onto it

 

The 300 works great if you have more money than time


Going slow up hills won't kill you.

 

I just compared firewalls at the engine bay and they are pretty much equal. I'll have to cut a few holes and plug others but the heater box was my concern and it looks like it will work.

I'll have to pull dashes next to compare.

Referring to the 86 and 87

 

No, but once you get some power under your foot you will wonder WHY I didn't upgrade sooner.

 

And then you get to the gas station and wish you hadn't because you can't keep your foot out of it ...

That's the problem with power ... The more you have the more it's used, the more it's used the more it costs!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

Spent plenty of time in two modular v10 (a 2v and 3v) company trucks and 8.1L van based busses. I know what happens when you let them rev. I don't want to pay to feed that.

 

How bad is the rust on the cab? Won't the body lines match up if you just swap beds and fenders forward between the 86 and 87?