I have a 1990 regular cab long box that im building for the 1/4 and 1/8. It's a turbo build so power is not a concern but I am worried about the weight I'm just wondering what all you have done to shave some weight and/ or how much I can cut off. Thanks in advance

 

Convert to manual locks and windows will save some. Ditch AC components. If she is a driver, you will want to keep the flooring so there isn't much else to take off of it I believe.

 

I currently have the dash pulled out of it along with all of the audio and hvac components. Pretty much a steering wheel and a rocker panel left lol. Is there a manual window conversion kit to sell I just swapped out the door on my s10 but not many bricks still around at the pick and pulls. I'm also wondering if it would be possible to hollow out the bed

 

Do regular cabs have the big weight bolted to the back of the cab like Supercabs do?

 

Sounds like you need more power if concerned about 500lbs.

 

I am engaged in a passive competition with myself to get weight down on my half-ton. Albeit for different reasons as you: My goal is to increase the payload I can take to the county landfill.
Some parts I have removed without any serious reduction in the functionality of the vehicle:
-Front fuel tank & associated hardware
-Both sway bars
-Spare tire
-Door panels
-Headliner
-Floor rug & insulation
-Trim panels behind the seats
-Front bumper (did not remove entirely, replaced with a considerably lighter C-channel)
-Bench seat removed and replace with a random bucket seat
-Tailpipe, cat, & intermediate pipe(muffler ends right behind the cab, as an added bonus the tailpipe can't get smushed by backing into stuff)
-A.I.R. system and associated plumbing, hardware
-Quad shocks & associated hardware
-Hood latch cable
-Kick panel trims
...and some other junk I can't remember at the moment. Last time I rolled across the scale she was at 4250 pounds w/ ~15 gallons of fuel, which is pretty light for a 4x4 with 8' bed. Thought gutting the interior would make it loud and uncomfortable, but it's made surprisingly little difference- can still maintain a 25*F temp spread with both the heat and A/C and that's with all the stock un-tinted glass.

Yes, mine do at least

 

Thought they did. But if I said so...

 

LOL, I've been there and I feel ya

 

Swap in a 1980-1981 "Swiss Cheese" frame lol. That or take a 3" hole saw to your existing frame. Ford thought it was a good idea, at least briefly when they were trying to make the 1980-up trucks lighter than the 1979-older pickups. The plastic fender liners were a big deal in 1980 for weight reduction.

 

sorry for the late response im forsure going to give that list a shot. I'm far from lacking in power with my 78mm t4 but with the current state of small tire racing you need to take what ever you get

 

Being that your truck had a speedo cable, I would almost swap in a 9 inch and carry extra 3rd members with various ratios.
Running the 1/8 today? 5.38s
1/4? Throw in the 4.11s
carshow and cruise? 3.08s

 

Small tire Racing, and you pick a truck? They give more hp for that heavy?

 

depends on the year, its for resonating the cab from noise from the back panel. My 1996 single cab has it