I need a 4x4 in the worst of ways...I live in hickville usa...mountains all around are about the only thing to do around here: muddin', hunting, campin', etc. I've been about tempted to just build a lifted 70s F-150 instead of a stang for now. And Mustangs are all I've ever owned. My mom's Envoy is total crap off the paved road. And my '66 mustang goes better than my dads sorry old truck. No one in my family has anything to go beat around on. It just flat out sucks because I am big hunter. I can get about a 78 F-150 4x4 dirt cheap from my uncle. It needs a new engine(have a 400) and a bed. Besides some int/ext bodywork and paint work that is it. I could have about 6000 to blow on such a project but would mean no mustang daily driver...I must wonder if it would be worth it. This has been eating at me forever and I'm confused...I've wanted an older F-150 or F-100 forever. Here's a mental picture for you guys of what is in my head...single cab, personally i like the baja style front bar, body restored, chrome yellow or maybe some blue color, rollbar in back, fogs on the front bar, small warn winch, 2" body lift, 6" skyjacker susp., 37/12.50R17 BFG Mud T/As, some 17" 5 spoke type wheel, small sidestep, all the trim in black powdercoat, restored interior, dash/interior painted exterior color w/ panels and all black or gray, C-4 column shift(current 4sp but I don't know if that is what I want in a 4x4, bucket seats w/ a custom center console with cupholders for storage and sub/amp mounted inside and a few other little goodes here and there...i think it'd look awesome...when i was little i used to say i'd never have a car, it'd have to be a truck...which i suprised the hell out of my rents when i decided to adopt my dad's 71 mustang coupe...I like drag racing and speed alot too so I'd build the motor decently.I don't know about the axles on the truck but I figured 9"...probly put in a 5.13 gear..maybe just 4.56...I can do this or build a 72 Mach or a 94-95 GT...and I'm going to the nascar technical institute next august so this ride would be my driver for about 2.5 years...so what is your guys opinion and advice on this? I need a driver but I need somethin to climb and play in.

 

Well hon, you talk about the dirt cheap 78, here's what you'll more than likely get with it:

Dana44F/9" rear....gearing will vary, but I know my 78 hi-boy came with 3.94's. If it's manual transmission: np435 (4speed granny gear) with the np205 t-case...If its automatic: typically it's a C6 with the np203(?I think that's the correct number)...from experience, the np435/np205 combo is awesome and incredibly durable....EVen better, they're relatively simple to work on, they look damn good, and with the basic care, is very reliable.

Your 6" Skyjacker susp. kit, if you buy it new, will run around $500...and depending on your 37's, about $1000 (my 37" Goodyear mt/r's cost about 1k from discount tire)....if you're on enough off-road forums, you can generally find some of the parts you need for sale cheaper....with the 37"s, the lowest gears you should need would be 4.88's.

The truck is awesome for mudding....and if you know your stuff, which is sounds like you do, then you can take it almost anywhere else (even minimal amounts of rockcrawling despite its long wheelbase).....All in all, I found it to be a worthwhile investment.

 

I would personally stick wit hthe 4 speed, if it is a borg-warner T-18, you will never kill it, but if you really want to go automoatic, go with a c-6, a c-4 break in no time. The 9 inch is a good rear end, but 5.13 is a little too low of gear you your tires, a 4.56 will work fine. I have 38.5's on my truck, and 4.56's in the back, i have more power than the stock gear to tire ratio. For an engine, i would go with a 390 FE block, or a 429 big block. Both of these motors can take a lot of torture, and have good potential. You could easily get 500 hp out of the 390, with just ported heads, cam, high compression pistons, headers, edelbrock intake, and a good 750 edelbrock carb. The c-6 can take all of that power stock, they are pretty tough. The 9 inch will never give you any problems, as long as you keep it full of fluid, since you are wanting to go off roadin and everything, replace all of the seals on the differentials, and use a good synthetic gear lub. Make sure engine and tranny does not leak when you go muddin, because if stuff is coming out now, water and mud will be going in when it gets burried. I pair of lockers might not hurt, atleast on for the fornt end, because your front end will get stuck before your back, so if you have more tranction in the front, more of a chance on getting out.

 

I know I prefer a limited slip on the street but I don't know for the truck...i can get 2 powertrax lockrights for about the price of one of the limited slips. my friend had one in the back of his jeep but he claims it had caused a few of his wrecks and it tried to get away from him on turns...i blame it all on his driving but for daily driving what do you think?

 

personally i think your mental picture of the truck is too flashy or showy for an off road truck. if you're gonna be off road you gotta realize its gonna get beat up.

especially if its a 70s truck..dont put a bunch of flashy crap and subs in it when it never had that stuff to begin with

 

i want it to be presentable but it would be given hell...and i'd just be laying down a cheap paintjob...have a good start and when she takes a lick, oh well

 

Pain job, that's one thing....but if it's cheap, then really weigh the options of whether it's worth it or not, because it won't last long. Keep in mind that the nice thing about these trucks is, they can be beat to hell and be rusted and they still look "presentable" just so long as they're not to the point of falling apart (that's what's expected of them, esp. since you aren't creating a show truck).

 

Well engine wise...a friend of mine is gonna trade me a fully rebuilt 390HiPo/HO or whatever the performance version is and clutch stuff/bellhousing and a set of stock 5.0 mustang wheels for a set of weld draglites i have. so there's the powerhouse...390BB