Which truck?
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Which truck?
I'm not sure where this would really go so if I'm in the wrong spot, I'm sorry and please move me to a more suitable place. I will be starting an auto tech program this coming fall and we can work on our own vehicle/projects as long as they are what we are covering. So... I was wondering what the best truck would be to work on. I want it to be a carbed engine, preferrably a 4x4, but a 2x4 would be ok since I could swap it to 4x4. But what engine and what years are a good solid platform to start from? This would be a truck to see a little off roading, a lot of cruising, and somelight work. So what engine and what year/body would you reccommend?
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From: Magrath
Do you have any current trucks that you could use as a starter? It also depends on how much you are willing/can afford to spend on it. Do you want to do any body work or are you just sticking to drive train only?
Any reason to stick with the carbed engine other than your preference? Any newer vehicle is fuel injected so if you are going to school to work on them maybe you want to consider a fuel injected vehicle for your project. I would imagine the majority of vehicles that you work on when you are done school will be fuel injected.
All that being said, a late 70's model would be a good carb truck or an early 90's model for a fuel injected.
Any reason to stick with the carbed engine other than your preference? Any newer vehicle is fuel injected so if you are going to school to work on them maybe you want to consider a fuel injected vehicle for your project. I would imagine the majority of vehicles that you work on when you are done school will be fuel injected.
All that being said, a late 70's model would be a good carb truck or an early 90's model for a fuel injected.
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I currently own/maintain/drive a 95 F150 with a 300 inline six cylinder. I want a carbed truck because they are easier to maintain, funner to work on, have more possabilities for performance. I know that all vehicles I will be working on will be fuel injected, but there is nothing really hard about them if you have a code reader. Any particular model for the late 70's truck?
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From: Barrington USA
if I was you I'd look for a 70's 2wd truck, since it won't be used for offroading much, there is no need for 4 wheel drive, unless you mean like mudding of rock crawling once and a while, there are other advantages of 2wd, like higher paylod capcity, the ability to lower the truck if wanted, less mechincal parts to it, and if the driver if competent can do most of what 4 wheel drive trucks can do. my personal prefrance(sp?) is the late 70's around 78 and 79. there are other advantages of 2wd, like higher paylod capcity, the ability to lower the truck if wanted, less mechincal parts to it, and if the driver if competent can do most of what 4 wheel drive trucks can do.
Last edited by 1991fseries; Jan 28, 2005 at 11:45 AM.
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so right now the only engine to look for is a 351C? Anybody else have anything to say about engines? That size displacement is around what I was thinking about, but I didn't know if cleaveland or windsor was better, or if there is any others.
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From: Magrath
If you are going carbed, how about a 79 F100 (or 150 not sure what it was then) 2wd with a 390 (I am pretty sure that is the ford motor) and a 4 speed.
That will be my next project truck once my wifes 72 chev is done.
That will be my next project truck once my wifes 72 chev is done.
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From: Barrington USA
Originally Posted by wickymustang
so right now the only engine to look for is a 351C? Anybody else have anything to say about engines? That size displacement is around what I was thinking about, but I didn't know if cleaveland or windsor was better, or if there is any others.
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From: Southern MD
Originally Posted by wickymustang
I'm not sure where this would really go so if I'm in the wrong spot, I'm sorry and please move me to a more suitable place. I will be starting an auto tech program this coming fall and we can work on our own vehicle/projects as long as they are what we are covering. So... I was wondering what the best truck would be to work on. I want it to be a carbed engine, preferrably a 4x4, but a 2x4 would be ok since I could swap it to 4x4. But what engine and what years are a good solid platform to start from? This would be a truck to see a little off roading, a lot of cruising, and somelight work. So what engine and what year/body would you reccommend?
Pardon this comment, but, I just can't help it. IF you want a truck to work on, get any Dodge.
That'll keep you busy, for years and years!
Sorry. The above comment was NOT meant to be a flame. It's just Friday.
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From: Barrington USA
Originally Posted by chuck641
id recommend a late 70's f-150 4x4 with a 351 or a 302 ... the 302s are great engines and you can find parts everywhere for them for cheap.
Jason
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A good ideal is to find something that either you want to keep for a long time or something that will have a high resale value when you are done so you can recoup costs. I know that is not what you asked ,but just an idea.
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From: Montana Territory
wow-
First off, there was never a 351 Cleveland in a US made truck, and never a 302 in a 4x4 'til '83, there was also never a 460 in a 4x4 'til '83.
if you are looking for a 4x4, the only engines from the factory offered from 67-79 are the 300 I6, 360FE, 351M and 400. If you want to do a killer swap, find yourself a 351M powered 78 or 79, and then build up a high powered 460, swap it in with L & L porducts headers and mounts, stuff dana 60s under it and lift it to the sky.
If you find a 73-79 302 powered automatic 2wd, I'd build up a high powered 351W, stoke it out to 393 cubes, build up that C4 tranny, stick some fat slicks on it and make it fast with a fibreglass body from US body.
First off, there was never a 351 Cleveland in a US made truck, and never a 302 in a 4x4 'til '83, there was also never a 460 in a 4x4 'til '83.
if you are looking for a 4x4, the only engines from the factory offered from 67-79 are the 300 I6, 360FE, 351M and 400. If you want to do a killer swap, find yourself a 351M powered 78 or 79, and then build up a high powered 460, swap it in with L & L porducts headers and mounts, stuff dana 60s under it and lift it to the sky.
If you find a 73-79 302 powered automatic 2wd, I'd build up a high powered 351W, stoke it out to 393 cubes, build up that C4 tranny, stick some fat slicks on it and make it fast with a fibreglass body from US body.