What Am I Doing???
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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What Am I Doing???
i want to have a truck to drive to the drag strip and have alot of fun
i want a short bed , im gonna put either a 4.6 dohc or a 5.4 motor in it
i will also have a four link rear suspension in it
my question is,,,,do you think im better off buying a long bed and converting it to a short bed?
or should i start off with a short bed?
the money i could save buying a long bed could buy a few nice mods to the hot rod,,,,,but im not sure what it takes to do a short bed conversion
any help would be appreciated
i want a short bed , im gonna put either a 4.6 dohc or a 5.4 motor in it
i will also have a four link rear suspension in it
my question is,,,,do you think im better off buying a long bed and converting it to a short bed?
or should i start off with a short bed?
the money i could save buying a long bed could buy a few nice mods to the hot rod,,,,,but im not sure what it takes to do a short bed conversion
any help would be appreciated
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,222
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From: East Central Florida
1st of all 
Welcome to FTE and the 67-72 Forum 
Having said that, cutting a LWB down to SWB dimensions will add a lot of extra work & time. In the end all you'd be doing is putting lipstick on a toad.
Start off with a wheelbase you think you want in the first place. Spend your time, effort & cash tweaking & building running gear and suspension the way you'll need it.
I'm no fan of modular engines for several reasons I will not go into here. I'd just suffice it to say There's No Replacement for Displacement,when it comes to making power & torque.The ability to develop, accurately control & plant generated power & torque on the pavement is what wins straight line racing.
Running a built 460 works best for me, the only major improvement I will make on my 460 will be MAFS/ EFI conversion when I get around to doing it. I am disliked by the Brand X-ers and I Drive to & fro & still manage mid 12 ETs @ Huge mph for the ETs I index at. It is way beyond the 5.4 you are thinking of at 7.5L. . . .I know guys running 2.3L [2300cc] engines, and that's just the difference between a 5.4L and 7.5L. . . . .see where this is going?
FBp
Welcome to FTE and the 67-72 Forum Having said that, cutting a LWB down to SWB dimensions will add a lot of extra work & time. In the end all you'd be doing is putting lipstick on a toad.
Start off with a wheelbase you think you want in the first place. Spend your time, effort & cash tweaking & building running gear and suspension the way you'll need it.
I'm no fan of modular engines for several reasons I will not go into here. I'd just suffice it to say There's No Replacement for Displacement,when it comes to making power & torque.The ability to develop, accurately control & plant generated power & torque on the pavement is what wins straight line racing.
Running a built 460 works best for me, the only major improvement I will make on my 460 will be MAFS/ EFI conversion when I get around to doing it. I am disliked by the Brand X-ers and I Drive to & fro & still manage mid 12 ETs @ Huge mph for the ETs I index at. It is way beyond the 5.4 you are thinking of at 7.5L. . . .I know guys running 2.3L [2300cc] engines, and that's just the difference between a 5.4L and 7.5L. . . . .see where this is going?
FBp
Last edited by FordBoypete; May 27, 2006 at 01:23 AM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,360
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From: Iowa
I don't like the looks of those sawn-off short beds. :-) I'd go with a long box, and use the money you'd save on suspension or drivetrain.
You can run any engine you want, but I'm partial to big-block, old iron torque.
You can run any engine you want, but I'm partial to big-block, old iron torque.
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thanks for the heads up on the frame shorting guys,,,,,i guess i will keep looking for a short bed
as for the big block motors,,,,yes they are cool
ive had some pretty good luck with my 5.4 modular mill,,,i can get my 4700lb beast down the track in the very low 11's with it,,i have hit the 10's with a little nos
and the 16mpg aint to bad either
although with a big block i probably would not need a blower,,ha ha
as for the big block motors,,,,yes they are cool
ive had some pretty good luck with my 5.4 modular mill,,,i can get my 4700lb beast down the track in the very low 11's with it,,i have hit the 10's with a little nos
and the 16mpg aint to bad either
although with a big block i probably would not need a blower,,ha ha
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: St. Libory
I'd just suffice it to say There's No Replacement for Displacement,when it comes to making power & torque
Bottom line is do what you want. It's YOUR truck not ours. It will be more expensive to put a modular in as opposed to a 390 or a 460. I feel that all of these are good motors, and you can't go wrong with any of them. By the way, I love the 390 and plan to build a stout one for the 69 someday.
Just my $.03
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
Those modular motors will do anything you ask them to do, and it will be a neat swap! I've never played with one, but I'm familiar with FE's.
instig8r63 is right on the longer wheelbase being easier to drag race with, but I don't think you're going to notice the difference with a street driven truck.
instig8r63 is right on the longer wheelbase being easier to drag race with, but I don't think you're going to notice the difference with a street driven truck.
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Posting Guru
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From: South Central Boise
You could buy a longbed, chop it down, and build or buy (if you can find one? usbody) a fiberglass bed. It might not help your traction situation. Good luck.
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Originally Posted by thesprocket26
You could buy a longbed, chop it down, and build or buy (if you can find one? usbody) a fiberglass bed. It might not help your traction situation. Good luck.
im gonna have a difrent then stock fuel cell,rear suspension, rear drive and drive shaft,,,and if i got a fiberglass bed,,,,,what would the benifit of getting a short bed instead of a long bed?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
You do not want to cut one down. You would have to make 4 cuts from sun rise to sun set and two welds the same, because you would have to shorten it in both front and rear of the wheelwell. Two body side seams that have to be made to look decent. If you want a short bed find and buy one. You will spend ten time more trying to make one. IMHO
John
John
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Originally Posted by jowilker
You do not want to cut one down. You would have to make 4 cuts from sun rise to sun set and two welds the same, because you would have to shorten it in both front and rear of the wheelwell. Two body side seams that have to be made to look decent. If you want a short bed find and buy one. You will spend ten time more trying to make one. IMHO
John
John
Posting Guru
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From: South Central Boise
I guess my post wasn't that clear. Buy a longbed, cut down the frame, build a fiberglass shortbed or buy a shortbed. Don't cut up a longbed bed. THat would suck to weld together again. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Originally Posted by thesprocket26
I guess my post wasn't that clear. Buy a longbed, cut down the frame, build a fiberglass shortbed or buy a shortbed. Don't cut up a longbed bed. THat would suck to weld together again. Good luck with whatever you decide.
thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
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From: Ohio
Short beds are much more popular...around here anyway. can't find many longbeds.
My shortbed is my hot rod, my long bed is the usable daily driver. I hate shortbeds cause they are useless for carrying anything....other than haul'n butt!!
My shortbed is my hot rod, my long bed is the usable daily driver. I hate shortbeds cause they are useless for carrying anything....other than haul'n butt!!