I am trying to decide on which truck to build up for a trail vehicle. My 77 is mildly built up with a 6" skyjacker and 38", but the truck is a long box and heavily rusted from MN winters. The other truck is a 84 F150 Stepside rolling chasis. The 84's only problem is a bent right frame rail. I am trying to weight the benefits between the 77 and 84. If I built the 84, the 77 would be stripped down for parts. Otherwise I could replace the cab on the 77 and add a flatbed. I also need to convert my 60 to coils springs.

Ideally I would like to have a truck ready for a trail ride on Oct 20th.

Mudman

 

For trail use you are probably gonna want to use a straight front axle, so instead of performing a solid axle swap on the later truck, just build the old one. The fenders and such are full of cancer? Cut them off, you need to make room for tires anyway.
As far as installing coils on a 60, it is easy. Just need to buy some wedges to weld onto the tubes so the radius arms can bolt to the axle.

http://www.jamesduff.com/eb/suspension_components.html

 

you coming to hang out at GrayRock? thats their next open ride.. Fall For All.

i'd go with the 77. to me they were more solidly built and simple to work on. but thats just me

-cutts-

 

I am planning on attending an event in southern Minnesota if I get it together. The last trail ride I went on I took my plow truck. Amazingly I did not get the truck stuck or break down. I have a 77 44 that I have started cutting the wedges off of, it is just time consuming. The 84 is a two wheel drive so I would just modify the 77's brackets to fit the 84 Frame. The biggest problem with the 77 is there is no floor left. I lifted up the carpet and the only thing there is the frame rail. I am surprise the seat is still in the truck.

What opinion do you guys have on wheel base? I thought a shortbox truck would be a good comprimise between long and short.

Mudman

 

for trail trucks, a lil shorter is good for turning and such, but go too short and you loose stability.

 

I would stick to the 77 for two reasons, its already running and 4x4, plus its a tougher truck. I did a 4x4 swap on a 92 F150 and added somethings that a stock truck wouldnt have etc and i am still finding more kinks to work out. Is the truck a Reg cab or super cab? If its the reg cab then a flat deck would work, but the reg cab long combo still has a fairly short wheelbase. The problem is the departure angle of the longer box sticking past the wheels. worst comes to worst, cut the quarters up as high as you can go without messing with the tailgate and build a bumper. Less work than the flat deck, just as affective. As for the cab, floor pans are fairly cheap and it doesnt have to look pretty to go down a trail, it has to go down the trail. That and it doesn sound like your are afraid of welding or a little fabricating so it shouldnt be that much of an issue for ya.

 

If the flareside bed is in good shape, pleaseeeeee don't hack it up, they are just to purty and rare

 

mustange70,
The stepside needs alot of work. The previous owner smashed the front end into a tree. The tree one. If I used the truck offroad, I would make the rear fenders removeable.

As for now I am swaping the cab on the 77 and fixing the brakes. Unfortunatly I will not be able to swap the 60 in before the trip. How long do you guys think the 44 with 38's and a 460 will last?

 

Depends on how much you baby it. If you have the money and can get the parts on time, I would swap in some stronger aftermarket shafts and u-joints to make sure. Either way, take a spare for each side if you have them. Biggest thing would be take it easy with the wheels turned sharp etc, which I am sure you already know. Its more than likely to last one trail ride, but I wouldnt expect it to last for an extended period of wheelin'. If it was my truck and coming down to crunch time, I'd go and take my chances just to get out wheelin'.