New Mud Toy
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: New Iberia, LA
New Mud Toy
I've been saving up and i have enough to get on older model 4x4 to play with and lift. Any suggestions, old bronco, f-150, ect. and what years/model would be a good project truck? This truck would be strickly a in the field hunting/ mudding truck, nothing fancy.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,698
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From: Neenah, Wisconsin
You could do it with anything you want, i've seen everything from suzuki samuris to f350's in the woods. It really depends on what you're looking to do, trail riding will be accomplished best with a small agile vehicle, while mud running will work best with something that can hold 1 ton axles, and a blown big block without breaking...
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,277
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From: St George, SC I-95
Personally Id buy a 78-79 Ford 4wd. Any make, any model, any options, any gear ratio, any Tcase, any engine and any tranny you can. My opinion is you cant go wrong with any of them. I like my F250 but there are numerous guys here who wheel 78-79 F150s and broncos with great success. They are relitively cheap to buy and build and are rather easy to work on. I would suggest to completely search it up down in and out for booty fab and possible electrical gremlins.
98% of the trucks (F150s 250s broncos and even some350s) will have a D44 front. No way around it unless someone swapped in a 60. The F250s/350s with 60 fronts are just too rare to expect to call up a guy in the classifieds and buy the running driving truck for $500. It happens but dont plan on it.
Expect to pay $1000-1500 for a decent truck maybe a little more depending on shape and extras that may be included then expect to spend an additional $1000-1500 to make it reliable and road worthy (brakes tune up and oil change-all of them) after that the sky and your wallet is the limit.
98% of the trucks (F150s 250s broncos and even some350s) will have a D44 front. No way around it unless someone swapped in a 60. The F250s/350s with 60 fronts are just too rare to expect to call up a guy in the classifieds and buy the running driving truck for $500. It happens but dont plan on it.
Expect to pay $1000-1500 for a decent truck maybe a little more depending on shape and extras that may be included then expect to spend an additional $1000-1500 to make it reliable and road worthy (brakes tune up and oil change-all of them) after that the sky and your wallet is the limit.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 275
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This seems like a good bargain for a trail/mud truck.
Race Ads | For Sale: 1967 Ford Bronco, dana 60's, 351W, 42"
Race Ads | For Sale: 1967 Ford Bronco, dana 60's, 351W, 42"
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Winter Garden, FL
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,911
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From: Crowville Louisiana
I like the 78 79 broncos. If you can afford them the older small body broncos are almost unstopable but can be expensive to work on.
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Posting Guru
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i have to agree with the others except.....imfound of the ranger. but thats a persona; peferance. theres too many veriables in a ranger as to weather or not its a good one. and if you wanna go over a 33 inch tire they get expensive. so on that note id recomend a 70s anything. cant kill those trucks and for the most part dirt cheap to buy parts for. even a f150 will hold a 460 and not think twice.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
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From: Louisiana
A 76 or 77 F-series would be ok, but I'd rather a 78 79....
IF you find a 79 F350 4x4 in good condition for a decent price, pass it up and let me know where it's at!
What ever you do, do not get one with a NP203!
Doesn't matter if it was converted or not, believe me, You do not want to mess with that big piece of ____. I did, and regret it big time, and that is the reason I had to spend a couple hundred dollars on driveshafts, and I still don't have a front shaft installed.
Kris, all 79 F350 4x4s had Dana 60 fronts right...some had D60 rears and others had D70 rears.
IF you find a 79 F350 4x4 in good condition for a decent price, pass it up and let me know where it's at!
What ever you do, do not get one with a NP203!
Doesn't matter if it was converted or not, believe me, You do not want to mess with that big piece of ____. I did, and regret it big time, and that is the reason I had to spend a couple hundred dollars on driveshafts, and I still don't have a front shaft installed.
Kris, all 79 F350 4x4s had Dana 60 fronts right...some had D60 rears and others had D70 rears.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,277
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From: St George, SC I-95
thats a big debate in the 73-79 forum. From what Ive seen and read some F350 4wd had D44HDs. It all depended on GVWR. Basically (if I understand it correctly) a high GVWR F250 could be potentially handle more weight than a low GVWR F350 and GVWR determined what front axle the truck had. There was NO physical difference in a 79 F250 and 350 other than the leaf springs (and even that, as I said, depended on GVWR). The frames mounts hangers steering system brakes-4wd etc were the same part number ~ Numberdummy
My opinion is its possible to have a 79 F350 with a D44HD.
The rears is a different story.
Here is what Ive been told.
2wd SRW F350s = D70B
2wd DRW F350s = D70HD
4wd SRW F350s = D60
Here is what Ive seen
2wd SRW and DRW = 70B Ive never seen a 70HD in a 79 F350
4wd SRW D60 and D70B. The 79 F350 Super Camper Special 4wd 400/T-18/Np205 60F I had a chance to buy had a D70 rear with axle code 27 (4.10 non LS) on the door tag. This is one verified F350 4wd with a 70 rear.