weight reduction
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weight reduction
I was wondering if anyone had any tips on weight reduction or transfer on these trucks. I have a roll pan in the back, and I plan to move the battery to the bed, but not sure what else I could do that would be safe. It is an 88 f150 swb 2wd 460 c6 9inch rear 3/5 drop.
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The biggest lump is the 460.
Swap to a smaller motor & trans, or swap heads and manifolds for aluminum & headers.
Drilling big holes in the frame invites rust and cracks & won't save much.
Acid dipping the body would be quite expensive & you couldn't lean on it or even take it into a hard rain storm...
Removing ac/ps/pb/pdl/pw even manual window regulators all conspire to produce a joyless driving experience....
Swap to a smaller motor & trans, or swap heads and manifolds for aluminum & headers.
Drilling big holes in the frame invites rust and cracks & won't save much.
Acid dipping the body would be quite expensive & you couldn't lean on it or even take it into a hard rain storm...
Removing ac/ps/pb/pdl/pw even manual window regulators all conspire to produce a joyless driving experience....
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I am wanting to keep the 460, and I will be adding some things like sound insulation, and stereo. I was just hoping to find something to offset my added weight a little bit, where maybe I could get a little closer to factory weight. I think the 460 probably added 250lbs or so, I am not sure.
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From: Lakewood, Ohio
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I was hoping to put a 94 or so front clip on it, to make a 1st gen lightning clone. I havent seen a clip in fiberglass, but I havent looked either thats a good idea. At least a fiberglass hood.
It had a 300 6cyl in it.
It had a 300 6cyl in it.
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It wasnt to bad, I just had to rig up some motor mounts, and I used the factory low psi fuel pump. Theres nothing major to it, its pretty easy. The big blocks make are so much easier to make power than a small block. It engine dynos about 520hp, and its not a high dollar build, not much more than stock. Ported heads, flat tops, 0 decked block a good cam and aluminum intake, thats pretty much it. It would have cost me a fortune to make that kind of power with a smallblock, I couldnt justify the weight savings vs. cost.
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From: Idabel, OK
-Aluminum wheels
-Aluminum heads
-Headers
-Mock front bumper
-No Tailgate
-No spare
-light weight battery (if it'll crank a 460)
-pass. side mirror!
-big single exhaust rather than dual's.
-shorter exhaust length, exit just after cab for example.
-Disc brakes?? (kinda reaching on that one.)
-One gas tank instead of two?? (reaching again.)
Man, I can't think of anything else unless you start taking off creature comforts like AC, PS, dash, carpet, factory seat, etc..
-Aluminum heads
-Headers
-Mock front bumper
-No Tailgate
-No spare
-light weight battery (if it'll crank a 460)
-pass. side mirror!
-big single exhaust rather than dual's.
-shorter exhaust length, exit just after cab for example.
-Disc brakes?? (kinda reaching on that one.)
-One gas tank instead of two?? (reaching again.)
Man, I can't think of anything else unless you start taking off creature comforts like AC, PS, dash, carpet, factory seat, etc..
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Wendover, NV.
Yes there is a fiberglass front clip for these trucks. I was looking at one for my '96 that goes for about $1500. It is a one piece item designed to make the front clip tilt forward like the semi's do. I have seen other fiberglass parts for these trucks but not many.
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From: Kaukauna, WI
-Aluminum wheels
-Aluminum heads
-Headers
-Mock front bumper
-No Tailgate
-No spare
-light weight battery (if it'll crank a 460)
-pass. side mirror!
-big single exhaust rather than dual's.
-shorter exhaust length, exit just after cab for example.
-Disc brakes?? (kinda reaching on that one.)
-One gas tank instead of two?? (reaching again.)
Man, I can't think of anything else unless you start taking off creature comforts like AC, PS, dash, carpet, factory seat, etc..
-Aluminum heads
-Headers
-Mock front bumper
-No Tailgate
-No spare
-light weight battery (if it'll crank a 460)
-pass. side mirror!
-big single exhaust rather than dual's.
-shorter exhaust length, exit just after cab for example.
-Disc brakes?? (kinda reaching on that one.)
-One gas tank instead of two?? (reaching again.)
Man, I can't think of anything else unless you start taking off creature comforts like AC, PS, dash, carpet, factory seat, etc..
