I'm a 17 year old strapped for cash, with an 82 f-50 300-6 2wd, and I think something like 2.44 gears or whatever those highway ones are. It's in really good shape, cept for a rusted out box, and gas tank, and is already liscensed.

A bunch of my friends are into the offroad thing and most of them drive 4 L jeep cherokees with Lift kits and big tires. My question is, what do I need to do to my truck to be able to ride the trails with them (I'm not expecting to be able to do everything they can do, just some of the milder stuff). For looks, I don't really care that much (I might even be going with the pressure treated wood flatbed), I'd like it to still be street drivable for trips to the lumberyard and auto wreckers, and I'd like to keep the cost down under $600. What would you suggest?

If I swap to 4wd which would be the better choice (performance and price / hassle wise) Independent front susp., or straight axle? What trucks do you get the straight axle from.

p.s., I'm in Canada where rusted bodies are everywhere and mechanical parts are cheeeaaaapp.

Thanks

 

OBTW, its a 4 speed manual, but I don't think it has the granny first gear (how do you tell?).

 

The most improvement for your $$$ would probably be a rear locker...then perhaps a lift and some mud tires, which would require a gear change...it all adds up pretty quick...

When I was in high school(grad in 2000, so I'm not too old) I was in the same boat you are in...What I did was just wait until I came across a cheap 4x4. I bought my '89 F-150 for $400(U.S.), of course it took $500 more to get it running, but all that was cheaper than modifying my daily driver at the time(an '85 F-150 4x2). It did take about a year of hard looking to find a deal like this. It was at a local used car lot and had been repo'd and then used as a parts truck. So, I talked the lot's owner out of it, and then replaced the parts that had been "robbed" off of it and presto--a fairly dependable hunting/fishing/mud bogging truck!

All for approx $1200(US)--that's about the same price as a lift kit and instillation...or a set of tires and rims...

If you are looking into converting your truck to four wheel drive, it is a lot easier and (believe it ot not) cheaper just to sell your current truck and buy a 4x4. You can search the site here and read all kind of posts on this subject...


Jon
1989 F-150 XL- 4x4, 302, M50D--New and Improved with 3" body lift...and worn out 31" tires....
1995 Bronco Eddie Bauer- 351W, E40D
Finally got around to creating a gallery...check it out

 

Rear locker definately sounds good idea, your jeep buds will be jealous if you get one. If they dont have one already, atleast you'll be able to keep up with them in 2wd and there 4wd. About the 4wd conversion.....bad news not going to happen. you will spend atleast 2g converting, if you were creative and found a great junkyard, otherwise forget it. Best front suspension would be a straight axle, simplest, strongest, best flex too. The 4wd thing isn't gonna work out though sorry man.
-Rem
95' 351w Eb Bronco, 4" rancho susp lift, 35" bfg m/t's and more...

 

well you could also convert your truck into a prerunner type truck
alittle lift kit for the rear and some taller springs for the front and you can install the bigger tires. building a prerunner truck is not to expensive to build it will look like a 4x4 but only be 2 wheel drive and can go in alot of places. as far as the conversion to a 4 wheel drive save your money and buy one building a truck is NOT CHEAP

 

Don't do anything to your truck, go as far as youc an with it the way it is and save up for a 4x4. You can get an older 351w C6 combo which are fairly bulletproof or a 302 which is really strong in a 4x4 for fairly cheap. This is the route I took and I am glad I did. Now I have an 84 F150 4x2 and an 86 F150 4x4 and I am only 18. Good Luck

 

Alright, I got the skinny round here on 2wd offroading. I am just gettin in to using the message boards though, spent most my time on the mailing lists. Anyhow, Ford outdid themselves with 2wd trucks as far as durability. You could take your truck out right now, find yourself a lil bit of dirt, and hit it as hard as ya want, truck will be just fine. My truck, as well as my brothers F-150, is 2wd. We regularly take them out with the 4wd guys. The trick is more momentum, you just gotta hit stuff goin a lil faster. The plus side is I've had my truck as high up as 10 ft in the air hittin some good obstacles (ran a monster truck course here in vegas)and survived with nuthing more then some damage to my bed and a blown tire. That 6 cyl ya have is light and dependable, as is the rest of the drive train. Your best bet is to fit some 30'' tires, and coil springs from an E-250 van for clearance. Then just go out and learn. Make sure your not alone and dont go all out at first. Take your time to learn your truck, if you pay attn it will tell you somethings wrong long enough to react. Sometimes the most fun is gettin stuck, Always turns into a lil party when I do it anyhow. If you have any specific questions, feel free to email me. Duggan3533(No Email Addresses In Posts!)

Darrell Duggan
74 F-350 SCS, 500hp 460, 4 speed OD, 3.73 track lock
71 Mustang coupe 351c, 4 speed od, and lotsa stuff from newer stangs
70 Torino GT convertible, N code 429, c-6. One of a handful of these left.