Well I've been away for a bit and just sort of recently came back to FTE. Much to my surprise a bunch of the original guys came back. Earl, Kenny, Fatfenders, Blueovalrage to name a few [theres that John Niolon but I don't think he ever left ] Not too sure if they even remember me probably for the best as I think I stirred things up enough back then.

I guess a "recap" of my truck build might be in order. I think its currently version 3.3. The lesson here is to pick a theme and stick to it! Version 1.0 was pretty much stock truck but no engine/tranny and blown differential changed that. Version 2.0 was F-1 suspension and fenders on M-3 truck but wanted a better steering setup and brakes. Now the current version is sort of a "clone" of a 2001 F-350 Superduty. 5.4L with 4spd auto and dually. This was slightly updated when Ford upped the 5.4 HP. I wanted to build a truck to match this. Being that 5.4L engines were out of my price range and out of my skill range at the time, a 302 with a 3.25" crank shoved in it equals a 5.4L. Being that I like to overbuild things, a ZF 5spd was originally thought of but the hydraulic clutch and swapping the diesel gearset in made it not very cost effective. Plan B which is an AOD built with 4R70W internals and custom valvebody. Currently the engine and transmission is about 50% complete. The engine isn't exactly standard affair. The Explorer 5.0 intake has been heavily modified (more cosmetically than performance). I like EFI and got some tricks up my sleeve I'd like to try sometime but you can't do stuff on the side if you can't show them your stuff. Anyways...

Now the drivetrain and body needed a suitable chassis. Being that it needed to be a dually, a heavily modified 1978 F-250 chassis was fitted with F-350 axles. I traded the M-3 fenders for some wider M-6 fenders which solved the front track width problem. That was about 2 years ago. Being unable to work on it due to not having the room. I worked on the engine and transmission. Soon I should be in a new place that I have some room. You might be seeing some more progress from me in the future.

 

I thought it was awful quiet around here. I was starting feel like the only $@#$ stirrer. Got to love it when the plan "A" turns to plan b-c-e-k-m-z-10, etc., etc. Been there done that, wasted money on 4 junk cabs to get to plan 18738768795418739 and counting. (yeah, just punched numbers randomly). Good to see you back, now get with the pictures.........!

 

well whaddya know ya decided to wander back over and see us ???????????? get busy dueller , gotta lot of peeps wanting to do frame swaps and we can use another person silly enough to have done it or attempted it to help 'em !!!!!!!!! ever changing isn't it theses old trucks . sounds like you been busy enough . more than most of us !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You have been missing out. Welcome back!

 

Nathan good to see your post = a good indication that you're still on the green side.
Has anyone told you lately that "You can't do that"?

 

Nathan,

Glad you made it back. I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Bobby

 

Nice to see you back, I know I haven't bee on much myself lately. Been so busy with work that I've had little free time (although I've been stockpiling parts) Hopefully once I get my truck in my OWN garage (I'm closing on my new house today), I'll be able to start actually working on it again.

 

Welcome back, Nathan!

 

Nathan,

I was thinking about you the other day. ...wondering where you'd gotten to.

Glad to see you back.

 

Nathan, welcome back, you have been missed!

 

Nathan! So glad to see you back...