Great price! Where is this?

 

Found a truck pan for $40 off of Ebay. From what I could tell there is no difference between 4x4 and 2x4 truck pans. There is a huge difference between a van and truck though. I'll get a picture of the two side by side later on. I won't have time to work on the F150 for a few weeks so it will be awhile.<table style="border: medium none; font-family: Myriad,Helvetica,Verdana,sans-serif;" border="0" width="640"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="border: medium none;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allownetworking="all" src="http://w765.photobucket.com/flash/tagWidget.swf?mediaURL=aHR0cDovL2k3NjUucGhvdG9idWN rZXQuY29tL2FsYnVtcy94eDI5MS93b3VkaWVpbnR4L0lNR18xM jIyLmpwZw%3D%3D" width="640" height="480"></td></tr></tbody></table>
I also scored a NP203 and Np205 for $150 off of craigslist. I'm going to make a doubler for my 86 F250 4x4.

 

i think one was at a pull a part and the other one was at blountville auto salvage... there was another one too close to me here in tennessee

im still considering it because this whimpy 302 is crap...

or im going with a 460.... any ways im subscribed lol

 

any updates... awsome project.

 

I would be careful about boxing the frame. 300 pounds isn't really a lot of weight. With 1-ton springs being a bolt-in upgrade I would just do that and be done with it.

When a frame flexes, it absorbs energy. If you stop it from flexing, it can no longer absorb as much energy. That energy has to go somewhere else... like spring shackles and other suspension mount points. You might find that by boxing the frame you've just made other parts of the chassis weaker.

 

Great point Andy!

 

I would much rather have a spring break than the frame. Boxing the frame will not stop it from flexing. It will just not flex as much and with a lot of flex we get metal fatigue. We all know what happens when you take a piece of metal and bend it back and forth In time the same thing will happen to a frame. There are very good reasons why Ford uses the F250s for the V10s or diesels and part of it is the heavier frame and suspension. The frames may look alike but they have different alloy and thickness of the steel. The specs are in Ford's literature somewhere and I would definately box the frame. I had a 1968 F100 that I seriously overloaded and the bed was crushed against the cab and when travelling at 60+ mph you could feel the frame flex, a lot, stepping on the brakes seemed to make it go faster.

 

I've decided to get some inside projects done while the outside heat index is between 100-110. It looks like I'll be busy with other things till the end of August, but come September. I will be busting some knuckles turning wrenches on this project.

As for the frame boxing, I agree with both sides of the argument. I sure would like the frame to be boxed, but I wonder if it's worth the hassle. The passenger side doesn't have much going through it. The drivers side has lots of things going through it and that stuff would need to be addressed. Seems like a lot of work for a truck that will never haul anything heavy. On the other hand, the F150 will more than likely do some heavy towing (7000lbs). I've been thinking about maybe just welding some angle iron along the outside of the frame under the cab and front of the bed.

 

Welding on the frame is a practice that is not recommended by any professional as it usually accelerates the development of stress cracks. Boxing is welding the long way on the edge of the frame rails and should not cause problems. It does cause work rearranging brake and fuel lines as well as any electrical wiring. If you are not willing to do the job right just leave the frame alone. Don't get me wrong, I'm not chastising you for not doing a proper box job, it's just that you may cause more harm than good by welding angle iron onto the side of the frame. It's your rig and you should do it the way you want to. I only made a suggestion and as the truck has a frame, welding on it would not be the same as welding frame connectors on a Fox body.

 

thats awesome!

Im hopefully lining up a similar project for the winter. I got a 94 f150 it should be pretty similar to what you are doing.

Good luck with the project! - waiting eagerly to see this beast ramped up!

 

I welcome all comments even if I don't agree. I've also thought about boxing the passenger side and partially doing the drivers side. I still haven't laid underneath there and got a good look at what it will in tell.

 

While you're at it why not take a mic and check the frame thickness on your F350 and then the frame on your project.

 

Hey cuz! Just a heads-up I've subscribed to your thread.

 

Cool!! I figured you had to be a member on here.

 

Nothing in almost a week. I am assuming you've been busy with the swap and are about to fire it up this weekend? So, finished pics by Monday?