Well just joined up last night and got acouple questions around 94 during Highschool I used my hay hauling/bucking money to buy if I remember right a 1974 ford 1 ton duelly, Checked on the door vin today and it does say 74 on it on the bottom right hand side.

Well it has set back by the back barn for the longest time now probly has a bunch of weather and animal damange done to it not for sure until I look at it clooser.

Now days I haul hay with my New Holland Bailwagon but I need a truck to haul animals to the stockyard I live in Redding, Ca might be hauling as far as Escalon, Ca or SF 3 or 4 hours away, Also need something to go and cut wood, and haul equipment with Tractors,balers,cutters,backhoe's.

I have looked into a new one but honestly I don't want to spend the money and after the warenty breaks down I don't know if ill be able to work on it.

Well some mods I like to change it into a dumb bed with removable sides to go back to a flat bed, I can't remember the size of engine in it but it does run off of propane like to switch it back to gas or maybe even all the way out with something that gets better mpg and has more power. Possible even 4 wheel drive for when out inthe woods.

What would you recomened on doing with this truck to accomplish what Im looking for?

 

Welcome fellow Nor Cal'er. Do you go to the livestock auction on Lone Tree?
It can be very cost effective to build your own ride. This is where careful shopping will be a major factor in the budget. I'll throw in my ideas:
Using your 74 F350 to start with.
-locate a beat up/non running 73 or newer F250/F350 4X4, unless you're really wanting to swap over all the Twin Ibeam stuff(it's an agonizing job).
-engine choice? for what you do, a diesel is the way to go. I'll suggest a 5.9 Cummins(89-98), a Ford/New Holland 6.6(401), Perkins 6.354, or DT360 International. For an all out workhorse, I'd try the DT360. Of course, all these are mechanical injection.
-so...what trans? I'll only go with suggesting manuals, plus it depends on the engine used.
With the Ford, you can run some OEM manual trannies, like the NP435.
The DT360 can be mated to a ZF6, or a slew of med duty truck 5,6,or 7 spd trannies.
The Cummins can be mated to dodge, Ford small(like a 5 litre), GM, or SAE #3, or #2.
Perkins is pretty much an SAE #3 or #2.
-with a heavier trans that comes with the bigger engines, you can run PTO to run the dump bed.

 

Do you meen the shasta livestock auction yard ?

Nope don't go there I sale alot of goats so I travel a little I just run my heifers down to there get AI nothing like homegrown beef.

Thanks for the info on motors Im going to start digging into those listed and get me some info on them.

 

I mean the one in Escalon.
You'll probably find the most info on the Cummins, since they're the most popular.

 

I have yet to go to that auction yard currently Im still building my herd I have 32 Doe's and 2 bucks so when they go to kid ill probaly have around 64 babies. Then depending on what I keep for breeders or what I sale for breeders Ill send the rest to escalon at todays market the type 1 are bring 90 to 150 a head. Then my purebreed breeders that I sale can bring anywhere from 300 to thousands all depending on look and confermation.

but back to the ford had anthor person said to check out the powerstroke early models any info on them?

 

Cant tell you much about the Ford itself but with that previous comment it might be worth it to find a none runner donnor that is already a 4x4 and the weight you want 250/350

For the engine i would go Cummins. from 88-91 i believe you have the first gens and from 92-98 you have the second gen 12 valves. These engines are all mechanical so they are easier to swap no wiring pain. There are later secound gens with 24 valve engines 98.5-02 but they are electronical and more difficult to wire.

Also i would try to find a donor truck for the engine to with the trans you want, that way it is already mated up. Or a engine and trans that are together already.

You may have issues with a 4x4 part since you will either have to get a different transfer case or run a divorced transfer case since one is a passanger side drop and one is a driver side drop.

Hope it helps, and i cant agree more, for what your doing a Diesel is what you want, and a Cummins 5.9 is the best in the industry for small truck engines.

Rob

 

So on the 4x4 swap which would be easier to switch the 4x4 over to my truck or just switch the body over to the 4x4 frame ?

 

I would suggest swapping the body over to an existing 4X4 frame. The work involved in swapping is quite intensive, especially when dealing with the twin I beams.