Well I did a lot of rust repair lately and mocked the body up on it to see what kinda tire clearance I have and to see how high it looks.

I did some measurements of a ford 300 I-6 and it seems like it would be a tad too long. so I am looking at buying a ford 200 I-6 for it.


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...C/DSCN2199.jpg

nothing wrong with the 200/250 I6. Here's a link to building a nice 200. On the foxtbird forum I frequent, there's a guy trying to put this into his tbird. Sounds like a neat idea. Ford Six Performance: The Web's Leading Resource for Ford Inline Six-Cylinder Engines and Cars!

looks good to me, i hope my ride height in about the same. when you measured for a 300, was the radiator in the forward location? I'm putting a 300 in mine, and think i could have done it without firewall modifications. my biggest issue is the NP435 bellhousing and the 3rd carb's air cleaner.

Thats cool on your 4X4 conversion. I have recently acquired some dfferent donor parts and did the near exact setup on my `55. Same parts adapted to hook steering together. Used a FSJ front axle. Its only 1 inch narrower than stock axle, but wider than early Bronco. I have 5 early Broncos in my stable. Had originally planned to cut the wedges off and go that route until I found the old Wagoneer with a D44 under the front. I was considering using 2003 and newer FX4 six lug wheels. I could use the jeep rotors this way, with some alterations, but leaning towards some 5 lug FX4's instead. The steering linkage worked out well, just like yours did. Also the spring perches are already spaced correctly, so no alterations there. I wanted to leave it stock ride height. I may try to keep it SUA. But will need to come up with some decent springs with more arch. I want the truck to sit level, but not appearing its raised over a stock 4X4 truck. I ended up with 2" riser blocks from some overload springs off a late model 1 ton for the rear if I end up with SOA on front. I have a NP435 with Dana 21 transfer case pulled from a late 60's 4X4. With very little alterations, I should be able to adapt to stock `55 bellhousing. Maybe add a rear crossmember to help support all of the extended length hanging off behind rear motor mounts. Will end up cutting down tierod from donor chevy flat tops to finish up steering. Looking forward to seeing it all finished and how yours turns out too..

Yes, I was measuring from the forward radiator position.

While a 300 posiblly "could" fit without cutting up the firewall. It would be way to tight of a fit when it comes to the radiator fan. I figured that it would be too much of a pain to work on in the future. That is why I am going with the 200, it has a nice small bellhousing and is quite a bit shorter to I should have a lot of room to work with.



fordtrucksforever, I would like to see some pics of how yours is turing out.

I thought about using a FSJ axle BUT I had the EB axle just sitting threre and I wanted the axle as wide as possilbe to keep a tight turing radius...

I oringinally thought about going spring under to lower it a bit BUT then I would have to notch the frame OR spend the cash for springs with more arch and not really loose too much hight.. I figure once I get the motor/tranny/tase in hte truck I can pull a leaf or 2 to get it down a bit if it needs it.

I was going to use an EB axle, but fell short on wms at 58" where stock `55 F100 axle is 61". I had a whole FSJ fall right into my hands not long after deciding to convert over to 4X4. The front end is 60.5'', so worked out perfectly. There isnt another D44 application with left side dif close to this width. Especially already equipped with disks. Spring perches are on correct centers too. Thats one reason why I wanted to stay with SUA. I am going to mix a few leafs from FSJ, since nothing to loose. My `55 fronts are dead, swapping a few arched leafs may give enough lift to work.

Well I made a lot of progress on it...motormounts and crossmember fabricated......motor/tranny/t-case installed. shift and cluch linkage fabricated and installed.....built and installed the driveshafts... have the brakes almost finished and got more metalwork done on it.

here is a recent pic of it.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...C/DSCN2352.jpg

here is a comparison in ride hight to my 79 f-350 4x4 and 52 f-1.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...C/DSCN2354.jpg

It is very close to being on the road now...

It runs drives and stops. I have a lot of loose ends to tie up but i can drive around the driveway and yard now.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...C/DSCN2369.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...C/DSCN2374.jpg

Wow

You sure make some amazing progress in a short period of time. Its going to be a great truck

Bobby

thanks!!

Here are some more pics..... I am finnaly to the point where I have a "short" list of itmes left to do.......

the stuff that I still need to do is:

All of the wiring (right now it is wired just enough to run and charge)

Install the passenger side front shock bracket and shock.

Run the gas tank vent (right now I haave a hunk of heater hose just shoved on it and bent over.

Install the side glass and door locks.

install a bed floor and put more bolts in the body (right now the bed and read fenders are just on the truck not properly fastened.

install a heater.

install the vent assembly.

install emergency brake.

fix up the body in a few spots and weld up the stock holes in the tranny hump.

and I need to fix some of the stuff that I did hastily.... like put shorter brake lines on the rear axle (right now they are looped)

And go over everything to make sure it is nice and tight.


https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b...C/DSCN2456.jpg


https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b...C/DSCN2455.jpg


https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b...C/DSCN2458.jpg

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b...C/DSCN2459.jpg

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b...C/DSCN2460.jpg

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b...C/DSCN2461.jpg

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b...C/DSCN2462.jpg


I am happy that I managed to get eveything under the truck tucked up in the frame pretty nicely... you can't see the gas tank or t-case unless you are under the truck.

Well I am tailights, tires, a couple bolts and a bed floor away from getting it inspected.


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...t/DSCN2512.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...t/DSCN2514.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...t/DSCN2513.jpg

Very cool!! Man you work fast.

That is a tough looking truck, good luck on the inspection

Bobby

great progress, like the side by side pictures...................

any shots of the engine compartment with yor 200?

oh, i think your signature should read '51 (with a 48 rear window).....you know, we all like 51 & 52's becuase of thier superior front clips.......:eek:

I fixed my signature.... to say it is a 51...since it most resembles a 51


i will take soem pics of the engine compartment tonight.