I've been driving my 79 f250 ranger lariat camper special I got from my grandpa last summer and am getting close to starting the restoration process. Have a bunch of question about it but first I'll let you guys know what it is.
1979 f250 ranger lariat camper special
Black with all the trim and bumper guards zero rust anywhere never been painted
Came with a 400 but is a 460 4speed 205 with Dana 60s front and back 3.54 gears.
Questions I have are
1.options for a car 4 speed. Tired of the granny gears and I like to play with it on the street. Having a fast 4 wheel drive around here has a bigger presence than fast cars. Toploader with a Dana 20 thoughts? Toploader to a divorced 205? They don't make a 205 adapter
2.best lift that still rides well? I want to clear 35s and will be running the new 17x10 8 lug slotted mags.
3.best traction aid that retains a decent ride. It wheel hops alot. Like just taking off normal in the rain with a tire slip and it's hopping.
4. Are the reproduction Dennis carpenter tailgates good? They're thick steel and made with original ford tooling. Mine is trashed and alright tailgates are 400 around here. New is 450.
5. What rear axles did ford offer with an integral drum park brake? I have GM rear discs right now on the dana 60. But my friends with their 72 Chevy trucks have 14 bolts with integral drums and parking brakes that work.
I'm wanting a car 4 speed for the cool factor, it's gonna have buckets and maybe some sort of small console, I'm not off roading it and it's more of a play around vehicle. So the ability to Matte shift and stupid things like that are a must. And I'll be running 4.10 or 4.56 gears with a 400m that's around 435-450hp. Not interested in the 5 speed setups either. I want an iron case with good gear ratios. This truck has been in my family since it was brand new and is still technically a 1 owner. Has 350k on the body 230k on the engine. Runs like a champ but it's tired.

 

Pictures or it didnt happen

 

There's the Dana 60 front. Inverted pinion. It's one thing that anyone I tell nobody seems to believe until they see it. It's factory

 

snowfighter. if its factory

 

What about the red coupe?

 

good eye

 

One hood handle, so it's a '33, but is it a 3 or 5 window coupe or a roadster?