Deranged 3.0 - The Build to End all Builds

[bigblockford79]

Deranged 3.0 - The Build to End all Builds (At least what I tell my Wife)

Deranged 3.0

I am once again re-building my truck. I had a pretty good combo last year that performed quite well. It did however have its weaknesses and areas that needed improvement. Instead of just fixing the few things I decided to start from ground zero again and use my 79 F-250 frame and powertrain as a platform instead of the weak ranger frame. I will be moving to 42" TSL's on H1's, Dana 60 Frt w/ 5:13 and detroit locker, Dana 80 rear w/ 5:13 and detroit, 460 CI BBF, built C6 manual, and np205.

Other Mods will be roll cage, 16" SAW coilovers, winch, full hyrdaulic steering, 4 wheel disc brakes w/ hydroboost.

These are some pics of the start of the project which meant a complete disassembly of the truck and scrapping out the unneeded parts.

Video Of it in Action - 5.0 HO, full manual AOD, full width 44/9" with 5.13's ----- http://s627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/deranged57/Deranged/?action=view&current=100_3358.flv


How it looked last year w/ 38" boggers:

Teardown:

Cab Mocked onto F250 frame - Making New Body mounts

Decided to go the truggy route

Axles

Hydro-boost

Hydraulic Steering

Np205 Mount

Back Half

Replaced the front 36" of the factory frame with 3x5 tube for a better and stronger platform

How it Currently Sits

 

[86 slo-vo]

looks like a nice build, seems awefully high for a crawler...

I love the tube work, keep it up

 

[88_Eddie]

The Build to End all Builds???? that's an oxymoron isnt it?

that thing is gonna be a beast, hurry up and finish

 

[Jason]

looks like a nice build, seems awefully high for a crawler

I was thinking the same thing. Looks more like a Florida mud truck.

 

[bigblockford79]

looks like a nice build, seems awefully high for a crawler...

I love the tube work, keep it up

The spring rate is a little high right now without the cooling system and winch out front. It is sitting about 6-8" higher than final ride height. It is as low as I could get it and still package everything, it will end up roughly about the same height as a 1979 F250 with a 4" lift.

Not really a dedicated crawler either. In Michigan we run trails, man-made courses, mud any pretty much any terrain you could think of and I wanted something that would be good at all things.

 

[bigblockford79]

The Build to End all Builds???? that's an oxymoron isnt it?

that thing is gonna be a beast, hurry up and finish

Yes, it is wishful thinking at best. But as for upgrades there really wont be much more left to want. Already have 4 wheel disc, coil overs, linked susp. , big engine with a stout powertrain, hyrdo steer, On-Board-Air, hydro-boost brakes, and geared and locked heavy duty axles. Other than maybe adding a few more HP, and fine tuning the most common upgrades guys want in their rigs.

I will be adding EFI, and most likely changing the front link set-up if what I settled on this time doesn't give me what I want.

This truck has a LOT of beef in all the right places.

 

[86 slo-vo]

The spring rate is a little high right now without the cooling system and winch out front. It is sitting about 6-8" higher than final ride height. It is as low as I could get it and still package everything, it will end up roughly about the same height as a 1979 F250 with a 4" lift.

Not really a dedicated crawler either. In Michigan we run trails, man-made courses, mud any pretty much any terrain you could think of and I wanted something that would be good at all things.

sounds about right then, you build your truck to your terrain...keep up the work im liking it

 

[Josh40601]

I'm definitely digging this truck, although, i liked it just fine before everything was cut. Your truck is named the same as mine. Great minds think alike

 

[bigblockford79]

Thanks

A few things to add as an update:

Hydraulic steering is now fully operational and now requires just under 4 turns to get from lock to lock. Which is far better than the 1.75 that it required with the first steering valve I had on it.

The hydro boost master cylinder is also working and is in-line with the steering plumbing, now just need to run the brake lines.

The radiator is also mounted now instead of just being propped into place.

Front and Rear drive shafts are made and in place, not completely sure if they will have the travel to keep up with the shocks but we shall see. If not I may cheap out and build some square tube ones for now and decide on a better, more permanent route(and more pricey) at a later date. I should only have any issue if the whole axle droops out. I could go with shorter limit straps as well but they will limit articulation as a side effect.

I have decided to can the EFI idea and try a propane set-up instead. My reasoning - Propane gives all the benefits of an EFI system but is is cheaper, requires less tuning, and basically has only a couple moving components. I have all the major components collected and just need to get up to the truck is and mount the stuff and measure for hoses.

That is it for now, I will get pics in a week or so.