truck build questions.

"mr_gofast" (jake_berenshteyn) 08/13/2014 at 13:40 • Filed to: truckyeah

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i have a truck build question that is fairly broad and i can guarantee ill need lots of help with it :)

Thanks guys!

well since i cant author a post ill just ask here.

Im seriously considering making a offorad mudding truck. However apart from youtube videos i really don't have a clue what a build such as this entails. What im looking for is what you recommend/need to make a good basic mudder. No fancy alcoholo or ethanol motors - something simple and reliable.

Which vehicle is best to build off of - pickup or suv or whatever.

motors gas vs diesal

suspension setups

then i just have a bunch of silly questions that im sure are basic :/

Nibbles > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 13:44

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Nope, Truck Yeah! isn't open to authors as far as I know. I can offer you authorship on The Shade Tree though

area man > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 13:44

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I don't think anyone can do that - as an official Jalopnik subblog you have to be hired by Gawker Media to write for it.

mr_gofast > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 13:49

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sure if you think they could help.

Nibbles > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 13:51

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Of course we could help! Though if you don't want to write posts there I can just share your questions over. We're a rather helpful bunch that's just getting started.

mr_gofast > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 13:53

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share for now..i have like 4 blogs i keep a eye on plus Oppo - cant really add any more.

Nibbles > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 13:54

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AIIGHT

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 13:55

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Woo! Shade Tree is growing.

Nibbles > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 13:56

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We needs to get more posts up STAT

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 13:57

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late 70's Ford full size with a 460, C6 auto and 1 ton axles on leaf springs. Cheap, bb proof and there used to be a guy in Kingston that used one like that for mudding and pulling.

mr_gofast > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 13:58

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460?

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 13:59

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can do. Got my Taurus on Monday, so... Much to talk about.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 14:02

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yes, the 460 big block was one of the biggest, maybe the biggest, engine in the 385 family of Ford engines. From the factory they make immense torque, and with some cheap headwork, most of which you can do yourself, they will actually make very good power. Add a can to that and they actually like to rev.

Nibbles > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 14:02

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Yes, this. Old Ford frames are about the best to start off with for a quick and dirty mudder. Did a '76 highboy a few years ago. Easy as hell to lift. Not so easy to make stable :)

mr_gofast > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 14:07

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so a 70's ford pickup...460 gas motor - c6 tranny? id prefer auto as well..or is that not a good idea.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 14:08

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do the suspension right and its OK. I'll ask my buddy how he had it set up. But I do remember 2-1/2 ton Rockwell's and HUGE leaf springs. The spring pack on the back was almost 4 inches thick. Its road manners sucked, but holy carp did it move.

Nibbles > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 14:12

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We called ours "A Drunk's Best Friend" because on the road you had to move the steering wheel like a drunkard in order to keep it tracking straight. Get in the sand or mud? NO PROBLEM HERE

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 14:13

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auto is a good way to go usually. And the C6 is pretty much the strongest transmission Ford ever made. If you really want to control shift points, you can find o e with a manual valve body, that you can shift yourself.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 14:16

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A full size bronco would be cool too. A bit smaller, more maneuverable.

Nibbles > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 14:18

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True. Broncos are awesome, but they generally command a higher price compared to their F-series bretheren. For good reason

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 14:23

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Very true. I think Joes trick was a '79 F250. 460, C6, Atlas Doubler t case. Huge military Rockwell axles.

nermal > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 14:27

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What's your budget here? Assuming you can do the work yourself?

If I were doing this, I'd start with a cheap older 4x4 pickup. $2500 should find you something that runs, but is already beat up so that you won't get emotionally attached to it.

To that, change all the fluids and give it a good tune up, call that $500.

6" or so lift kit, $1,000.

37" Mud tires + wheels, $2,000.

Lockers F & R, $1,500.

Total, $7,500, plus a weekend worth of work. Assuming nothing else breaks, of course.

You could shave some costs by searching out used tires on Craigslist, and going with a cheap lift, and ditching the lockers at first.

mr_gofast > nermal 08/13/2014 at 14:30

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work i cant do :( never wrenched on a truck . thank you for the pricing...thats very helpful. budget wise i didnt have one yet. - wasnt sure what i would need to set aside...7500 seems reasonable but that doesnt include the 460 or the tranny..

Nibbles > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 14:31

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That'll do it. We went for stupid cheap (because we were stupid broke) so ours was a 360, C4, factory axles, 6'' suspension lift on used BFG 35x12.5x15s. The precise reason it should never had gone on pavement.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 14:34

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A 360? Did ford make a 360? Or do you mean a 460?

nermal > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 14:39

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Should add a disclaimer: I have no idea what I'm talking about. :-)

Nibbles > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 14:40

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They did make a 360. 1968-1976. Basically a destroked 390, it was the base V8 for the F100 and F150 models IIRC.

Nibbles > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 15:29

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Wrenching on a truck is no different than wrenching on a car; except likely much much easier ;)

mr_gofast > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 15:30

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no space on my driveway :( dang..i need a mud truck

Nibbles > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 15:32

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Back yard? Dirt pile? Random parking lot? Friend's house?

mr_gofast > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 15:36

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no to all the above...none of my friends know cars or care for them like i do, all are married and the wifes definately dont like me making a mess. I will defe have to improvise somehow,

Nibbles > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 15:38

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Park it at my house. I'll make room, and probably wrench on it when I have free time

mr_gofast > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 15:39

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very kind of you to offer. Ill take you up on that once i get this project going..:( are you in ottawa?

Nibbles > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 15:40

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I'm in Denver but I'm sure that's close enough. Right? Right???

mr_gofast > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 15:40

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er......mmaaaaybe not :)

Nibbles > mr_gofast 08/13/2014 at 15:42

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:sadface:

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Nibbles 08/13/2014 at 16:22

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well, you learn so.ething new every day.

Nibbles > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 08/13/2014 at 16:23

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[themoreyouknow.gif]