FatCity F150 Pre-runner Expo build
- Thread starter FatCity
- Start date
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
Amazing workmanship!!!
9-20-2010:
First trip out was a complete failure...
The axle shaft didnt have enough travel and yanked the C-clip off the end of the stub shafts in the differential, causing it to lose 4WD.
I had to hammer it up a hill which eventually ended in a broken rear Drive shaft flange. No wheel drive...
I had the shafts yank the C-clips out twice so on the 3rd time around I took the snap ring off the CV so it could travel a bit more.
Problem solved. 15K miles later and no issues.
This is a pic of it just before I jumped a tow truck that weekend.
I should have hit it harder though, because I didnt make it all the way over...:
First trip out was a complete failure...
The axle shaft didnt have enough travel and yanked the C-clip off the end of the stub shafts in the differential, causing it to lose 4WD.
I had to hammer it up a hill which eventually ended in a broken rear Drive shaft flange. No wheel drive...
I had the shafts yank the C-clips out twice so on the 3rd time around I took the snap ring off the CV so it could travel a bit more.
Problem solved. 15K miles later and no issues.
This is a pic of it just before I jumped a tow truck that weekend.
I should have hit it harder though, because I didnt make it all the way over...:
10-5-2010
Got it back together.
I wanted to eliminate the factory style slip yoke so I found a Chromolly 1350 slip yoke for a C-6 trans that had the same spline as the T-case.
Had to machine a press on sleeve to match the seal surface inside the t-case.
Also had Coast Driveline in Ventura Ca. make me a 3.5" Chromoly 1350 driveshaft with the slip yoke in it.
Tigged a plug in the end and drilled a 3/8 hole for the bolt. Drilled and tapped the Output shaft on the T-case, which totally sucked and viola! No more slip yoke...
Got it back together.
I wanted to eliminate the factory style slip yoke so I found a Chromolly 1350 slip yoke for a C-6 trans that had the same spline as the T-case.
Had to machine a press on sleeve to match the seal surface inside the t-case.
Also had Coast Driveline in Ventura Ca. make me a 3.5" Chromoly 1350 driveshaft with the slip yoke in it.
Tigged a plug in the end and drilled a 3/8 hole for the bolt. Drilled and tapped the Output shaft on the T-case, which totally sucked and viola! No more slip yoke...
Been slowly working on getting the bed organized. Wanted to get the cooler mounted before this weekend’s desert trip...
The bed was a mess during the inaugural run and my poor Engel fridge got bang up pretty good.
I built a rack to pick the fridge up 7" which would give me the room I need to eventually mount an aluminum jack and whatever else I can fit next to it
I used quick release pins on the mounts because the rack will have to come out in order to get the spare out.
One thing’s for sure. The 97-03's bed space is pretty limited so getting the 64qt. cooler in there was a tight fit.
The bed was a mess during the inaugural run and my poor Engel fridge got bang up pretty good.
I built a rack to pick the fridge up 7" which would give me the room I need to eventually mount an aluminum jack and whatever else I can fit next to it
I used quick release pins on the mounts because the rack will have to come out in order to get the spare out.
One thing’s for sure. The 97-03's bed space is pretty limited so getting the 64qt. cooler in there was a tight fit.
10-20-2010
Got the fridge mount done. Double sheared it and figured out how to secure it.
The handles that come on the fridge are solid and stuck out to far to fit in the truck, so I made new swinging handle's.
Wish I'd painted them before the recent rains.
Secured it with cable and turn buckles. It worked great last weekend in the desert and I wanted to make it a slight pain in the *** to get out so it doesnt get stolen.
Udate 2-23-2011: I have since decided that I dont like the way it's tied down. It's come loose twice on off-road trips, but I havent fixed it yet. I just keep a closer eye on it...
Got the fridge mount done. Double sheared it and figured out how to secure it.
The handles that come on the fridge are solid and stuck out to far to fit in the truck, so I made new swinging handle's.
Wish I'd painted them before the recent rains.
Secured it with cable and turn buckles. It worked great last weekend in the desert and I wanted to make it a slight pain in the *** to get out so it doesnt get stolen.
Udate 2-23-2011: I have since decided that I dont like the way it's tied down. It's come loose twice on off-road trips, but I havent fixed it yet. I just keep a closer eye on it...
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GTABurnout
Explorer
Very sick build.....
Great fab work....
Great fab work....
Update 12-27-10:
Since the last update on this thread we've had several desert trips, a couple trails, Pre-ran 700 miles of the Baja 1000, ran from Barstow to Laughlin to Oatman Az and back via the dirt.
About 1500-2000 fun off-road miles and 6,000 highway. My wife loves it. My daughter loves it and I couldnt really be much happier with it.
The new drive shaft and non-slip yoke have been flawless. I had the rear springs re-arched and an extra leaf added by Deaver right after the Baja trip which helped hold all the weight I have back there and seemed to eliminate most the axle wrap.
The shock hoops only had one X-tube which broke around mile 950 on the Baja 1000 course and had to be fixed then and there. Ready welder to the rescue... It's since been cut off and done with two tubes and a lot more plate work.
Shot the moon thru two cactuses at 60 mph and cleaned off both mirrors at the same time... Turns out they're semi expensive but easy to replace. Next time I'll fold them in.
Needs a cage, so that'll be coming soon.
Other than that stuff it's been a pretty solid little pre-runner/expo truck and my family and especialy myself, have been having a blast with it. :beer:
Couple high lights...
San Javier Mission near Loreto, Baja Sur
Small fish camp out side Puerto Chale
Not a clue where we were for this one. Baja.
Awesome beaches just south of Muleje, Baja
Cross tube fixin in the middle of no where...
Found some quick sand in Ocotillo Wells. Seriously thought it was going to the bottom for a minute... Hard to explain, but pretty gnarly.
Running around in the mountains near Big Bear.
Barstow Ca. to Laughlin Nv. to watch the Rage at the River and then on to Oatman Az. to hang in the local Saloon.
Loaded
Since the last update on this thread we've had several desert trips, a couple trails, Pre-ran 700 miles of the Baja 1000, ran from Barstow to Laughlin to Oatman Az and back via the dirt.
About 1500-2000 fun off-road miles and 6,000 highway. My wife loves it. My daughter loves it and I couldnt really be much happier with it.
The new drive shaft and non-slip yoke have been flawless. I had the rear springs re-arched and an extra leaf added by Deaver right after the Baja trip which helped hold all the weight I have back there and seemed to eliminate most the axle wrap.
The shock hoops only had one X-tube which broke around mile 950 on the Baja 1000 course and had to be fixed then and there. Ready welder to the rescue... It's since been cut off and done with two tubes and a lot more plate work.
Shot the moon thru two cactuses at 60 mph and cleaned off both mirrors at the same time... Turns out they're semi expensive but easy to replace. Next time I'll fold them in.
Needs a cage, so that'll be coming soon.
Other than that stuff it's been a pretty solid little pre-runner/expo truck and my family and especialy myself, have been having a blast with it. :beer:
Couple high lights...
San Javier Mission near Loreto, Baja Sur
Small fish camp out side Puerto Chale
Not a clue where we were for this one. Baja.
Awesome beaches just south of Muleje, Baja
Cross tube fixin in the middle of no where...
Found some quick sand in Ocotillo Wells. Seriously thought it was going to the bottom for a minute... Hard to explain, but pretty gnarly.
Running around in the mountains near Big Bear.
Barstow Ca. to Laughlin Nv. to watch the Rage at the River and then on to Oatman Az. to hang in the local Saloon.
Loaded
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thecriscokid
Explorer
Who needs a Raptor when you have the skills and experience that you have. Great find of a truck for your plans.Glass and BFG Projects are not cheap bits. Final truck looks like it hauls **s
sniderexciderr
Observer
how did the 37's work out for you before you changed the front suspension? it looks pretty low, was there much lift? i have an expedition i want to put 37's on but keep it low as possible. i'm worried about how they are going to fit. great looking truck by the way.
Humvette
Adventurer
WOW I LOVE IT!!!
Fab:
You are very skilled. I love how it turned out because it is radical yet does not draw too much attention.
Initial buy:
Man you bought the perfect truck for what you wanted! Not many people are good at that.
I am excited to see your future adventures! :smiley_drive:
Man i bought a welder late last year. You have inspired me to go out and burn some rod :wings:
Fab:
You are very skilled. I love how it turned out because it is radical yet does not draw too much attention.
Initial buy:
Man you bought the perfect truck for what you wanted! Not many people are good at that.
I am excited to see your future adventures! :smiley_drive:
Man i bought a welder late last year. You have inspired me to go out and burn some rod :wings:
There was no lift when I picked it up originally. It appeared to me that the torsions had been dropped, and I'm pretty sure the rear comes with a block from the factory. That was also missing...
So my educated guess is that it was actually lowered a bit.
The picture in the first post was how it sat when I picked it up.
Plenty of room with the glass fenders, but the 37's will rub on the inner fender seam if you dont cut it out.
Since I went 4" wider on each side the tire doesnt come anywhere close the wheel well seam anymore.
Also, It had 3.55's and it killed the 5.4L.
I put 488's in it and it's much happier, still leaves a bit to be desired but thats the 5.4's fault, I wouldnt suggest going any lower.
Thanks!
I dig the low key look to. Right down to the stock wheels.
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