F350 SuperCab 4x4 Lariat 6.2 V8 Build Story - Completed

[Macfly]

This is my first build, so have leant heavily on the experience and advice of many other kind, patient and helpful folks for all the choices that you'll see here.

My goal was to maintain as much of the off-road ability of my beloved old Toyota FJ80 but add full off-grid livability with the possibility to do South America, so that's how I came to order the F350 4x4 6.2 gasser. I ordered the truck in Nov 2021, and as I waited for it, a visit to the Overland Expo in the spring of '22 crystallized my dream when I saw the Eyemgh's Hallmark/Bowen Stormtrooper build.

I added the build sheet for reference and a couple of pictures of it on our first drive the week it arrived in late June. We went from LA to Jackson Hole in 9 hours, it was absolutely 'Love at first Lariat'!

 

[Macfly]

My first planned upgrade was the suspension package, which I had done by the now legendary CJC Off Road. The truck drives very differently with these new parts, and that's just on the road - can't wait to get off road soon!
The full order is below so you can see what's been done so far and also a couple of after shots to show how different the stance is.
(I also ordered a Carli Spare wheel carrier to take the 37" spare in the stock position)

 

[xleratin]

Now you made me want one of those! Why did you go with the 6.2 over the 7.3?

 

[TexasSixSeven]

Love the truck spec, but why not go with the 4.30 gears if you had 37s in mind?

 

[Explorerinil]

Wow costs sure have gone up. I paid 53k for my f250 tremor.

 

[Macfly]

Love the truck spec, but why not go with the 4.30 gears if you had 37s in mind?

To be honest I went with what those who know more than I recommended, what would be the plus or minus of that & my ratio?

 

[Macfly]

Now you made me want one of those! Why did you go with the 6.2 over the 7.3?

I initially ordered the bigger motor, but then I started reading all the problems folks were having with it in mobile homes & bigger buses, and based on the issues they were having not being able to get parts or service I decided to change my order to a more tried and tested unit that should be easy to service and/or fix anywhere I might end up. Besides, coming from a ‘96 Land Cruiser this thing still has way more power that I’m used to!

 

[Explorerinil]

I initially ordered the bigger motor, but then I started reading all the problems folks were having with it in mobile homes & bigger buses, and based on the issues they were having not being able to get parts or service I decided to change my order to a more tried and tested unit that should be easy to service and/or fix anywhere I might end up. Besides, coming from a ‘96 Land Cruiser this thing still has way more power that I’m used to!

There haven’t been many problems, a few have had issues with a spark plug wire, which has been addressed.

 

[TexasSixSeven]

To be honest I went with what those who know more than I recommended, what would be the plus or minus of that & my ratio?

The 4.30s will be behave more like stock gearing with stock sized tires. The 3.73s with 37s won’t accelerate as well, nor will it maintain overdrive as well at highway speeds. It will hunt gears a bit more unless you lock out 10th and possible 9th as well.

 

[Klutch7]

Nice truck. Looking forward to following along. Liking the Carli/37 set-up.

 

[Macfly]

The 4.30s will be behave more like stock gearing with stock sized tires. The 3.73s with 37s won’t accelerate as well, nor will it maintain overdrive as well at highway speeds. It will hunt gears a bit more unless you lock out 10th and possible 9th as well.

How hard/expensive is it to change the FDR now, and do you think the cost is worth the doing?

 

[Macfly]

There haven’t been many problems, a few have had issues with a spark plug wire, which has been addressed.

Happy to hear it's getting sorted out now, but back when I was ordering there were just too many horror stories out there.

 

[TexasSixSeven]

How hard/expensive is it to change the FDR now, and do you think the cost is worth the doing?

Costs at the time of order was $390. Cost to regear now would run about $2500-3000. Not worth that much IMO. The 10 speed won’t be as effected as a transmission with less gears.

 

[Macfly]

The next step in the build is the Vice Designs front bumper with the built-in Warn winch. I really liked the design in pictures and was also happy that they offered to have it color matched to the truck, but once it arrived the real wow was the quality of the metal work, this thing is a work of welding art!

 

[Ninelitetrip]

Are you sticking with the factory bed or going with a flatbed?