frozenmoustache
New member
Not very often does a plan of mine actually come to fruition. I'll often start a build, decide it's either impractical, to much work, or just lose interest all together. It's something I've struggled with for years.
Back in 2017 I bought this one owner 1987 F250. Dan (the previous owner) had used it to travel down to Florida every winter since new with his slide in camper. It was after a hospital check-up and a heart murmer that he was refused travel insurance and could no longer drive across the border. I paid his asking price of $2500 for the carb'd 351W, C6 equipped truck.
Fast forward to the summer of last year when the original transmission became equipped with 4 neutral gears I decided that I was going to do something different.
Arguably I have a difficult time deciding what I wanted to do. It was going to be LS powered, as efficient and reliable as possible, and most importantly serviceable. I purchased a 1999 GMC Sierra for parts with the push button 4x4 because I thought it would be cool to retrofit it. But decided that the cool factor wasn't enough for a weaker unit. I also wanted decent mileage and towing so I picked up a Nv4500 with a matching NP271 case (could be a 241, I can't remember). Then in a strike of brilliance I decided that a 5.3 wasn't enough, so I bought a wrecked '04 Yukon Denali for $1000 and yanked out the 6L.
So where does that leave me?
Well the plan (currently) is LQ4, NV4500, NP271, 2006 Superduty Dana 60 with coil springs, Sterling 10.5 full float leaf sprung (maybe airbags), and a boxed frame. Rear will have traction bars, front will be 4 linked.
I am having a hard time finding a bellhousing for the NV4500 used, and that's the only thing preventing me from mocking up the engine and transmission for all the mounts.
My workspace is a garage attached to my family's barn. I'm fortunate that it keeps me out of the elements, but I have limited power. I'm able to have lights on, and use a grinder - provided I don't lean on it too much. But that's the most power I have at my disposal.
Until I bought
More or less all of the fabrication will be done with this Ranger, whether it be the welding itself or just as a power supply.
First order of business? Clean-up.
Back in 2017 I bought this one owner 1987 F250. Dan (the previous owner) had used it to travel down to Florida every winter since new with his slide in camper. It was after a hospital check-up and a heart murmer that he was refused travel insurance and could no longer drive across the border. I paid his asking price of $2500 for the carb'd 351W, C6 equipped truck.
Fast forward to the summer of last year when the original transmission became equipped with 4 neutral gears I decided that I was going to do something different.
Arguably I have a difficult time deciding what I wanted to do. It was going to be LS powered, as efficient and reliable as possible, and most importantly serviceable. I purchased a 1999 GMC Sierra for parts with the push button 4x4 because I thought it would be cool to retrofit it. But decided that the cool factor wasn't enough for a weaker unit. I also wanted decent mileage and towing so I picked up a Nv4500 with a matching NP271 case (could be a 241, I can't remember). Then in a strike of brilliance I decided that a 5.3 wasn't enough, so I bought a wrecked '04 Yukon Denali for $1000 and yanked out the 6L.
So where does that leave me?
Well the plan (currently) is LQ4, NV4500, NP271, 2006 Superduty Dana 60 with coil springs, Sterling 10.5 full float leaf sprung (maybe airbags), and a boxed frame. Rear will have traction bars, front will be 4 linked.
I am having a hard time finding a bellhousing for the NV4500 used, and that's the only thing preventing me from mocking up the engine and transmission for all the mounts.
My workspace is a garage attached to my family's barn. I'm fortunate that it keeps me out of the elements, but I have limited power. I'm able to have lights on, and use a grinder - provided I don't lean on it too much. But that's the most power I have at my disposal.
Until I bought
More or less all of the fabrication will be done with this Ranger, whether it be the welding itself or just as a power supply.
First order of business? Clean-up.