I'm supposed too be getting a good job this summer (graduating HS) and I'm thinking of things I need/want to to do my truck.


Need:
- Rebuild/new engine
- I hate the 302. I want to rebuild a 351w and put in its place. I'm also
considering a 300I6 though.

- Rebuild Front-end.
- My front-end's shot (all bushings, ball-joints, ect.)
- I plan on a lift later (hopefully by end of summer) so should I wait and
do that then?


Want:
- Lift
- F-250 leaf springs in the back and F-250 coils with 2in spacers in front
to level.
- 33x12.50r15 Courser CT's

- Paint & Accessories
- Burnt orange main color. More of a burnt orange with slightly more
copper tone to it. Maybe a black rocker panel strip.
- Black powder-coated custom bumpers, front with brushguard
- Black diamond-plate toolbox.
- Black lightbar with rectangular KC offroad lights.


That's all the major ideas I have. Anyone have any suggestions or advice? Any criticism is accepted too.

 

Dont forget the winch if you go off road you should always have a winch. i also recomend rearward facing lights so you can see clear if you need to back off a tree or a chevy is in the way.
Oh and a decent cb Cauz Cell phones dont work to well way out in the woods

 

Rebuild a 351. Dont go i6. If your entire front end is shot lift it high enough to do a straight axle swap. Youll be happier in the long run. Lift it at least 6 inches though and run 34's or 35's especially if your going offroad with it. My truck is about 3 inches short of being able to go through some awesome stuff, which is why im lifting it 6 inches. These trucks will go through anything.

 

Got that covered already. Gonna put 2 forward floods on the sides, 2 forward spots in the middle, a rearward spot in the center, and 2 rearward floods in the other gaps. I'm gonna go for a Cobra CB with dual black wand-type antennas.

351 was my preference, and I'm looking for one...want a ZF-5 and convert to manual too. How high for a straight axle? I'm goin no more than 4in. It's my daily driver and I just wanna play some every once in a while.

Also, what gears get the best mileage with 33's?

 

Ive got 33's on mine with stock 3.55 ls. Mine are 10.50 wide and i can burn rubber now and then. You'll notice a little sluggishness but when u drive it and try not to go over 2000-2300 rpm i get damn good mikeage for that truck. Idk exact numbers. But im saying near 12. Nevermind about the sas if its a daily driver. Stick with a 4 inch. But if youre still wsnting to get serious when you play id think about a 2-3 inch body lift as well and some 34's or 35's. Even with 35's you dont HAVE to regear. But its recomended.

 

I'm thinking I'll stick with the 3.55 at first and swap to a 3.73 if it feels like it needs it. Would I be better off with 4in lift 1/2ton coils or 3/4ton coils with a spacer to make 4in? I figure the bumper i'll build will way atleast 300lbs.

 

You are going to need to buy a lift. Youll save money that way, heres why:
Our trucks have twin i beam front suspenion. An actual lift comes wih i beam drop down brackets. Without these our tires would leterally be running on the very edges of the tread. Especailly if you try to use springs to push em down. Get a lift off of ebay. Do it right.450 bucks solves your problems. Make sure it comes wih extended brake lines. Because if you flex that thing out in the woods with stock brake lines ur liable to snap them in 2 and next thing u know yiu either have very little brakes or probably none. These trucks either need a SAS or drop down brackets to lift it properly. Spacers are not advised either. They will cause the same problem with running on tread. You might be able to squeeze by with an inch spacer. But nothing else. For a 300 pound bumber and a 351 engine ud probably run level and right with a 1 inch spacer and the springs that come with the lift.

 

Ok, thanks alot!

 

No problems. Any questions just message me. Ive been researching the best way to do a lift for these trucks on two different forums and google for almost a year now. So im pretty confident i can help you