1969 Ford Crew Conversion......

[HRDROKN]

Hey All,



Well after a 1600 mile round trip to Arizona and back, we safely arrived home with our next project truck. The plan will be to strip her down bare and build her back up... . with a P-pumped Cummins of course :-laf

 

[Niki]

Nice looking truck. You guys out west are so lucky, it seems you have an unending supply of solid old vehicles. You'd be lucky to find a 99 Ford that was that clean in the rust belt...

 

[MMiller]

Are you going to keep the wheels? I'd love to have a set of those, or at least two more to complete my set... ... . Are you going to leave it that tall, or bring it back down a little to a more usable height?



Great looking truck to start with. I agree with Niki, everything rusts here.



Michael

 

[HRDROKN]

I'll let you know on the wheels as I may go to a larger diameter wheel, but this will be a down the road decision.



As far as the height goes? No decision there either... . I like big trucks, always had lifted trucks... I'll just have to point the exhaust down lower for smoking tailgaters... :-laf

 

[MMiller]

I like big trucks too, but if its a driver, I get tired of attacking the truck to get in..... After a weekend of wheeling, I get tired of crawling in and out of my 38" tired offroad truck.



Michael

 

[EarlKann]

You sold my Dodge for a Ford?





Just kidding, good luck with your new project!

 

[HRDROKN]

You sold my Dodge for a Ford?





Just kidding, good luck with your new project!

:-laf :-laf :-laf



Well... I almost bought a 1966 Jeep Cherokee for a Cummins conversion, then that dang craigs list conjured up a Ford!



My wife was complaining that the second gen Dodges just didn't have enough back seat room... and we looked at quite a few! Then every time we found an old truck, regardless of it being project worthy... she just got all excited over it...



Even thought about every angle to strip my 05' hemi and put a 12ver in it, but the laws just wouldn't support that decision. :{

 

[HRDROKN]

So I'm looking forward to a total strip down and rebuild... regardless of the time it takes. We have a few rust issues and I have already begun attacking that little demon



At some point I want to see if someone has a bare block that they are willing to lend me for mock-up. Then I will most likely start looking for a doner truck... but for know I will consentrate on the body/chassis.

 

[MPlunk]

mark,

good looking crew! i will be whatching this build up. i told you once you have a crew it sure is hard to go back to not havin one. good luck with it.

 

[HRDROKN]

Questions....

What is the reason for dropping the motor down? Is it a center of gravity thing or some other clearance issue?



Is it the lowering of the motor that causes the AC compressor clearance issue?



Can any of these problems be avoided with a mild (1") body lift or firewall modification?



Motor mounts... buy pre fabed or fab your own??? Are there some problems with using factory Dodge mounts? Clearance issues w/factory mounts?

 

[DValentine]

Gee Michael beat me to it. I too would like those rims. I will stand in line second to him, and pray MM finds some before you decide to move up. LOL

Very nice truck. I know of one that is beat pretty badly here in Montana. Yours is sure sharp. How are the inner fenders where the hood hinges bolt on? I am a older chevy man, but am partial to the older fords as well.

Good luck and like others, will follow your process here.

Regards,

Dave

 

[HRDROKN]

How are the inner fenders where the hood hinges bolt on? I am a older chevy man, but am partial to the older fords as well.

Dave

Hey Dave,



The inner fenders around the hood hinges look great! I do need to do some cutting and welding in some other areas though... .

 

[HRDROKN]

Working on my "rust free" floor plan... .

 

[WDixon27]

theres usually one or two of the plastic mock up blocks floating around on ebay, a little pricey but much lighter

At some point I want to see if someone has a bare block that they are willing to lend me for mock-up. Then I will most likely start looking for a doner truck... but for know I will consentrate on the body/chassis.

 

[HRDROKN]

WD,



Thanks for that bit of info... I didn't know that there was any such thing. I'll keep an eye out on that one!

 

[HRDROKN]

Ouch... . you aren't kidding at $450. 00

 

[nickleinonen]

looks like an awesome project. . that will be a good looking truck once completed. .

 

[9 Lives]

The only problem with using the stock mounts for a 12 valve is they stick out wider than the area that fords mount to the frame. Unless you want to cut 2" of each side of the mounts.

 

[Scot]

What is the reason for dropping the motor down? Is it a center of gravity thing or some other clearance issue?



Is it the lowering of the motor that causes the AC compressor clearance issue?



Can any of these problems be avoided with a mild (1") body lift or firewall modification?



Motor mounts... buy pre fabed or fab your own??? Are there some problems with using factory Dodge mounts? Clearance issues w/factory mounts?

The compressor sits low on the right. That ends up being right where the x-member is. The frame is also narrower. I do not think you could ever raise it high enough to clear. For the 77. 5-79's there is little play front to back, up or down or side to side on the engine. Find my gallery on fordtrucks.com. I have dimensions that will help you locate the engine.



Motor mounts. I spent a good deal of time inventing the wheel trying to figure out how to mount mine. I would have gladly paid a few hundred bucks to just bolt some in.

 

[HRDROKN]

Update.....

Slowly progressing, but moving forward none the less... . Look at the hack job some previous owner did on that frame rail where the steering box mounts



I have decided to fab up new frame rails from 6"x3" and maybe fab up a new x-member while I'm at it.



Pics.....