If I had money... and a big, well-equipped shop...shop

[Andy Perreault]

If I had money... and a big, well-equipped shop

... I would build what I think would be a really cool vehicle: I'd take a newer-body-style Ford E350 diesel van with a good body but a wrecked engine... tear it down to the bone, drop in a Cummins, and convert it to 4-wheel drive. I don't know what transmission I would use. An Allison might be too big and expensive. I think the easiest way would be to take the entire engine/auto trans/transfer case combination out of a wrecked Dodge and have Bill Kondolay work his magic on the transmission. Maybe install a U. S. Gear between the transmission and transfer case.

This idea will remain just that, an idea, for the next few years, at least. Or maybe forever.

Anybody else have a "dream combination"?

How about a '78-79 Ford F250 SuperCab 4X4 with a Cummins? I owned a '79 regular cab for 13 years, and I still gawk and drool when I see a clean one, especially a SuperCab.



Okay, let's hear what your project vehicle would be, if you had the money, time, tools, and a big enough shop.

Andy

 

[John]

Re: If I had money... and a big, well-equipped shop

Originally posted by Andy Perreault

How about a '78-79 Ford F250 SuperCab 4X4 with a Cummins? I owned a '79 regular cab for 13 years

Hey Andy, make sure you negotiate an extra front bumper into the deal... just in case.



DOH!

 

[Andy Perreault]

 

[Power Wagon]

A FORD????? FOORRRDDD?????





And I used to think so highly of you Andy... .



A Ford????















{sigh}

 

[Nordby]

I'm with ya. I owned a '79 F150 SuperCab Lariet 4x4. 9" rear, C6 auto. Gas pig/gutless with a 400M. I was the second owner, had 89K miles on it.



My project will be, someday, a 78 F250 Crew Cab 4x4 Shortbed, hard as hell to find them anymore, and I will be putting a 96-98 12V in it. I owned one of these in 2wd with a 460. Cool truck, rocked down the road, I planned on converting it. Quit my job, so I had to sell the truck (spouse deal, the job was really that bad).



later,jon

 

[willyslover]

HELLL Andy. . one more project and my wife is going to kill me now. .

Buttttt a 30x60 or 40x60 shop would make enough room for a few more to be hidden from her LOL

just need to build it. . got plenty of room but the power co. would kill me on the shop. . 100 yards to site, 3phase 300 amp service is pricey HEHE

 

[CPFF]

Yeah Andy, your right. Thats the only regret I have, I should have used a Super Cab when I built this one. Its hard to get the high back bucket seats back far enough -- they hit the rear window.

 

[JMarkos]

I'm definitly with ya. I just happen to have a freshly built 77 supercab short bed 3/4 ton 4x4 in my shop. For some reason I put a 454 choker in it , I guess it did haul some tail, but I Couldn't keep the cam from going flat. I would love to find a Cummins to put in it. Maybe that will be my 4 year old's project in about 10 years after the 01 is paid for.

 

[americana]

that's easy!!!

a '47 power wagon body on a modern dodge cummins. i would even transplant a 4BT or an ISB3. 9 if it would fit better.



anyone know of anyone that has done this?



transplanting an a cummins into an old power wagon wouldn't do it for me. i want modern brakes frame etc.

 

[CCahill]

I had a friend that found a rolled 97 x-cab 4x gasser, took off the body and mounted a body from a 65-65 International truck on the frame, used the DC seats, AC, the whole schmear..... way ugly!!!!!!... but pop the hood and way impressed... . plus it went down the road like a new truck... ... ... ... .



Colin

 

[Evan A. Beck]

I'd have two projects going...



One, to build the ULTIMATE cruising truck... a 2001 Ford F350 Crew Cab 2WD dually with a Cummins and NV5600 6-speed. I will do this conversion someday... The Fords are really spacious inside, and ride sweet.



The other project is to put an 8. 3 in a '95 Ram 3500 CC 2WD. SHould be easy to do, as the 8. 3 is very close in size & weight to the 5. 9.

 

[illflem]

If I had the time I'd drop a CTD in a '63 Cadillac convertible, beef up the rear suspension, mount a 5th wheel on the trunk and use it to pull a 42' fiver. Can't you see me now, passing all you guys in your Dodges on every hill, neck scarf flappin in the breeze.

 

[Crash_AF]

Re: If I had money... and a big, well-equipped shop

Originally posted by Andy Perreault

How about a '78-79 Ford F250 SuperCab 4X4 with a Cummins? I owned a '79 regular cab for 13 years, and I still gawk and drool when I see a clean one, especially a SuperCab.

Workin' it right now Andy... I got a 79 F-250 Supercab longbed 4x4 that someone had swapped a 302 into and wasn't happy with the lack of power. So I now have the truck stripped down to the frame to rebuild it from the ground up. It was a 400M 4 speed truck with a 205 and Dana 60s front and rear.



I'll keep y'all posted as the project comes together.



Later,

Joe

 

[Scot]

"How about a '78-79 Ford F250 SuperCab 4X4 with a Cummins? I owned a '79 regular cab for 13 years, and I still gawk and drool when I see a clean one, especially a SuperCab"



Bought the frame a couple of weeks ago and will pick up the donor body (79 XLT or Lariat) as soon as the doc releases me. Hope to do the paint and body before deer season and find an engine after the first of the year.



Will post photos as I progress.

 

[Andy Perreault]

I was digging back into the past on this forum and I came across this topic that I started back in 2001. I thought it might be fun to see if other members have any "dream conversions" they'd like to do. I'm still hoping to do my van project someday.

Scot, how about an update on your '79 Ford Supercab?

Andy

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Hey Andy...



There's a blue 78 or 79 Ford F250 running around Enumclaw with a 5. 9L in it... It's blue, you can't miss it. I just saw it on Tuesday...

 

[Brayden]

hmm. Dream swap. . I'd say circa 1998 S10 ZR2, solid axles, 24v w/ p-pump, 40" tires. . oh wait. . I'm doing that. .

 

[y-knot]

I have an 33' ford i'd love to restore and drop a 5. 9 ctd into it. Never seen one at the shows, and the sound and look on everyones face would be great.

 

[WadePatton]

I'm witchya

I still have my 77 F150, wish like heck is was a 250!



So one of these days I'll stuff a 5. 9 12v into a 76-9 F250, Super Cab, LB, XLT Camper SPECIAL, maybe even 4WD. Might pull it too.

 

[BV]

No Money & Small shop but ......

My project is a 92 F350 with toasted 7. 3 NA diesel. I'm in the process of pulling the front end off so I can stuff a 94-98 12v Cummins under the hood. Shopping for the killer B also in the process.



Believe it or not - It's mostly the wifes idea. Seating for 6 and power to pull the TT & Boat



Oh - I would accept donations if anyone is feeling generous



Forgot to mention - The mid-70's F series are sweet but you will need to trim the cross member to fit in a Cummins - 89 and newer drop in without the cut.