1x1_Speed_Craig
Bigger Hammer
- Jan 22, 2014
- 76
- First Name
- Craig
- Willys Model
- Forward Control
- Willys Year:
- 1961
I have build threads on a few other forums, but thought I'd throw one up here, too. In a nutshell, after owning 140+ Jeeps over the last 14 years (most of them parts vehicles), and wanting an FC for a decade, I finally found a great basis for a project.
I'm going the rat rod/patina route for a few key reasons:
The plans:
The FC170 cab donor (see below). I originally started with a different "Dan's Snowplowing" FC170 cab, but plans changed when I found the (better-condition) gray/patina FC170.
Jeep Commander "Saddle Brown" leather seats blend beautifully with the patina, and will add a touch of class to the interior. Matching custom leather arm rests and sun visors will complement the seats.
I wanted a stout, longer-than-stock heavy-duty frame for my project. Rather than work with the original frame, I decide to mount the cab on a late-model F350 Cab & Chassis frame, allowing me to use off-the-shelf suspension & axle parts. Ultimately, I landed on using a 74K-mile 2008 frame, which included the fuel tank, lines, etc. It also has the side pieces for a hitch (but not the center section).
The Ford Body Builder Guide on the Ford Fleet site has been an incredible resource for dimensional data.
I got the narrow F350 Cab & Chassis Dana 80 (71.1" WMS-to-WMS) from the same 2008 F350 C&C. Gear ratio is 3.73.
The front axle is a Dana Super 60 (3.73 ratio) from a 105K-mile 2005 F350 pick-up. I replaced the ball joints, U-joints & pinion seal, and am just finishing up getting the axle & suspension parts cleaned up & painted.
1994 Cummins 12v 6BT, 230K miles
Rebuilt 1994-1995 Dodge 47RH 4WD automatic transmission & 2001 NP241 DHD transfer case
I'm going the rat rod/patina route for a few key reasons:
- I LOVE the look of the natural finish on this truck!
- My budget is pretty limited, so much in the spirit of the rat rod movement, I'm piecing together the best parts to build the truck I want to build...for limited out-of-pocket. I don't have any intention of paying thousands of dollars for bodywork & paint. In fact, I hope to have less in the whole truck than what it would cost for a high-end paint job.
- Interior will have some creature comforts, and be comfortable enough for long-distance travel.
- The truck needs to serve multiple purposes, including light towing (car hauling), expedition/camping, and fair-weather daily driving here & there.
The plans:
- Repair the floors in the cab and neutralize exterior rust as much as possible. Prep/paint the interior nicely, but retain the existing exterior paint scheme/patina, rust, etc.
- Mount the cab on a 2008 Ford F350 Cab and Chassis frame (see below) painted nicely in satin black.
- Mid-engine install of a '95 Cummins 6BT, 47RH 4WD transmission and 2001 Dodge NP241 DHD Transfer Case.
- Build custom bumpers.
- Build a semi-custom bed. The original bed is shot, so repair is not an option. Some of you chimed in and suggested rebuilding a bed like the stock one, but for me, the flatbed will give me the utility I need, and be a lot easier/cheaper than trying to reconstruct the stock-style bed.
- Tire size? Stock F350 (~31-32" tall).
- Must be built with a meager budget.
The FC170 cab donor (see below). I originally started with a different "Dan's Snowplowing" FC170 cab, but plans changed when I found the (better-condition) gray/patina FC170.
Jeep Commander "Saddle Brown" leather seats blend beautifully with the patina, and will add a touch of class to the interior. Matching custom leather arm rests and sun visors will complement the seats.
I wanted a stout, longer-than-stock heavy-duty frame for my project. Rather than work with the original frame, I decide to mount the cab on a late-model F350 Cab & Chassis frame, allowing me to use off-the-shelf suspension & axle parts. Ultimately, I landed on using a 74K-mile 2008 frame, which included the fuel tank, lines, etc. It also has the side pieces for a hitch (but not the center section).
The Ford Body Builder Guide on the Ford Fleet site has been an incredible resource for dimensional data.
I got the narrow F350 Cab & Chassis Dana 80 (71.1" WMS-to-WMS) from the same 2008 F350 C&C. Gear ratio is 3.73.
The front axle is a Dana Super 60 (3.73 ratio) from a 105K-mile 2005 F350 pick-up. I replaced the ball joints, U-joints & pinion seal, and am just finishing up getting the axle & suspension parts cleaned up & painted.
1994 Cummins 12v 6BT, 230K miles
Rebuilt 1994-1995 Dodge 47RH 4WD automatic transmission & 2001 NP241 DHD transfer case
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