Building a pro-touring crew cab truck

[ANIMOSITY]

But Im unsure about which way to go with the frame.

Ive done the frame("Z"ed) the front clip, and shorted the frame frome a long bed to a short bed crew cab. But Im just not happy with it.

Im thinking of building the truck into a UNIBODY. Not welding the bed to the cab look. Im talking about building the frame into the cab itself. Im thinking that I can use 2x3 box tube, and it will be stonger with the cab reducing frame flex. I have a 2000 f150 front frame clip that I just bought, that has the full susp,steer, and brakes. SO Im thinking of going with a later model f150 running gear (gen 2 lightning) But am really thinking of the unibody. I want this truck to be fast, and handle. Not just drag rails. I want to build a true SPORT TRUCK.

Im used to building Unibody cars, like my 96 cobra for drag racing. and the 68 stang used used to have. I just think that this frame is really heavy, and I would like to lighten things up alittle. And Im thinking that a 200 f150 front susp, and maybe a Linc Navigator IRS
would handle well. Plus there are plaenty of after markey susp parts for the later model Fords.
Anyone have any feed back?

[ProMav71]

I think it's a cool idea. You never stated what kind of truck. I assume a Ford. I would use 2x4 sq. tubing though. 2x3 seems to be mainly used in racing apps. Maybe someone experienced in building frames will pipe in. I do like your idea though.

[ANIMOSITY]

I think it's a cool idea. You never stated what kind of truck. I assume a Ford. I would use 2x4 sq. tubing though. 2x3 seems to be mainly used in racing apps. Maybe someone experienced in building frames will pipe in. I do like your idea though.


Sorry, its a 92 frord f350 crew cab dually.
here are pics of what I have, and what I want to build.

[Mathius]

But Im unsure about which way to go with the frame.

Ive done the frame("Z"ed) the front clip, and shorted the frame frome a long bed to a short bed crew cab. But Im just not happy with it.

Im thinking of building the truck into a UNIBODY. Not welding the bed to the cab look. Im talking about building the frame into the cab itself. Im thinking that I can use 2x3 box tube, and it will be stonger with the cab reducing frame flex. I have a 2000 f150 front frame clip that I just bought, that has the full susp,steer, and brakes. SO Im thinking of going with a later model f150 running gear (gen 2 lightning) But am really thinking of the unibody. I want this truck to be fast, and handle. Not just drag rails. I want to build a true SPORT TRUCK.

Im used to building Unibody cars, like my 96 cobra for drag racing. and the 68 stang used used to have. I just think that this frame is really heavy, and I would like to lighten things up alittle. And Im thinking that a 200 f150 front susp, and maybe a Linc Navigator IRS
would handle well. Plus there are plaenty of after markey susp parts for the later model Fords.
Anyone have any feed back?

Are you looking at a truck you can still haul with or just trying to make a truck operate like a pro-touring car? I would think going with a design such as any 60's or 70's pro touring built muscle car would achieve similar results. The weight of a pickup should be considerably less, but the rear wheel drive properties remain the same. Weight distribution would be a factor with no weight in the bed, and also I would assume the size of your cab will be a factor as well, since there are 2 door, 3 door, and 4 door cabs available now.

Mathius