pro touring truck?

[chet]

Hi there I have been a lurker on here for quite a while. I have been looking for a mid '60's mustang but have put that on hold for the time being.



I do have a '79 f100 short box. Its a bare bones good starter truck right now. what do you think of a pro-touring truck? My only problem is lack of suspension for the front. I can get lowered I-beams from a couple of different places or fatmans makes a MII cross member for it. I will eventually run a stroked 302 and a 5 spd.

I used to race a '77 demo truck (circle track) and we liked the twin I-beam for strength. We could pull lap times faster than the demo cars with a comparable motor!

Does anyone got some pics for quick reference? I see lots of chev trucks but no fords thats one of my main reasons for going this route.

[TheRoadVirus]

I think it's a cool idea. I'm a fellow ford truck owner that's going the route you are.. I've been told the I-beam suspension isn't so hot for handling, but I want the Belltech I-beams and I'm going to do a flip kit on the rear for now. Trucks can look just as mean as cars, in my opinion.. with enough work I'm sure it could perform comparibly. I've got a 5 spd and a 302.. I want to swap in a 351 eventually and turbo it (down the road) next winter it will get AFR heads/Cam/Intake, though.

Here's a pic;

That batman symbol will be gone as soon as I get it out of storage. Previous owner put it on, heh. I've got the new one sitting here along with my other goodies.

[chet]

nice truck. Ya the I-beam has no camber or caster adjustment which sucks. If you get a full eurothane bushing set it really tightens them up. Your better off than I am I have a 300 six and a 3 on the tree right now! No PS or PB its about the most basic truck I have ever seen. But with what I want to do to it I figured no reason to spend $$$ on items I will be removing or changing.

[TheRoadVirus]

nice truck. Ya the I-beam has no camber or caster adjustment which sucks. If you get a full eurothane bushing set it really tightens them up. Your better off than I am I have a 300 six and a 3 on the tree right now! No PS or PB its about the most basic truck I have ever seen. But with what I want to do to it I figured no reason to spend $$$ on items I will be removing or changing.

I am pretty lucky. I pretty much bought a semi-complete truck. I'm only 18, and recently at that. The steering isn't as tight as I wish it could be and I've been told I won't be able to get a rack and pinion for it.. But hey, at least you can build the motor right the first time and not have to pull out a decent one. (Like I will eventually, maybe I'll just blow it up first. )

I'm getting those I-beams, better coils, and the flip kit.. the front was raised two inches by the last owner with BB coils apparently. To "match" the rear. It looks decent but I like the low and aggressive look. I don't think I'll be able to squeeze the tires I have now if I drop the front and rear 5 inches. The front tires already rub on full lock on the control arm.

Is there any control arms that would transfer over?

[69Nova]

I am just starting a new project soon and it is a truck. It is a newer truck but it will be a street fighter and be all business with no frills. Mine will be a very cheap build that should teach me alot.

[6'9"Witha69]

Trucks are cool. I have no idea what the susp. is like on the newer Ferds, but there are coils and control arms with an I Beam? Unless it is like the Broncos. I can see that, but then wouldn't they be trailing arms/links?
When the Camaro is done I will definitely be lowering the '62, adding PS and power disc brakes (currently manual drums all around with a single master cylinder, SCARY!). Oh yeah, and 20" wheels and tires since the stock 15x6 wheels with caps are ugly.

Good luck. Sounds like a fun project. Remember, as long as it stops, handles and accelates better than stock . . .

[6'9"Witha69]

BTW,

[TheRoadVirus]

I'll have plenty of pics once I get it out of storage and add some of these goodies I have waiting, plus videos. :D Even if you weren't talking to me..

Can't wait.. counting the days. 58. Lol.

[Bob Johnson]

Hi there I have been a lurker on here for quite a while. I have been looking for a mid '60's mustang but have put that on hold for the time being.

I do have a '79 f100 short box. Its a bare bones good starter truck right now. what do you think of a pro-touring truck? My only problem is lack of suspension for the front. I can get lowered I-beams from a couple of different places or fatmans makes a MII cross member for it. I will eventually run a stroked 302 and a 5 spd.

I used to race a '77 demo truck (circle track) and we liked the twin I-beam for strength. We could pull lap times faster than the demo cars with a comparable motor!

Does anyone got some pics for quick reference? I see lots of chev trucks but no fords thats one of my main reasons for going this route.

if you're going to spend a lot of money on anything, start off with a vehicle that will sell for some money when you're tired of it. A 79 Ford truck isn't going to return the money you spend on it. Use an older classic truck and you stand to recoup most of your investment. 56 Ford is the best truck to use in the Ford line. Ford sold their pro-touring factory effort for over 200K at Barrett Jackson. A friend of mine is just finishing his 55 Ford F1..he put a 03 Mustang Cobra blower motor, 6 speed trans, and the independent cobra rear end..a set of forged BBS wheels..pretty cool pro-touring piece..he's going to take it on the power tour if they will respond to him

[4CFED90]

hello!! first off awesome site, i have been lurking for a bit, love the rides.. hhmmm

im going the pro-touring route with mine. its a 90 Ford Ranger.

i traded the old interior in for one from a new ranger, didnt like the boxiness, new gauges, corbeau seat and harness.. etc.. got a 2.3t in from a TC and currently working on the body, i also have some 20" boyd timeless II's that need to make thier way on there soon .

[chet]

if you're going to spend a lot of money on anything, start off with a vehicle that will sell for some money when you're tired of it. A 79 Ford truck isn't going to return the money you spend on it. Use an older classic truck and you stand to recoup most of your investment. 56 Ford is the best truck to use in the Ford line. Ford sold their pro-touring factory effort for over 200K at Barrett Jackson. A friend of mine is just finishing his 55 Ford F1..he put a 03 Mustang Cobra blower motor, 6 speed trans, and the independent cobra rear end..a set of forged BBS wheels..pretty cool pro-touring piece..he's going to take it on the power tour if they will respond to him

Why would i sell it!? I know what your saying and I would love to do a '55 f-100 (I have been looking at a few) but up here most are rust buckets and would require a complete frame off to get them close to where I could start the upgrading. with the truck I got now it will be a driver as I do the mods (hopefully!)

I will leave the '55 for later in my life when my newborn son can help me.

[EastCoast]

Oh hey, trucks can be kewl. I'm pretty sure my camaro is not going to out handle my friends truck (once he's done).

http://www.hemihouse.com/index.html

Robb

[Bob Johnson]

Why would i sell it!? I know what your saying and I would love to do a '55 f-100 (I have been looking at a few) but up here most are rust buckets and would require a complete frame off to get them close to where I could start the upgrading. with the truck I got now it will be a driver as I do the mods (hopefully!)

I will leave the '55 for later in my life when my newborn son can help me.

I have a 66 Ford F 100..red on red..frame off restoration..new everything..heavily modified chassis..custom dash..leather interior.. built cobra jet 429 engine 4 wheel discs ps pdb new vintage air(not fully installed)top notch truck..$25,000.00..it's very fast and less than 300 miles..60K invested..why waste time building one..you can buy mine

[Steve1968LS2]

I have a 66 Ford F 100..red on red..frame off restoration..new everything..heavily modified chassis..custom dash..leather interior.. built cobra jet 429 engine 4 wheel discs ps pdb new vintage air(not fully installed)top notch truck..$25,000.00..it's very fast and less than 300 miles..60K invested..why waste time building one..you can buy mine

Damn.. stop tempting me with stuff like this..

[TheRoadVirus]

Damn, is that ever nice. That thing should handle pretty well! Alot less weight hanging over the front than my 302, that's for sure. I haven't been able to get a response out of the Ford truck board I post on.. I want to lower the rear but I don't want to lower it the full 5 inches of the flip kit. Is there any other way? De-arching the springs, maybe? Just wanted to throw that out there..

I want a little bit of rake to it, and the fronts already been lifted a couple inches to match the rear. So I was thinking drop the rear, 3 - 4 inches.. front 3 inches.

[rcotteleer]

They used to race Rangers (i-beam style) in the old SCCA pro truck class and we used to race them on short ovals. They would turn okay, but the i-beam trucks have 2 major diadvantages: A) the front geometry causes some pretty significant jacking effects and B) you also have a pretty high CG. Not a terribly stable combination. You could actually drive them up on 2 wheels with dot race rubber.

[383 sten]

pro touring trucks are bad @ss , im building a 93 s10 ill post some pictures after I finish the firewall this weekend, anyone else building one post some pictures