1997 f250 prerunner build

[jimmyd]

yeah the rims are 16's and 8 on 6.5, and i understand that the alcoas are stronger. my buddy bought my old tires and rims for his 72 chevy, but he is going to use his stock rims. technically i sold them to him, but i am sure i can work something out if somebody wanted them.

i am definetly going for functionality and over the next couple years i want to build this into a full on long travel truck, but for right now i am going for looks. the main reason i started this project was due to the tremedous amount of rust as well as the front suspension being totally shot ( bushings, balljoints, leafs..). the bed of the truck around the wheel wells are totaly rusted out all the way around and about 2" up, so i am pretty set on getting fiberglass, plus i like the way it looks. so i am not too worried about the tires sticking out too much right now.

this is what i have been drooling over as i am building my truck and kind of what i base my truck off of as i build it
http://offroad.automotive.com/44415/061 ... os0-0.html

[philofab]

I was drooling the first time I saw the SI truck in Laughlin... and about cried when I heard it rolled.

[jimmyd]

what!! i didnt hear that. well hard hearing that stuff all the way out here.

[campbbg]

Well I think its coming together quite nicely. Just picked up the new issue of Offroad Mag and saw that blue crew cab and it reminded me of your build. If you haven't seen it, it might give you a few ideas. Also if you would let me know how those grabbers do in the snow? I am in VA so our climates are more similar than CA. I almost went with them but went with KM2s. But I have another truck that they would work great on in about 6 months.

[jimmyd]

oh yeah i saw that truck! its sweet. its almost the same color as my old bronco. the best part is they kept a lot of the frame, so its not a complete tube chassis, some what stock-ish.

thanks for the good words. I am fabricating everything myself, with my only examples being pictures i am seeing online. no one has even the slightest idea what a coilover is out here. so i am pretty much running solo on this, save for the recent help i have received from a couple guys on here which i really appreciate

[campbbg]

I feel you there I was talking to a co-worker about the bilsteins that I have and whether I had the valving right... and he suggested that if I had a set of Ranchos that it would be better. The typical solution on the east coast is to just go to a 1 ton sas and be done with it.

[jimmyd]

whats the correct way to measure for limit straps? i set it up the coilovers so they will have about 6" up( i do have a bumpstop but take that out) and 6" down. I know the limit strap has about 1" stretch, so like 4" before i add the distance between the frame and arm?

[philofab]

Droop the suspension until it is limited by whatever (u-joints, binding, shock top out, ect) and measure from where ever you want to mount them. Order slightly shorter to account for strap stretch. Something like 1/4" per 10" of strap. Make sure to mount the straps where they can't get bound in springs, shocks, or tires.

[BajaF250]

WHAT, another F250???? Way cool! Can't wait to see what you build and how it comes out! Too bad it's not an early 80's style... I know Steve would love it too!

[jimmyd]

before

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after

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[jimmyd]

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[jimmyd]

I almost done with my tire carrier so that should be done this week sometime. then need to build front bumper. is there a bumper thread on here? and then spend a bunch more cash on my fiberglass.

oh and most guys know that brake fluid messes up paint, it also melts plastic , my grille got eaten up. i had it sitting on my radiator and whatever was on the bottle dripped off and barely ran onto the grille and wrecked it.

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but i already bought an all black one from LMC truck. about one of the only perks to living out here is that LMC Truck is about three miles from my house, so i am always getting new parts and not needing to pay shipping or return if its not what i need. I am also going to black out the headlight bezels and windshield trim.

[ChaseTruck754]

Looking good - aside from the wheels though. Backspacing and overall style of the stock wheels is just hard to beat IMO.

[funinthesun95]

looks great man.....

[Joxracing]

can i ask you where you purchased your front shock hoops? thanks...

[CBDuner]

Looks like he made them...

[bajabuck]

I really like the way you are building your truck. Looks functional and has a style that I dig. If only I could finish my bronco I would start on a build very similar to what you have going. The GFB site has been great but at the same time I wish I had discovered it before I made numerous mistakes in my build. I just did not know what was available and the direction I should have been going. After seeing what people are doing I'm dissatisfied with my vehicle but in way to deep to get out now. Anyway, great build! You should consider making out to a baja race.

[jimmyd]

yeah i made them, built my whole front suspension if you go through the write up.... i am going to bend up a set after work one day next week for my buddy in SD for his bronco. i might be willing to make a few sets if there was some interest

[jimmyd]

so i decided to skin my inner from outer fenders. got up bright and early, had some coffee, went out into the driveway and started.... about 2 hours later i drove my truck 4 miles away to the fab shop i work at, with one fender off the truck and crap hanging down. very quickly i decided not to proceed with that plan. no offense to anyone who has done done it, but i can't imagine why somebody would torture himself that way....

i decided to roll 1'' DOM to build my supports, probably not necessary but looks super cool!

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i still need to do some alignment, and add some dzus buttons, but put in a full weekend building the support. need to get some engine bay shots.

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just need to put about 1 hour into my tire carrier and bumper, and send to powder coat, and that will be done. then build front bumper.

[jimmyd]

last week, before fenders, after car wash

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shock hoop, right before sand blast and paint

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