Big Bertha

[philofab]

Some people on FSB wanted to see some more on this thing but there was not anywhere to post it.

It is a 97 Ford F250HD Crew Cab short bed. 460 engine with a E4OD trans, 2wd. I've had it for about 5 or 6 years now. I am currently redoing the suspension. Truck has a Sterling 10.25 with 4.10 gears and a factory limited slip, H2 wheels with OMF rings, and 37" Toyo M/Ts. The rear end is now spring under with 9" lift national. The pack is a custom pack with about 12 leaves and 3" wide.






Current plants are custom beams and radius arms with D44HD ends, SAW 2.5 shocks all the way around, Giant engine cage (mounts 16" coil over on the front), fiberglass front and rear, cage, +4 per a side front and rear.

[Nick]

Nice!

[bajascott]

nice truck philo!

[Silverslk]

Thats a nice truck!!!

[Rednek Renegade]

Nice truck to start! Make sure to update us.

[philofab]

The rear still sits a little tall for my tastes... but I won't know until I do the front end if I can get away with it lower.




Tuckin 37s yo!

[BajaBronco13]

Man I like this truck. I'd love to see it with a utility bed and used a chase rig. Very cool.

[philofab]

Man I like this truck. I'd love to see it with a utility bed and used a chase rig. Very cool.

Doc Glass has one with a Powerstroke.

[philofab]

Finally did some work to the beast. I put the glass I had on the front. Rumor is this is the first set of fenders Glassworks made for our trucks... It used to be on a certain black extra cab Camburg F150.





Now all I have to do is build beams, radius arms, a bed cage to support the spares and glass, relocate the battery, build a wider rear axle, repaint it, install a 6BT Cummins, and purchase a set of Bilstein shocks for it.

[tcm glx]

That glass looks like it fit great !

[philofab]

That glass looks like it fit great !

It wasn't too bad. The glass had already been professionally installed on a Camburg truck and then body worked and painted. It's not perfect if you nit pick it but no glass is...

[ChaseTruck754]

effin sweet!!!!

Love this thing man!

[BajaBronco13]

Looking good Philo.

Are you going to do the Sterling rear disc conversion?

Chris

[philofab]

Looking good Philo.

Are you going to do the Sterling rear disc conversion?

Chris

Not sure on the rear end yet. It currently has some evil 2" wheel spacers but I need it to be 4" over per a side to mach the front. The problem is a stock LH axle is 37.5" long and no one makes aftermarket axles longer than about 40". So I am stuck with widening one side more than the other or converting it to a D60 style hub that does no protrude as far past the WMS. If I convert it to a D60 style snout/hub I may use new OEM GM/Mopar disks with an integral e-brake. I am not a fan of Caddy style e-brake calipers or not have an e-brake at all. Another option might be Ford F-450 unit bearing hubs with a axle slug combo.

I'm also not sure how well it will hold up to a built 6BT Cummins... I plan on installing everything Banks makes for them. My understanding is it will be about 700-800 ft pounds of torque.

[BajaBronco13]

What about a rear end like Ruff Stuff's axles? Sounds like you may need an aftermarket rear end.

[philofab]

What about a rear end like Ruff Stuff's axles? Sounds like you may need an aftermarket rear end.

I need a VSS in the rear for now and possibly after the engine swap so the speedo works right. A Sterling center is quite strong but I may be better off with a D80 or equivalent. I'm not sure I want to spend 4K+ on a rear if I can modify my Sterling for about 1K.

[philofab]

Did a little work on the truck today. Started the bed cage and battery mounts.



I wish I had more time... I miss driving this thing.

[philofab]

I'm working on it again...

[hobbyturnedobsession]

thats a nice truck philo, I've never seen a truck like that with glass. Definately a one off truck.

[BajaBronco13]

Looking good Philo. Any chance you can post a side view?