White 1994 F-150 Sleeper Build

[nubreed71]

I snapped a couple parts pics...just grabbed Steve's old tig welded radius arms...gonna have to rework the lower shock mounting setup, will make that call based on what i decide for the ultimate finishing point for my front suspension (to go coilover or not to go coilover).

Radius arms:



Motor and trans mounts:



Battery box:



Projector headlights:

[nubreed71]

A couple updates...got the projector headlights from Tony installed...wow, what a difference! No more getting the bird from oncoming drivers at night, and the light output is awesome when the high beams are on. This was definitely a great upgrade...I can't recommend it enough!





Also, I decided to remedy something that has been bugging me since I bought the truck...the oxidized windshield trim. I decided to see what all the fuss was about this Plasti Dip stuff...I have to say, I'm, impressed. It went on and then the excess came off just like you see in the videos. It took about 2 hours, and cost about $4 and the trim looks 1000% better.

[nubreed71]

I went back to factory alcoas and stepped it up to 35's. I also started the slow and painful process of removing the body trim...

[nubreed71]

A couple more updates. Got my HID converted Hella 4000's bolted up last night. Just gotta hook up and mount the ballasts this weekend and those are all set.



Also, I came across a deal on some custom 9100 weld tops that I just couldn't pass up (for the rear of the truck) so I'm making the switch to Bilsteins at all 4 corners. Gotta go order up another set of 9100 weld tops for the fronts today.

[nubreed71]

Did a rear LED 3rd brake light. Now all I need is those LED tail lights from Tony and my lighting is all sorted.



Also got the ballasts mounted and front lights all hooked up. Stoked!

[nubreed71]

It was a bit harder to get a good shot when it was dark out...I'll try to recreate a similar shot to the daytime next time I have a chance. Here's what i did get...as you can see, definitely a more whitish light.

[nubreed71]

See ya later body trim. Sooooo much cleaner without that stuff.

[nubreed71]

Well hello there...

[nubreed71]

Got the 9100's on the front and the rear this weekend:





One thing I realized when installing the rear shocks is that the upper mounts really need to be up an inch or two higher to make sure that I'm getting as much up travel as possible. I guess it's time to find someone that can fabricate an upper shock mount.

[nubreed71]

Some updates...this thing should be dirt ready by next week. Shakedown run to follow shortly.

I pulled the stock battery tray, and battery tray support, bolted a ruff stuff battery box to it, and then sent the entire assembly off to powdercoat. Here's the finished product ready to go back in the truck:



I'm also in the process of having the upper rear shock mounts reworked. With the new shock position I'm making full use of the 10" 9100 weld tops and it should be bumped and strapped at 15" of rear wheel travel. I'll take that with no holes in the bed or a bedcage.









I've got some other updates in the works as well, just no pictures yet. Hopefully will have some pics early next week.

[nubreed71]

Rear suspension is all complete...cycling at 16" metal to metal right now with no stretch in the limit straps. Once those stretch out it should cycle 16" strap to bump. Not bad for no holes in the bed.

Some droop shots:









A few other things are done as well...shackles powdercoated, motor and trans mounts installed, and bedsides flared just enough to clear the tires at full bump.

A quick shot of the bedsides:



The flare came out killer...very subtle, and instead of cutting the wheel well sheetmetal and screwing another strip of metal over the gap, the spot welds were drilled out, then the bedside flared, and then it was re spot welded and painted. Will post pics of the wheel well tomorrow. It looks factory!

All that being said, this thing is ready for the dirt. Hoping a buddy of mine gets his rig next weekend so we can start planning the first trip out for this thing.

[nubreed71]

Spare tire spinner options...

This?



Or that?

[nubreed71]

So I solved that whole Hella 4000s too deep for the stock bumper issue:

[nubreed71]

Ditched my old stock front bumper that was slightly bent/twisted, and had 4 holes in it from the Hellas. Replaced it with this one:



I'm thinking some 6" amber LED's would fit into those holes nicely...

[nubreed71]

Super stoked on this update...new Baja RS seats, and a factory center console/3rd seat installed. My plan is to get the middle seat re-upholstered to match the Mastercrafts.



While I was at it, I pulled the carpet, power washed it, and threw down some fat mat on the floor. I'll be sure to post how much of a difference that makes in terms of heat and sound.

[nubreed71]

Flipped the light around...it was pretty easy. Just had to trim the backside of the plastic trim for clearance. Just gotta aim it and test the light output now. Thanks for the suggestion!

[nubreed71]

Got all my stuff mounted in the bed. The floor jack will only ride along when the truck is in the dirt even though the mount is lockable.

Shakedown run is set for Sunday the 21st. Can't wait!

[nubreed71]

Skinned some stock fenders in preparation for some stock width autofab glass.



Here they are all trimmed up, ready for reinforcing and powdercoat.

[nubreed71]

Welp, I had planned to just do the stock width Autofab fenders on the truck to give the tires a little more room to move, but something came up (more on that later) that wouldn't allow me to run stock width glass. So instead I ended up grabbing a set of the 3" flare Ashley style fenders from Autofab. The fit and finish on these things really is top notch.

Here's a quick pictorial of the install process. I went with some skinned inner fenders that were reinforced with box tubing, and then i had them powdercoated white. I really like how this kept the engine compartment looking stock and allowed me to bolt a lot of the stuff right back up where it was with the stock fenders on there. I've still got a little bit of massaging to do to get them looking and fitting really nice, and plan to get them painted once I swap out the steel hood for fiberglass as well. I need to trim the stock bumper to follow the wheel well lines as well.

@ The start of the project:



Teardown almost complete:



Inner fender installed:



Drivers side fender installed:



Here's where it sat after 2 days working on it:



Then tonight I spent another couple hours massaging, hooking stuff back up, and doing the final assembly. I'm pretty happy with how it came out. It still needs a little massaging, gotta raise the hood stops up in the front, and slide the hood forward just a little bit too. I'd also like to get the lower trim piece under the grille a bit straighter, but will worry about that during final assembly after paint.

[nubreed71]

So this weekend I filled out those glass fenders. Pretty psyched with how it turned out. The drivers side tie rod sleeve needs to be a little longer, but I should have that sorted out by Wednesday, and will get it aligned on Thursday.





I also trimmed the front bumper to match the outline of the wheel well on the glass fenders, and installed some new 6" coils up front.