White 1994 F-150 Sleeper Build

[nubreed71]

Here's a quick run down on my little weekend project vehicle...sort of a re-do of a truck that I tried to build when I was much younger, about 15 years ago. My vision for this build is something that won't be super obvious that it's a go-fast build unless you peak your head into the wheel wells. I want to keep it really simple so that it will perform well, but won't have a ton of stuff that can go wrong. The last thing I want is a finicky, temperamental rig. Finally, my plan is to pay attention to the little details since IMO, that's what really makes for a nice build.

Here's a picture of the truck as I took delivery back in November. It's got the 5.0, auto trans, and had 99,800 on the odometer when I got it. It also had a dented hood, cracked windshield, bubbled purple window tint, mismatched bald tires, and a plastic bedliner that was beat to hell.



So the plans for the build are:

Front suspension: Camburg heim radius arms, Autofab bent beams, Camburg coil bucklets, 2.5"x10" Sway Away shocks, new ball joints, stainless brake lines and limit straps (There's a chance that I may upgrade to a coilover frontend at some point down the road).

Rear suspension: National springs, extended shackles, 2.5" x 10" Sway Away shocks (underneath the bed), limit straps

Wheels/Tires: Outlaw 2 / Nitto Terra Grappler 295/75/16 (33.4" x 11.5" x 16") - looks like I may end up ditching these for 35" BFG all terrains.

Engine/drivetrain: K&N intake, Magnaflow muffler, 4.56 rear gears, LPW diff cover

Exterior: Rear tube bumper, possible front bumper/skidplate, spray in bedliner, ammo can bed storage

Interior: Redo the window tint, new stereo head unit, maybe down the road some Mastercraft Baja RS seats

Misc: Optima battery/ruff stuff battery tray

After owning the truck for 4 weeks, I had the windshield replaced, sourced a white stock hood from a fellow GFB member, had the tint redone, and installed a new head unit, and had the spray in bedliner done. I also had the ammo can storage mounted in the bed, as well as a 2.5 gallon jerry can to hold water for post surf session feet rinses.













Then it came time to tear into the suspension. Up on jackstands and starting the teardown:







Bent beams from Autofab bolted on:



Most of the front suspension bolted on. Started out with bushing radius arms...will upgrade those later.



And then just about done:







And finally back on its feet:





Got rid of the bro-lean with some Nationals:







Decided to replace the ball joints while I had everything apart:



Got some blingy gold open end lugs:



Front end bumped and strapped:



Rear shocks, axle truss, and 2 link mounts:





So I got this axle from another GFB member, I guess it was on Vic's old bronco when it got wrecked. I added a new diff cover and had an axle truss thrown on there.



And then ditched the wheel well trim.





Now I've got a bunch more parts that I'm ready to put on the truck.

Heim radius arms:



Trans and motor mounts:



Ruff stuff battery box:



And some of Tony's HID projector headlights:

[93Broncobuff]

lookin damn good man!!!!

[nubreed71]

Thanks! If anyone's got a tube bumper they wanna sell...I'd love to ditch that stock rear boat anchor!

[robertcrav]

Lol how quickly things progress hey Taylor

[nubreed71]

So true. I remember when I was gonna just do an Autofab econo lift and some wheels and tires. My how things change...

[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.

[robertcrav]

reminds me....I want to do my windshield wipers with that shtuff... lookin good

[nubreed71]

I actually repainted my wipers as well...but with regular old automotive trim paint. It was super easy and they came out really nice. The plastidip would also work, but where that stuff really shines is when you want to paint something that is still attached to your car. Mask off about 1-2" away from the edge, paint the hell out of the entire area, and then you just peel away the stuff you don't want. It just breaks right at the edge of the trim, emblem, whatever and leaves a perfect edge!

[tcm glx]

I am glad you are pleased with the headlights Taylor.... now I just need a guinea pig and we can start on the tailights!! haha

[nubreed71]

I'm game RE the taillights...lemme know what I can do to further the cause!

[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...

[cs_drums]

Do you have any video of this thing gett'n it in the dirt? My buddy is starting to collect parts for a very similar build!

[nubreed71]

Still waiting on my first shakedown run...was hoping for next weekend, but still waiting on a buddy's rig to get finished before we do a quick day trip to put both our rigs through their paces. Hoping I can sneak one in before it gets too hot. Will definitely get some video/pics when I get it in the dirt.

[cs_drums]

Yeah I know that I am wainting for one part in the mail to take mine on its maiden voyage. Was hopping to go this weekend but not looking good.

[nubreed71]

I feel your pain! It also doesn't help that I've got a 6 month old daughter...love her to death but definitely makes it harder to break away to get out in the desert!

[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]

This shot shows the color of the headlights a bit more accurately.

[nubreed71]

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

[nubreed71]

Well hello there...