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Need some advice for a budget 4x4 build please...

J

J-Roc

Free Member
Hey guys! I'm putting together a '79 Ford F-250 as a light trail/ hauling/ girlin' truck this summer. She don't have to be nice, or fancy, just reliable, and CHEAP to build.

It's got a 400/205/ four speed drivetrain in it, and a D44 up front, with a 60 in the back. Not sure on gearing.

I had plans to do a 6" skyjacker kit, but have since decided to wait, and do it properly, and build the drive train this winter, or next year to handle that much tire...

I guess my question is, can anyone recommend a good, cheap mud tire that'll work well on this rig with minimal lift? I have access to a sawzall, and am not afraid to use it. I have access to 38 inch military XMLs, but thinking that they might be a little heavy for right now. Or, would they work okay?

Thanks a lot guys. Any tips and tricks for someone new to the game would be awesome.
 
Well for the lift, have you actually gone to a shop and gotten it quoted on cost? sometimes you can find used, or left over lift kits for suppper cheap....And im really not familiar with the vehicle you have, at all, but i know you can turn some pretty big rubber on a stock rig, especially if you do some cuttin....;) For instance, my buddy fit 33x12.50s on a stock taco, with a not a ton of rub. A rad tire for dedicated offroad use (general fun use) is the classix super swamper bogger. you said u can get some of those military 38s? i think you might need to re gear for those? i had to regear on a yota 22r for 33s....and regearing SUCKSSSSS, cost the most out of anything!

and if ur short on cash look for slighty used tires, i got a set of Pro Comp mud terrains with 300 miles on them for 300 bucks....good deal in my book.

theres so many rad wheelin rigs on here theres bound to be someone to get you set straight better than me....

Good luck man and keep us updated on the rig!:D:D

EDIT: Your in bozeman right? go to Renegade offroad, they will get ya set up good. There all my buddies and love to see a sick project come in. Plus they will take a huge chunk of labor off if you help them install the lift (im assuming you want to)....and they always can find deals on various parts/tires
 
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Jay !!!!!!!!!! pleasem don't hack those fenders up ....thats like finger nails on a chalk board to me .......argg !! :)

lift it properly ...you could toss in a cheap Procomp stage 2 lift 6 incher which will get you an add a leaf and block out back with new front spring pack ..4 shocks and maybe new braided brakelines up front ....do a 3 inch Black Diamond body lift and you nare ready for 36s without havin to worry bout turning radius or fenders..

bet ya could do all that for under a g note ...remember the bigger the boots the less you get in the gear department ...so in no way would I suggest anything taller than 35-36 because you probably have 4:10s in that thing ...so unless you wanna be puttin lots of clutches in her stay clear there ...reason number 800 why I always use c-6 autos built up ....you machine a new groove in it so to put 6 clutches and steels and a 3 inch band in there with a mild shift kit and medium 2500 stall torque ...

anyways we are dealin with a 4 speed probably one of those super grannies that them things came with ....1 st gear useless....in any event those trucks are the best I have 3 of them in my yard covered in snow at the moment ...I'll snap some pics maybe tomorrow..

I know that there is an F250 hiboy model that allowed 33s right outa the box ...
 
Gateway monster Mudders are and have been a pretty cheap seat to go with and wear nice
 
You betcha! Thanks Mike! Buddy's '76 hiboy has 33s on it right now. He's going for a rediculous lift, and massive tires, which seems dumb to me. Do you have a link to that procomp kit?

What about tires?
Any suggestions there?
 
4wheelparts has been great for me to deal with....

And dam J-ROC, if u were down here i got a great group of buds to wheel with and we always like company!
 
I know this isn't the preffered way to do this at all, but I think it'll be fine for the light duty off roading it's likely to see until I get the bugs worked out of it.

3" body lift, and 35 inch rubber would fit well for now. At a later date, I could add a six inch lift, and likely run 40s or so. Does anyone see any REAL legitamate issues with doing this?

I have a body lift in an S-10 4x4 of mine, and haven't had any issues as of yet.
 
Body lifts have always seemed like a pain to me as you have to relocate things like the radiator, etc. Plus with the body way off the gear I've always thought it looked hokey. If you've already done it, then maybe you have different thoughts.

My personal thought is to plan a lift around the tire size you want to use. If your thought is bigger the better, than go that route, but get a good number in your head so you can figure gearing too. When I built my Chevy I figured the biggest obstacles I planned on doing while still maintaining a daily driver would be 38" tires. I also didn't want blocks due to axlewrap. That meant using minimal lift while going for maximum flex (also kept CG lower). I used an Offroad Design shackle flip kit and yes, I did cut the fenders. This gave me max tire stuff potential. With a set of fender flares on it it turned out pretty good. I never did get the 38's and for what I did (including the Rubicon trail and Fordyce Creek) 36" Swampers worked just fine. 4.56 gears were plenty for the trail and still got me around town.

Pics check here: http://snowest.com/forum/showpost.php?p=441673&postcount=41
 
J-Roc said:
I know this isn't the preffered way to do this at all, but I think it'll be fine for the light duty off roading it's likely to see until I get the bugs worked out of it.

3" body lift, and 35 inch rubber would fit well for now. At a later date, I could add a six inch lift, and likely run 40s or so. Does anyone see any REAL legitamate issues with doing this?

I have a body lift in an S-10 4x4 of mine, and haven't had any issues as of yet.
Click to expand...

im personally not a fan of body lift before suspension but if you have done it before wihout any issues then go for it. Whatever you do, DONT DO THE BLOCKADE!. By blockade i mean the big hunk of metal rednecks put in thier u-bolts to add a cheap 4 inch lift. Eventuall this will lead to your truck breaking u bolts and you eating **** in your truck.....i know u wont do this but some guys try to save a couple by it and its no good....
 
nothing wrong with a body lift ...Ihave seen more than 1 guy start this way as a cheap way to get bigger rubber under ...and you do them in an afternoon

skill level .......6 beer

three inches is max and I have never once relocated the rad ...
 
I have a set of 33" Swamper LTB's on my 83k20, i budget built it last year with no lift and 33's. I had a lil rub, but a lil trimming fixed that. But for this year i put on a 4"Spring/Block Lift and a 3" Body lift and plan to flat deck it and put one ton axles under it with 38's. Anyways you could do a shackle flip in the rear which is good for about 4inches or so and get a 4" Lift spring for the front. Also Super Swamper makes the LTB's in 35's now, and they are a very well priced tire. I have about 1500 miles on mine and they are at about 95% tread. If they came in 38's i would buy em again too.
 
Well, I lucked out and found some 35/12.50/ 16.5 Groundhawgs for 400 bucks on Ford wheels!

We'll see how she goes. Now that i've saved this cash on tires, I might be able to swing a lift. Even if not, i'll be able to figure it out.

Thanks guys
 
I agree. Honestly, for the price I can get a body lift for, why monkey around with pucks? It scares me to do that, even though it seems tough enough.

I actually found ANOTHER set of tires. 35 12.50 16 BFG MTs. I HATE BFGs, but they're next to new, and CHEEEEAP, so, we'll see.
 
The hawgs will be a better mud tire, as for the body lift. I just installed one on my 83 K20 and it was cheaper and easier just by the kit. No monkeying around tryin to find bolts etc. Apparently hockey pucks will crack in half after a while, atleast thats what i heard.
 
I don't think "cheap" and '38" mud tire" are usually ever in the same sentence as each other :)
 
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