Alright, im bored at work, so here it goes.

Building a new front end for my truck. Build is gonna be slow and take some time so nothing is overlooked or half ***'d. Ill post updates as we go. Plus lots of races coming up so ill be driving it to those in between progress.

Specs:
Custom spindles with 4130 Chromo block.
Machined 4130 or 4340 Chromo snouts (have not decided yet, upgrade later)
5in. over per side.
1in uni-***** on lowers, and vert in upper spindle.
Goal is 17-19in of good clean useable Wheel travel.
Extended Heim Steering.
Lower arms will be off bushings, made form 3/16 cold roll steel.
Upper arms Run off 3/4 heims. and made from 1.5 .120 DOM tubing.

Thats basics.. Here is truck as it sits now, and the spindles almost done. Like i said. Gonna be slow build. Also, most stock parts will be for sale, including interior and dash soon enough fi anyone needs anything.

Pics

 

nice man keep up the good work.

 

dang that looks beefy

oh and A7X ftw!

 

Ha Ha, Thanks! and ya, OLD A7X at least. 1st two Cd's were the best.

 

no doubt, look forward to seein how your truck comes out

 

Quick ??? I have the 4.2 in it, and im gonna need more, i was gonna go with a built 351, but i kinda want to keep my stock gauge cluster, so i was thinkin a 5.4 swap with a lighting upgrade, blower, ect.. My question is, anyone done the swap? and what did you do for ECU issue? new computer? stand alone? Or find lighting computer? or just a 5.4 one, that will learn? Im good with suspension..but kinda lost on the motor. Thanks guys

 

Anyone??? 4.2 to 5.4 lightning swap? Or anyone hear of a turbo 400 tranny used with a 5.4 s/charger?

 

Some parts updates..and the spindle is getting a bit of a makeover, ditching the F1 snout, and going to use a Dana 44 2 in hollow snout. It will let me run a 6 on 5.5 or 5 on 5.5 lug pattern (more common than 5x135) as well as easily upgrade to 2.5 race snouts.

4x8 sheet of 3/16 P&O steel, Jig material, and 22ft. of .120 1-1/2 DOM


And some 37in BFG Race projects

 

nice work man keep up the good work

 

your stock computer can be retained when you perform the 5.4l s/c lightning swap. ford's computers are transmission-based and not engine-based. you'll need a good tuner, though to properly tune your engine.

 

Awesome, But wont the computer have to be a newer yr than the engine/ trans? Or was that just some crap someone was tellin me? but good to know Thanks! Im for sure gonna do the 5.4 s/c swap, cause im using a custom fiberglass dash, but gonna rework it to keep my stock gauge cluster.

 

we got some work done this weekend.. Cell phone pics, but ya. Got geometry figuered out, 5in over per side, Boxed upper arm and lower (this week). Metal to metal cycling 21in. Gonna strap in at 18-19in of travel. 0 deg. camber change at droop and about 6-7 at max bump on metal, so less really. i think it was 10 in. of down travel over stock, and like 9-11 in. uptravel. It was late, and we were tired.

Front end off


Jig for lower arms



Figured out where uppers need to be



Made jig for uppers, and started upper arms.



Cycling..Bump


Droop


And general idea

 

looks like a winner!

what caster angle are you going to run? the spindle looks pretty vertical, but that might just be the camera angle.

did you layout and burn the plate for the spindles? looks really good

 

Spindle is leaned back about 1-3 degress twords cab at ride height, It will cycle back into the cab, but we pushed the arms 5in. out and 1 in forward. The pics where it looked vert. was 1st mock up, in the jig, we spaced it back 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch, about 1-3 deg. Caster should be at 0 fully drooped or a hair forward. But nothin to worry about, Its less than the toyota we race all around so it should work just fine.

Spindles just show the heat penetration from the weld..It was good cold rolled plate w/ little impurities. Welds very nice.

Im very happy with how its coming along..Still ways to go, and alot more days of taking my lunch to work. HA

 

since no one answered your lightning question, talk to built5.4 he has done it. boss(dont know whats after boss) he just bought the lightning blower, klitch has done it as well. they should be able to help you out. truck looks sick