Ford Highboy with a Roar - 4x4 F250 Gets a Godzilla

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Truck update. Got some time to tinker this weekend and made some progress. Fuel filler neck is mostly finished up. I used the spout from the superduty, one hose from the superduty, and one hose from a bronco. Then I made a box thing that bolts into the bedside:


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Only had the cap from the diesel lol. I think it looks OK. Not my best work but it beats hacking a hole in the outside of the freshly painted bed. I also got an order in which included some right angle bullet connectors which I used to finish wiring the fuel pump in.

Also included in that order was some of the bezels for the dash switches. I apparently forgot to get one for the wipers though.

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also, FO D:

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The R didn't make it into the picture but I do have it. Polished the hood trim thing and installed with new clips that also came in my order. Still need to polish the grille shell up but that is going to be a massive job that I simply don't want to do right now.

Not pictured is the power steering pressure hose that was installed, missing heater hose installed, gallon or so of ATF into the trans, and attempted lower rad hose. Might have to do some more modifying to the radiator because the steering box is very much in the way of any hose combo I can conjure up. I also need to make or buy a power steering reservoir which will complete that system. Once the cooling system and PS system are buttoned up I think I can finally buy an ecu/engine harness. Til next time.
 
Got the Holley Terminator X Max kit in. First look is promising, surprised at the quality of the harness given the price point. We will see if it works as well as it looks though. Apparently Holley figured out how to drive smart coils since their first iteration of this kit so I didn't need to go to the trouble of buying early model externally driven coils.

Also received a new slip yoke which will convert my superduty rear driveshaft to a 1350 slip-yoke which is compatible with my BW1356 transfer case. Technically I think this means I could yard drive it if I work really hard this weekend :hmm:
 
Let me start by saying we are not running and driving this weekend lol. I kinda kept getting side tracked with various other projects/activities. Tricked out the pole barn with these solar powered lights:
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Some absolute misery on little bros 7.3:
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He's swapping to slightly larger (and freshly rebuilt/tested) injectors, new glow plugs, fuel bowl delete, and deleting the exhaust back pressure valve, among other things. Helped him with some wiring stuff like thinning out the harness that used to go to the fuel bowl and added a relay for his new lift pump. Some of the oiliest working conditions a guy could ask for.

Drank this big beer:
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I did do some truck stuff though. The Holley deal is almost fully wired in save for my analog outputs for rad fan and ac clutch. I figured this is something I should take my time on since once it runs it's unlikely I'll ever revisit it unless it forces me to.
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Progress pics look messy because they are. Holley's harness is pretty generic (not complaining) so I'll need to un-loom and remove the features I won't be using such as IAC, TPS, and so on. Still have to snag an IAT sensor from some sorta Chevrolet most likely and get the exhaust completed a bit further back so I can install the O2 sensor. I also completed the wiring for the transmission controller (Quick6) which I wanted to do at the same time as the ECU since they share an APP sensor, tach signal, sw12V+, and a ground.

Want to figure out something a little nicer for all of this mess over here by the ECU. The ECU is in its final home, but I don’t like how these ignition coil drivers look. Still thinking on this one. Loose wires will be loomed soon, just need to make sure I don’t need to route anything else through to the cab before I put a bow on it. A lot of these loomed sections will get zip tied together so it won't look so bulky.

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Also installed my PS reservoir. Looks cool. Installed the feed hose from res to pump too but it was too dark out to take a photo. I need to go buy a ton of hose clamps now and finish the cooling/heat system. The radiator also needs a 5/8" bung welded onto it for the coolant return from the oil cooler but that's for another weekend.

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Last thing I did this weekend was fit up my rear driveshaft. It's a little short tbh. Roughly 2.5" of the 5.5" slip yoke are engaged on the output shaft with the truck sitting on its own weight which I'm not thrilled about. Looks like I may have to spend more than $40 on the driveshaft after all.
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Also a Jeep XJ shaft fits frustratingly well in the front but I need something with 1350 joints. Someone let me know if they think of a shaft that has 1350s and is 32.25" long!
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suppjoe said:
Let me start by saying we are not running and driving this weekend lol. I kinda kept getting side tracked with various other projects/activities. Tricked out the pole barn with these solar powered lights:
full

Some absolute misery on little bros 7.3:
full

He's swapping to slightly larger (and freshly rebuilt/tested) injectors, new glow plugs, fuel bowl delete, and deleting the exhaust back pressure valve, among other things. Helped him with some wiring stuff like thinning out the harness that used to go to the fuel bowl and added a relay for his new lift pump. Some of the oiliest working conditions a guy could ask for.

Drank this big beer:
full

I did do some truck stuff though. The Holley deal is almost fully wired in save for my analog outputs for rad fan and ac clutch. I figured this is something I should take my time on since once it runs it's unlikely I'll ever revisit it unless it forces me to.
full

Progress pics look messy because they are. Holley's harness is pretty generic (not complaining) so I'll need to un-loom and remove the features I won't be using such as IAC, TPS, and so on. Still have to snag an IAT sensor from some sorta Chevrolet most likely and get the exhaust completed a bit further back so I can install the O2 sensor. I also completed the wiring for the transmission controller (Quick6) which I wanted to do at the same time as the ECU since they share an APP sensor, tach signal, sw12V+, and a ground.

Want to figure out something a little nicer for all of this mess over here by the ECU. The ECU is in its final home, but I don’t like how these ignition coil drivers look. Still thinking on this one. Loose wires will be loomed soon, just need to make sure I don’t need to route anything else through to the cab before I put a bow on it. A lot of these loomed sections will get zip tied together so it won't look so bulky.

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Also installed my PS reservoir. Looks cool. Installed the feed hose from res to pump too but it was too dark out to take a photo. I need to go buy a ton of hose clamps now and finish the cooling/heat system. The radiator also needs a 5/8" bung welded onto it for the coolant return from the oil cooler but that's for another weekend.

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Last thing I did this weekend was fit up my rear driveshaft. It's a little short tbh. Roughly 2.5" of the 5.5" slip yoke are engaged on the output shaft with the truck sitting on its own weight which I'm not thrilled about. Looks like I may have to spend more than $40 on the driveshaft after all.
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Also a Jeep XJ shaft fits frustratingly well in the front but I need something with 1350 joints. Someone let me know if they think of a shaft that has 1350s and is 32.25" long!
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Call Tom Woods.
 
suppjoe said:
definitely an option. doing what i can to avoid paying $700 for a custom driveshaft first though
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Last one I ordered from them with a thick wall tube & 1350 joints was right at $500 shipped. But ya still not chump change
 
Broski said:
Last one I ordered from them with a thick wall tube & 1350 joints was right at $500 shipped. But ya still not chump change
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that’s not bad tbh. wonder if a guy could get away with no double cardan in the front. it’s not exactly an extreme angle or anything. another thought i had was find a SD front shaft and have it shortened which would solve all of my worries
 
I've built hundreds of driveshafts through 1810 stuff.

Before I had a full machine shop I used to build them on the vehicle. Never had one vibrate. Time the ends right, Indicate as close as you can get it- under .005" indicator movement is good. Tack 3 places then weld on the ground.
 
I definitely overestimated the amount of free time I would have over the thanksgiving holiday. Most of the free time I did have was spent helping out my brother on his truck. I had the privilege of reinstalling the up pipes, turbo, and downpipe while he worked out the new electric lift pump. My knuckles are all jacked up now.
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I did get the exhaust somewhat finished at least for the first bit after the headers. Still need to find a suitable muffler. Almost leaning towards a stock 7.3 back half - seems like they’re plenty loud with the cats deleted + I don’t want to make the over the axle part if I don’t have to. Downside is they’re 409 stainless but I don’t know if I really mind it.
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On the running and driving side of things - didn't happen. I spent way too long chasing down the cause of a no-crank which turned out to be a faulty relay. Replaced it with a relay from a parts jeep I have and the circuit worked perfectly. I discovered that the throttle body I have bolted to my intake isn't compatible with the Holley. Shocker. I have another throttle body from a coyote that works fine but I'll have to adapt it to the 23+ intake manifold. At any rate, the Holley and the Quick6 are both successfully calibrated for the TPS.

Installed a bunch of hose clamps I was missing on the cooling side of things as well as welded a bung in the bottom of my radiator to accommodate the engine oil cooler. Also added the "R" to the front so now its a Ford! Things I need to accomplish in order to get it to run:
- IAT sensor out of some sort of GM.
- Intake plumbing would be nice.
- Gasoline, confirm fuel pump is working.
- Group 24 battery would be nice given the way I've wired things. Or a much longer ground lead.
- Fill PS reservoir.
- Fill rad with water.
- Look into what's going on with my column wiring. The turn signal cam/associated wiring does not tie out to anything I can find online and as such half of my indicators don’t work.
- My shift cable works but transmission was actually in reverse, not park according to the Quick6, so some adjustment is needed.

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Hope everyone had a good thanksgiving!
 
good news! truck went on its maiden voyage across the field. couple of hang ups though. i chased some power steering woes which was ultimately just way more air in the system
than i’d anticipated. bolted the seat in and it just worked. hesitant to get out on the highway since i don’t have a windshield and the driveshaft is a little bit shorter than i want.

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now i can drive it down to the main shop for whatever other work i do. i was getting tired of working under the pole barn.

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and here’s the obligatory first drive video:
 
windshield is in. dude made it look way too easy, well worth the money. I probably would've broken two windshields before getting it right. lots of small odds and ends to tie up but i thnk the truck could go down the road sometime soon. there is obviously the entire interior to do, bumpers, brightwork, exterior locks, bedliner, and so much more to do but it runs, drives, stops, and all the lights work! I do wish i had the chrome trimmed front windshield but this is what would've been on it originally. i think the gasket will age over time and look less out of place than in the below pic.

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Looks great man!
 
IMG_6814.webp

got a muffler from the summit scratch n dent section. bought a whole exhaust system for some kinda bmw and cut it up. much higher quality than the oe ford muffler i was planning on using. drove it around some today and it shifts kinda hard - the guy i bought the transmission controller was using it in a pretty serious drag setup so i think i may need to go in and soften up some shift points before i hurt something
 
I think seeing your build updates inspired me... I bought a 1977 F-250 crew cab 2wd today. Rust free, but totally disassembled. Perfect to swap on a SD chassis. Haven't done a project this big in a very long time.
 
PIP said:
I think seeing your build updates inspired me... I bought a 1977 F-250 crew cab 2wd today. Rust free, but totally disassembled. Perfect to swap on a SD chassis. Haven't done a project this big in a very long time.
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That would be a dream truck for me 😎
 
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