Update: Explorer -> F-350

[samtheham]

Well, my roomate ownes a 85' F-250 and wanted a dana 60 instead of the wimpy Dana 44 TTB Heavy Dudy. So yesterday we go to a heavy equipment auction and he buys a Complete POS 86' F-350. Now keep in mind that the only diff between the F-250 and the F-350 of that model is bigger springs and the dana 60. Everything else is the same. So anyway, now we have this 1 ton and I get curious this morning and take some rough mesurments. Now get this, we all assume that the truck frame would dwarf the explorers frame right? Well first I measured the distance between the two frame rails from outside edge to outside edge. The explorer was a full inch WIDER! Then I measure where the rails meet the bumper. The explorer is around 4" wider than the 1 ton. Now I knew there had to be something bigger on the truck. There was, the frame rails on the 1 ton are about 1/32" larger plate steel then the exploder. And as far as height? The truck has roughly 1/2" - 3/4" taller frame rails. Now there was some concen about how much shortning would go on with the truck frame. the wheel base from rear hub to front hub is VERY ROUGHLY 1.5 feet longer on the truck. Just thought that I would share my findings with everyone. -sam

 

[rpenner54]

Man that is pretty dang sweet. I would be working out the details in my head right now just to get something like that to work!

 

[ATC Enterprises]

Putting the Explorer on the truck frame will still set you higher, me thinks. Even though there is only a slight difference in how tall the frames are as compared to each other, I bet the 350 rides a couple inches taller than the Explorer. Heck man, that's FREE LIFT!!!

By the way, is your Explorer a 2 door or a 4 door? Is the F350 a standard cab? Short bed or long bed?

I still think you should go for it.

Or, instead of shortening the 350 frame, you could add to the Explorer body and make a 4x4 stretch limo!!! How about a 6 door explorer? LOL

 

[BislamJoe]

dude - that's awesome. could you just bolt up a dana 44 or whatever other solid axle you wanted to that dude? i'd think you could, should be a lot easier than the increasingly-popular dana 44 swap. what engines would bolt up to that frame? a cummins turbo-diesel would rock. my only worry would be clearance in the explorer's engine cavity.