For the moment, I am collecting parts. I have a black '97 Ford F-150 Supercab 4x4 with the stock 4.6L. At the moment, it is all stock except for some minor doings. An open element intake, some side piped flowmaster exhaust, and some 265/75/16 Michelin XCX/APT tires. I came on my second deployment with the U.S. Army to basically rebuild the truck. It still runs well, but it is getting a complete upper and lower rebuild. The lower end will probably be .010 on the pistons and all else stock. The upper half, will come from an '03 Mustang! P.I. heads, intake manifold and probably the cold air intake. It should be interesting because I have not been getting much feed back on this at all. I am only lifting the truck 2" to clear the 285/70/17" Nitto Terra Grappler A/T's on some 17x9" Helo Maxx wheels (black in center). Since the tires and wheels are such a jump from the O.E. 255/70/16 that came off the lot, it is also getting a set of 4.10 gears to help offset the big change in tire size. Also in the list for the engine is headers, pulleys, electric cooling fan system, high flow converters, and maybe an SCT tuner down the road. That is pretty much all the bolt-on parts that get the best bang for the buck. I am staying simple on the lift with an add-a-leaf in the rear (2 1/2") and torsion keys (2") in the front. Skyjacker shocks all the way around. I am having the truck completely redone as it will be getting a fresh shot of black paint, tinted windows, new headlights, tailights, and even a new 3rd brake light (all of them will be smoked). It will see some fun in the Alabama clay but not any rocks. I am not building it for rocks as I am painting it and repairing some of the body damage done over the years. Here is the list of parts that have been purchased as of this entry towards completion of the project: Torsion keys and add-a-leaf, shocks, rear smoked tail lights and the wheels. Thanks for reading and feel free to post any suggestions!
Update: Looks like "Black Ops" needs to be updated some. It will be converted to a flare side as I found a complete bed for a steal of a price. Instead of rebuilding the engine, it is getting a complete drop in from the Mustang that the head/intake were coming off of. This engine is low miles, but will not sustain what power is being put into the truck so its easier to drop a new one in it. Good luck for me I guess!
Another step in the right direction!
Well, a new change to the engine deal and this one is done cause it is sitting waiting on me. I got 22 days or so till leave, but it won't go in till I get home but I got a complete 5.4L instead of the Mustang engine. So torque is a non issue now.
