Anomaly F-100
We found Dave Silverthorne cruising the high desert seas of TDS and immediately asked him where he got the five-lug Dana 60 rear axle that he had swapped into his F-100. When he told us that it was the stock rear axle that came with the truck back in 1967, we were floored. Knowing that he had our attention he pointed out the front Dana 44 axle that uses kingpin open knuckle outers. We didn't even know such an axle existed! He then broke it to us that the truck had no power steering and it was plagued with a single-speed Dana 21 transfer case. Still this truck is capable enough to qualify as a Desert Dog and so unique we just had to show it to you Ford guys out there.
Vehicle: '67 Ford F-100
Owner: Dave Silverthorne
Tires: 32x11.50-15 BFG
Wheels: 15x10 steel
Front Suspension: Radius arms with 4-inch lift Rancho coil springs
Rear Suspension: Rancho 4-inch add-a-leaves
Engine: Ford 302
Transmission: T-18 four-speed
Transfer Case: Dana 21 single speedFront Axle: High-pinion Dana 44 with kingpin knuckles and 3.55 gears
Rear Axle: Dana 60, 3.55 gears, and original limited slip
Advantages: Factory Dana 60 rear axle in a 11/42-ton truck. Guaranteed to initiate bench racing sessions wherever you go
Drawbacks: No low range Dana 21 transfer case means you have your fun in the fast stuff and leave the crawling to somebody else. Kingpin Dana 44? Try finding parts for that axle!
Frankenstein S-10
OK, so there aren't a lot of deserts in Jeff Cramer's home state of Maryland. So what! Jeff's got a tow vehicle and doesn't mind racking up the road miles all over the country in search of off-road challenges for his LT1-powered S-10. Jeff's S-10 buildup plan revolved around mounting the mini-truck body on his old Suburban frame, and when the going gets really tough he ditches the doors for better visibility. Now he has the strength of a fullsize truck in a much more trail (and trailer) friendly package.
Vehicle: '82 S-10 on an '80 Suburban chassis
Owner: Jeff Cramer
Tires: 38x13-16 Super Swamper TSL
Wheels: 16x8 Rockcrawler
Front Suspension: 511/42-inch Skyjacker front springs with Off Road Design extended shackles
Rear Suspension: 64-inch long, 5-inch lift National Springs packs with shackle flip
Engine: '95 LT1 350
Transmission: '87 TH700R4
Transfer Case: NP208
Front Axle: '77 Dana 60, 4.56 gears, ARB air locker
Rear Axle: AAM 14-bolt, 4.56 gears, Detroit Locker
Advantages: Using a Suburban frame means automatic solid axle swap and room for a V-8 and 1-ton drivetrain
Drawbacks: Hood and fenders had to be lengthened 8 inches to fit frame and clear larger radiator.
Long Suburban wheelbase leaves the rear driveshaft too vulnerable in the rocks. Not having doors means bringing a lot of warm clothes
Instant Hero
This K5 is a perfect example of a simple 4x4 formula that anyone can follow to achieve off-road hero status without selling your soul to the local off-road shop. Tim Sprouse's K5 uses the proven SM465 four-speed combined with an Off Road Design Doubler to get all the gear reduction he could ever need, while keeping the stock 4.10 gears that came in his donor K30 axles. After a little spider gear welding out back and a Lock-Right up front the axles were done. The money Tim saved on the axles went toward the crossover steering, high-steer arms, and an AGR Rockram that solved every steering problem Tim ever had.