I think if Ford had made a fullsized Bronco during these years I would be happy with one of those, I've never seen (or seen reference too) an extended cab from these years either, so I thought I was going to have to hack apart some regular cabs and make my own crew cab before finding that it was a factory option (boy was I relieved). I don't need a 3/4t, I barely need 4wd (except for snow drifts
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
) I could probably even get by with (I dont know my transfer case models very well) the simple transfer case that is in Dad's that only has 2wd/4wd (no 4wd lo) I don't go 4 wheeling, as this is ND and there arent any trails. We currently have a small SUV and I like the 4drs for easy access but I dont like that huge cargo area at all, nor do I like the blind spots (head rests, roof pillars) I'd like to keep it as light as possible, so if I find the right donor box I might bobtail it. I rarely use the bed our current 3/4t (its that 'other' brand), and eventually when SWMBO upgrades her vehicle (from the small SUV) she will get a 4dr/shortbed/4wd. She will get another 'other' brand truck, her family is very loyal to the general motors line.
Its not 100% on a '78 frame, but I want the upgraded crossover steering from a '78 or 79 front end also I'd like to keep using 1/2t suspension parts. I toyed with the idea of using one of the earlier 1/2t drum brake front axles with (gasp) gm spindles with 8 bolt wheel studs, I've got a '68 3/4t van that has a dana 60 (sitting in trees with 302/3spd) but I would almost prefer to find a 8 bolt full floater kit for the 9" (less rotating mass). Or just stick with the 5 lug.. One of the things I'd like to do is somewhat replicate a 250 highboy for ride height but I dont like wide tires (wide tires plus icy highways = bad) so I want tall and skinny like a 235/85LT16 or even taller but still narrow like a 33x9.50 15. But it has to look proportionately correct, otherwise I'll go with something shorter (235/75LT15 up to a 31")
For a long time I was thinking that an overdrive transmission was the way to go, like a zf 5spd from a newer 3/4t, but then I did some reading the other day on the fordsix forums (CoupeBoy) and some other members stated that an overdrive transmission uses more power to turn the overdrive gears then a 1:1 final drive and that using a numerically lower gearset would be more appropriate for maximum fuel mileage. I wonder what the trade off of installed weight is? Cast Iron vs Aluminum..
ugh, I should start making my wishlist and doing research. This will of course take me years to gather the parts, which is Ok with me as I can control costs easier that way. We've got our daily drivers plus the '68 Mustang, this is afterall my hobby so it can take as long as it needs to.
I look forward to reading many, many, many posts until I come up with a question that has not been answered, and if I happen to know something useful, I'll try to share.
PS if anybody has a listing of Ford Basic Part Numbers, I'd like to talk to you. One of my side projects is a part decoder. On the tech and tutorials part of this website you will notice that he gives information on how to break down the prefix portion (ex C5AE decodes to a '1965 originally designed for a fullsized car from the Engine and Transmission department), but it does not include information like what did a C5AE-6049-B come from, and which cars was it used on. The second portion is the Basic Part Number (6049).
That should do it for today
-ron