Forest Service Truck Coyote Swap

[miller]

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Found this ex forest service truck in Montana. 1969 short bed with a 240/4 speed. I am really interested in keeping all the patina and putting a coyote in it. I have started to do the research but still have a lot more to do.

Engine. I called PBH and they are sending me a quote. They said to go with a f150 coyote and the auto trans. It would be over 2K savings over the mustang coyote. I do want a manual, but they said its a lot of extra work and the shifter ends up back pretty far in an akward position. Anyone? Is that the case.

Front end. Crown vic. There are a couple on line for about $350. Is that the going price?

Rear end. Not sure. It has a dana 60 in it with 4.10 gears, but I have not seen any body use it in their swaps. This truck is not going to be a race truck, but do want to lower it without cutting bed and a nice ride. It looks like the explorer rear ends are common is that for the spacing and disc brakes?

For the instrument cluster I like the Dakota digital. PBH said everything hooks up nice with that and is pretty much plug and play.

Thanks for the input

[DuckRyder]

Did I say I love that truck?

You sure it is a Dana 60 and not a 44?

[miller]

Axle says 60 on it and vin is e5.

[DuckRyder]

Dana 60 should be plenty strong... probably a rare option in a 1/2 ton, I would think. I’d be tempted to keep it...

Though particularly with a CV swap an explorer axle probably makes more sense....

Helpful aren’t I...

[Clapper67]

$350 is a great deal on a CV front end. I live in so cal and they go for around $550 here. What’s a used f150 5.0 going for? I know the mustang drivetrains are pricy where I’m at.

[miller]

F150 5.0 with tranny about 5k on ebay

[miller]

Guy said he will take $300 2005 cv front end complete.
Going to pick that up this week!

[Aerocoupe]

Do a search for “Hackster” and most of your questions will be answered in his build.

[miller]

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Went to pick up the 05 crown vic front suspension with no issues, removed from driving police interceptor. Well was a little over an hour drive the guy agreed to 300 bucks. Not the shape he thought it was in. I gave him 40 bucks for it being I made the trip, but I think the cradle/crossmember is shot. It's got cancer. If it was attached to the frame not sure I would have seen that. Welcome to the midwest and salted roads!!

[Jacksdad]

Keep the Dana 60 - it'll take anything you can throw at it.

[miller]

Maybe just change to 3.73 gears. I guess really the only issue is the different bolt pattern for rims between the crown vic front and the dana 60 rear. Tire rotation won't be an issue those rear tires are going to be replaced frequently with a coyote in it!!

Any mods to put disc brakes on the dana 60?

[Aerocoupe]

Yeah that cross member is done. That sucks man.

[Aerocoupe]

Where are you located?

[miller]

Kenosha, WI

[miller]

Called local salvage yard. They have several cross members in good shape for $100 bucks. I'm going to take a look at them later this week. I tore the unit I bought down and everything else I think I can use with new ball joints and bushings, shocks and coils. I think I would have replaced all those anyways. Hopefully crossmember looks good and then this will be an ok deal $140 for the unit.