This 1977 For F-150 has come a long way since it won Cheap Truck Challenge back in 2013! It had lived its entire life in the Carson Valley, although since then I have driven it as far as Cabo San Lucas and Anchorage. It still has the vintage sheetmetal and patina, nearly every aspect of the dentside F-150 has been upgraded over the years to stand up to the 40-inch Nitto Trail Grapplers. The original 351W, NP435, and NP205 have been upgraded with a 460, ZF5, and Off Road Design Doubler that puts an NP203 range box in front of the NP205. The engine was built by LA Speed with a full roller valvetrain, Edelbrock heads, an Edelbrock intake manifold, ARP fasteners, and is topped with FI Tech.

The five speed made the truck way more driveable on long trips, and the suspension that uses front radius arms from Rock Hound and rear Deaver leaf springs provides great stability on the road but does sacrifice some articulation when compared to a three-link suspension. Rock Hound also added three-inch bypass shocks to all four corners and Sam Cothrun from Samco Fab dialed the shocks in for an amazing ride in any terrain. It isn’t exactly an Ultra4 car but it does fit the theme with big shocks, big tires, and a big engine.

Details abound in this truck, from the TIG-welded roll cage that Nate’s Precision built and tied into the rock sliders, to the PRP split bench seat, to the PSC steering system. All the armor was built at Nate’s Precisions as well and was left bare to rust and fit the theme of an old ranch truck. The Super Duty axles were built at Axleline with Detroit Lockers and 5.13 Sierra gears, and the front axle was upgraded with Dynatrac ball joints and a Free Spin Kit in order to live with the 6,900-pound curb weight and 40-inch-tall Nitto Trail Grapplers. If there is one truck that is social media gold for me, this is it. That’s how it got the name Raymond… everyone loves Raymond!

Built By:
Engine Swap, Bumpers, and Roll Cage, - Nate’s Precision, Sparks, NV- https://natesprecision.com/
Transmission Swap- Axleline, Sparks, NV- https://axleline.com/
Intake, Dual Batteries, and Suspension- Rock Hound Off-Road, Auburn, CA- https://www.rockhoundoffroad.com/
Shock Tuning and Wiring- Samco Fabrication, Sparks, NV- http://samcofabrication.com/
Fuel System- B-Radd Customs, Sparks, NV

Articles:
Cheap Truck Challenge- https://www.fourwheeler.com/news/131-...
Baja Road Trip- https://www.fourwheeler.com/events/17...
Alaska Road Trip- https://www.fourwheeler.com/news/feat...
Cheap Truck Challenge Built- https://www.fourwheeler.com/events/13...
Engine Swap Part 1- https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/en...
Engine Swap Part 2- https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/en...
ZF5 Swap- https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/tr...
Dual Batteries- https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/el...
Summit Wiring Harness- https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/el...
PRP Seats and Rugged Radio- https://www.fourwheeler.com/project-v...
Dynatrac Ball Joints- https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/su...
Bypass Shocks- https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/su...
Air Intake- https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/en...