This is one of those vehicles where a few simple clues let you know this is more than just another OBS F-150. The period “street truck” tires and wheels with lower offsets that cause them to extend past the fenders are one hint that there’s more going on here than meets the eye. The seller has listed his dad’s muscle truck with what sounds like a heavily modified engine, and the 427 stroker is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The seller notes his dad didn’t finish the truck before health issues slowed progress, and now he has health issues of his own forcing the sale. Find this 1994 Ford F-150 listed here on eBay for $12,000 or best offer.
When I first laid eyes on this listing, seeing those old-school performance tires and the wheels jutting out of the fender wells indicated there may be more going on here than meets the eye. The short bed makes it look even tougher, and honestly, it’d be a desirable truck with those features alone. But then you read through the list of modifications, and Lord, this thing was built for the 1/4 mile strip and not much else. It’s honestly incredible how much work has supposedly been done while looking almost bone stock. The boring stuff is limited to some maintenance work to address long-term sitting, including a new gas tank, fuel pumps, and steering rack. The limited-slip has also been rebuilt with new clutches.
It’s really a shame that there are no engine photos in this listing, as this truck is all about the motor (and I suppose the cosmetics aren’t bad, either.) The list of modifications is extensive, including the 427 stroker utilizing a 351 short block; 30 over forged Pistons; Canton deep sump oil pan; 7/16 roller rockers; ported and polished 202 heads; double roller timing chain; Big Mutha’thumpr 243/257 roller cam; Edelbrock performer intake; 3-core aluminum radiator; a TransGo manual shift kit; 2800 stall torque converter; fully rebuilt 8.8 rear end; traction bars; and much more.
It’s a shame this truck was never completed, as it sounds like it would have been a beast at the strip, all while maintaining a relatively stock appearance outside of these wheels. The seller reports that his dad may have gone a little too aggressive with the camshaft, as he notes he “….poorly judged the cam profile. Current cam is very aggressive, and to much overlap has reduced the vacuum to the point the carb can’t produce the right fuel mixture to function without choke.” Obviously, a replacement cam would solve this problem, so it’s not the end of the world – but there will be some additional labor involved in getting this F-150 onto the road. Do you think the asking price is fair for a build like this?
There are engine photos in the item description caption.
I’m guessing here. It appears there my have been bigger tires on this truck before it was offered for sale. The tires are different wheel to wheel. Usually when a truck is lifted it is to accommodate larger tires. Lots of extra space over the tires. Just saying.
That’s a southeastern thing. Have seen it in SC, GA and FL. When I moved down to Jacksonville 25 years ago, what the? Start of a good build but picking up the pieces can be tough.
O.K.. So it’s over cammed. That’s not that big of a deal. All the prospective buyer needs to do is purchase and install (exactly per instructions) a set of Rhodes Lifters, which will bleed down (and sound like a set of solid lifters from a Slant-6 at idle. If you want to be “slick” use them only on the intake valves, but looking at the numbers on the Cam, I’d use all 16 lifters. The “bleed down” feature calms the cam duration and the carburetor should become ‘more tunable’ at idle.
Jakespeed, Rhoads doesn’t show hydraulic roller lifters, it would be better to just swap out the camshaft instead.
Steve R
The seller has tried auctioning it through eBay twice previously, once with an $9,500 opening bid, the second time with a $8,500 opening bid, both had BIN options. Neither auction generated any bids. It’s probably safe to say this will need to have its price adjusted significantly downward. Abandoned projects are a tough sell, potential buyers don’t want to pay premium, then make expensive changes to suit their vision.
Steve R
Why not just rejet the carb or put sniper injection on it? There’s no need to tear this engine down just yet. There are easier ways than going into the engine. The right carb gears and converter will wake that baby up. The convert may be fine once the induction is line out for the cam profile but a 3500-4000 stall would get better 60 foot times in a trade for gas mileage.
why not use a proven ford factory race set up? ford racing has their s*** together with those components instead slapping a carb on it and ditching the factory F/I? makes no sense to me. sounds to me like neither son nor pop knew what they were doing. best approach would be to get rid of what was done and do it right from scratch with the right components and you could have a decent truck for sure.