The good old boys over on PowerStroke.org always have something cool going on. One recent project that has everyone talking is the work of slowcoupe, a member on the forum and avid fan of 2000s-era Super Duties. Over the years, he’s had a 2008 F-350, a 2005 F-350, a 2002 F-350, a 2005 F-250, and a 2002 F-250, all of them crew cabs and most of them long beds.
Currently, his focus has shifted onto a 2000 F-250 in the single-cab, short-bed configuration. Upon learning that it had the coveted six-speed ZF6 manual transmission behind its sturdy 7.3-liter V8, slowcoupe scooped up the truck and began thinking of ways to supe it up. He started off small, working in a set of Harley Davidson Edition headlights, a Pioneer head unit, and a new sound system with a BOSS 1200-watt amp.
But behind all this was the desire to make the truck short, cutting the frame and having a unique pickup to roll through town with. He made a “Z” cut to the frame so the rails would interlock when it came time to weld. A short bed he had lying around was mocked up and, to slowcoupe’s surprise, “the bolt holes for the bed and everything were spot-on.”
The cut made to the frame rails (left) is a 'Z' cut that interlocked when welded back up (right).
Slowcoupe figured out the rest of the necessities including brake lines, fuel lines, and emergency brake cable. Some trouble came from an errant line leading to the fuel pump, which was allowing air to enter the fuel system and causing the truck to die. After this was solved, slowcoupe moved onto tacking exhaust. In true diesel fashion, he went for seven-inch exhaust stack poking up through the bed.
Seats, tuning, and a drop kit are in the works for the near future, as is paint to get the whole truck looking fresh. What do you think of slowcoupe’s project? Let us know in the comments below.