40 NOVEMBER 20194-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD 4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
JACK OF ALL TERRAINS
1997 FORD F-250
DRIVETRAIN
ENGINE: 7. 3 L V - 8 d i e s e l
TRANSMISSION: E40D 4-speed automatic
TRANSFER CASE: BW4407
FRONT AXLE: Dana 60 with 4.10 gears and
Eaton E-Locker
REAR AXLE: Sterling 10.25 with 4.10 gears
and factory limited slip
SUSPENSION
SPRINGS & SUCH: 3-link with Fox coilovers
and bumpstops (front); trailing arms with
Fox coilovers and bypass shocks (rear)
TIRES & WHEELS: 40x13.5R17 Pro Comp
Xt rem e MT2s o n 17x 9 K MC Mach ete
beadlocks
STEERING: Factory steering box, RuffStuff
Specialties tie rod and drag link
LIGHTING: Amazon LED light bar
OTHER STUFF: JeliBuilt tuning, electric fuel
pump, 6.0L intercooler, shortened bed-
sides, trimmed factory front bumper,
Artec trussesTECH SPECS
2
Power comes from a warmed up 7.3L diesel
with a 6.0L intercooler, turbo with a billet
compressor wheel, 238cc injectors, a Super
Duty 17-degree HPOP, and custom tunes from
JeliBuilt. It makes enough power that it k illed
the E4OD transmission during our photo shoot,
so we know what Jesse Coss’ next upgrade is
going to be.3
The rear suspension cycles 26 inches of
travel from 2^1 ⁄ 2 -inch-diameter, 16-inch-
travel Fox coilovers and 3-inch-diameter,
18-inch-travel four-tube bypass shocks. The
shocks are mounted on box tubing control
arms, and the tubular uppers are triangulated
and tie into an Artec axle truss.4
The original Sterling 10.25 axle was
retained, right down the 4.10 gears and the
factory limited-slip differential, which Jesse
admit s needs to be repl aced w ith an actual
locker soon. RuffStuff Specialties brackets
allow the use of Chevy brake calipers with
discs from a Ford van.5
The 7.3L has been marking its territory on
the front axle, which is a ball joint Dana
60 out of an F-350. It still has the factory 4.10
gears, but they are now wrapped around an
Eaton E-Locker that routes power to 35-spline
chromoly axleshafts.6
The secret to going fast in the rough is to
transfer weight to the rear so the front
suspension float s over bumps. This is w hy you
of ten see race truck s w ith huge rear fuel cell s,
dual spare tires, and engines pushed way back.
In Jesse’s case, he put his fuel cell, batteries,
jack, and fullsize 40-inch spare tire in the back
of his truck to balance out the diesel engine.7
When he cut off the back of the frame,
Jesse cut the sides off the bed and short-
ened them to 3 feet long. The 128 - inch w heel-
base is still plenty long for the desert, and the
shortened rear sheetmetal results in a better
departure angle in the rocks.2
3
5
4
6
7
“
This truck
does it all without
breaking the bank
”