1970 Ford F-250 4×4: Cummins Fury Packed In A Vintage Shell

Solomon Lunger of Miami, Florida, owns this 1970 Ford F-250 4×4 he calls “Gold Dust.” He has always loved classic Ford trucks, and the moment he saw this one he said it spoke to him. He found it in 2020 on Facebook Marketplace, struck a deal with the Idaho seller, and soon he and his friend Simmy were on a plane to pick up a truck he had never seen in person. The plan was simple. Drive it more than 3,000 miles back to Miami and film the adventure for his new YouTube channel. Along the way they visited friends, hit several national parks, and watched the channel grow from zero subscribers to over 6,000 as he documented the journey.

Cummins 12-Valve Turbodiesel

The Ford body rides on a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 extended cab longbed chassis that was shortened 5.25 inches. Power comes from a modified Cummins 12-valve turbodiesel sourced from DJS Customs. Solomon and his friend installed the engine after the crankshaft failed in the 12-valve that was in the truck when he bought it. The new engine was pulled from a retired pulling truck. Upgrades include a Diesel Power Source 467.7 turbo, ARP head studs, fire-ringed cylinder heads, and much more. Exhaust flows through Ticon Industries 6-inch-diameter titanium pipe that was welded up by Hutch’s Welding. Other underhood upgrades include a Mishimoto radiator, oil cooler, and transmission cooler; a modified core support; and an Antigravity battery. Solomon estimates the Cummins produces a healthy 600 horsepower and whopping 1,100 pound-feet of torque.

Allison 1000, NP205 T-Case

To handle the increased power, there is a Custom Automatic Conversions–beefed Allison 1000 automatic transmission. Power flows through an NP205 transfer case that was rebuilt with billet internals.

Ford Dana 60 And 10.25 Axles, Lockers, And More

The axles were modified and installed by TrailHunters. Up front is a 2010 Ford F-250–sourced Dana 60, and out back is a Ford 10.25. The Dana 60 is loaded with upgrades, including an Eaton Detroit Locker, Warn manual locking hubs, custom knuckles, and chromoly axleshafts. It also runs an Artec Industries diff cover and high-steer kit. Supporting hardware includes a Thuren Fabrication 6-inch drop sway bar and dual Skyjacker steering stabilizers. The rear axle also carries an Eaton Detroit Locker and Artec diff cover, and both axles turn 4.56:1 gears. Finally, each axle is equipped with PowerStop brakes.

Coilovers, Leaves, And Bags

The truck’s front suspension includes Skyjacker ADX 2.5 remote-reservoir coilovers and 2.5-inch-diameter RuffStuff Specialties radius arms. In all, the lift measures a towering 16 inches. Out back, Skyjacker 6-inch-lift leaf springs are paired with ADX 2.0 remote-reservoir shocks and lift blocks, along with a set of Artec Industries traction bars. Like the front, rear lift is 16 inches. Since Solomon uses the truck to tow and haul, he added Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 air bags to keep it level when it’s loaded. He notes that the lift blocks are temporary and were needed to get the truck ready for the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which is where we photographed it. The rear suspension will soon receive new Atlas Suspension springs that will eliminate the blocks.

The F-250 rolls on Mickey Thompson’s new Baja Belted II tires in 18.5/39R17LT size, mounted on the company’s new MT Classic Forged wheels. These particular wheels are 16 inches in width.

Winch Up Front, Rock Lights Underneath

The truck’s exterior is all about functional add-ons. It includes an Engineered Vintage GOAT front bumper fitted with a Warn 8274-S winch, and an army of KC lights, including 30 rock lights.

Upgraded Seats, Gauges, And More

Inside, Solomon swapped in seats and a console from a 2018 Ford F-150, and the seats are wrapped in Apex Leather. Other upgrades include Dakota Digital RTX gauges, Restomod Air A/C, and a JL Audio system that includes a pair of 13.5-inch subwoofers. Curious about the hose strapped to the steering column? Solomon says the truck is only about 50 percent finished, and routing the A/C vent hoses to their permanent home is on the to-do list.

Driven Over 165,000 Miles So Far

Solomon bought the truck to drive, and he has certainly done that. He says he has logged more than 165,000 miles behind the wheel. When we asked about his favorite modification so far, he didn’t hesitate: “The transmission. It just makes the truck work so well and makes it feel like a big rig when I manually shift it and get to feel how real the truck’s raw power is. The transmission really made a difference for me.” It’s one of many incredible features that are a part of this awesome, vintage truck.