It is afternoon in northeast Washington, and everyone else headed for Unreal Adventure is already on the road. With his primary Mazda rig still unfinished, Dave Chappelle of The Dirthead Shed pivots to a 1991 F-350 known as “Mom’s Spaghetti” that has sat parked for a year. Taking an OBS Ford for rock crawling on a massive cross-country haul is a tall order, and getting it ready takes a little more explanation.
Waking From A Year-Long Slumber
Getting the truck roadworthy meant clearing out pine needles, stale gas fumes, and mouse messes. After jumping a dead battery, Chappelle pulled the truck into the shop to fix a high idle and a lingering misfire from a previous trip. He replaced two rotted vacuum caps, repaired a broken ground wire, lubricated the sticking door latches, and changed the oil. After topping off the rearend, he swapped over 40-inch tires from his Mazda and hit the highway.
Why Choose An OBS Ford For Rock Crawling
Rolling toward Montana, Chappelle explained the truck’s name. Inspired by the movie 8 Mile, where the main character chokes during a rap battle, “Mom’s Spaghetti” was born after Chappelle talked endless smack about the 1990 to 1991 F-350 platform. He traded labor for the 94,000-mile railway truck because it came factory-equipped with a lightweight fuel-injected small-block V8, an overbuilt diesel-spec ZF5 five-speed manual transmission with a granny low, and a high-pinion kingpin Dana 60 front axle.
Bullnose Tin And Garage Fab
To finish prepping the OBS Ford for rock crawling, Chappelle only needed deeper gearing and clearance. He installed a cast-iron Ford NP205 transfer case behind an Offroad Design Magnum doubler and swapped in a shaved 1982 GM 14-bolt rear rearend with 5.38 gears and a Detroit Locker. For a past Ultimate Adventure event, he and Dirt Every Day co-host Fred Williams bobbed the frame, built a three-link front suspension on airbags, fabricated a fiberglass stepside trail bed, and swapped on a 1980 “Bullnose” front clip and DOM roll cage.
Over-Axled And Under-Engined
Pushing south through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas, the F-350 settled into a steady daily rhythm at 9.8 mpg despite an exhaust leak and a noisy fuel pump. The haul proves Williams’ favorite rule: build a rig that is “over-axled and under-engined.” Because the small-block V8 cannot easily break the one-ton drivetrain, Chappelle can wheel hard all week and still drive home—all for a fraction of a new Jeep’s cost.
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