A nice, shiny, rust-free truck in your part of the country would have some value to it........

 

I vote to do it. HOWEVER, make sure you go into it with the expectation that it will be a lot of work and expense.

Should you believe me? Just go read this page on my site where I've outlined what I've done to my truck in the last 8 months and what I still need to do: Vehicles: ?82 F150 Explorer

It has taken me 8 months to do all that and I'm retired, have an indoor place to do the work, and pretty much all the tools needed. As for the expense, I'd rather not tell you - and I still have the interior and body work to do. Hopefully your truck won't have as many problems and, therefore, won't take as much time nor money, but you will still be proud of what you've done. And, I'll bet your father will as well.

 

Its really up to you and how much you like the truck. Sounds like it may have some sentimental value to it and if it does great. If it doesnt thats fine to. Don't let people tell you not to do it solely because its a 2wd. They are right this isnt a 69 Mustang that your gonna get a ton of money back on but if its something you want to do and you can learn when your doing it then I say go for it.

 

GL,

Nice link buddy. Dang good read! Any chance you will be adding receipts and a thread here to give people an idea of what it would cost to do a "stock" build. I am going to do that and add my pics of my restore but it will be far from original. More a daily driver flavor with some work truck aspects thrown in.

 

Redneck, very true. I've had lots of people tell me to not throw all my money into my Ford but it has more value than just being a pickup. It will be something that I did myself with help from family members. My skills and abilities are now so much better than before I started. I know about removing and painting the interior (I did that all myself). More engine work, sanded the truck down almost all by myself. I'm going to watch the paint spraying and try my hand at it.

 

You could probably get a "scuff & shoot" paint job for under $500 or spend 2 k+.depending on how much you wanta spend and what condition the bodies in. I'd take it to a local body shop and ask for an estimate to do what you want, then decide if you would rather pay or spend a few 100 hrs doing it yourself.

 

Trust me its not worth it to pay someone. I sanded it all down and its really simple to paint it like stupidly so. I was lucky in that I had almost no rust and no dents. I sanded it all down to primer/metal in some areas, hit it with a primer sealer and then spray your top coat ( 3-4 times depending upon what you want for durability) and then buff it real good. I chose an acrylic enamel as its a pickup and I expect it to be scratched and dirty. No sense in spending money for an offroad.work truck for a clear coat which will get scratched.

I got a gallon of acylic enamel cali orange, hardener, reducer, primer sealer, pint of black (for mixing with the bed liner instead of the pricey uv stuff they have) all for roughly $300 bucks. It will take me about 4 hours to paint it all and it took my 8 hours for sanding it. Quite a bit more for removing all the panels and stuff and its fast since I am getting rid of the bed but none the less $2k for just a sand and spray job is too dang pricey as my grandpa would say.

 

I say go for it. I've had my truck since I was 16 and brought it back from the dead. It may be old and redneck, but it gets looks all the time. There aren't very many clean examples of these trucks around. That being said, after what I've been through with this truck, I'm never getting rid of it

 

Glovemeister - Thanks. Hadn't planned to put the costs on that page as I wasn't sure I wanted anyone else to know - especially my wife, although she's seen all the bills but just hasn't added it all up. Anyway, after thinking about it I could do that if it would help others. And, maybe when/if I ever try to sell the truck the potential buyer can see why I want SOOOOO much!

 

to the op, pictures are always welcomed here.

 

I'll second this. You can see the pictures of my '80 F-150, and it's nothing special - it's 2wd, it's a longbed, and it's pretty beat. And yet, I have people asking me about it all the time, or telling me what a great truck it is, they/their dad/their grandpa had one, et cetera et cetera. So I say fix it up - it'll look good, and people WILL notice.

Or...you can save your money and buy a shiny new Toyota 4x4, that nobody but you will ever give a crap about.

 

I have a really clean 86 f150 XLT Lariat for sale in the for sale section here. it's laees than it would cost get the one you have in shape. Make an offer