I got this all together in the last few weeks. However, I have been planning for it all summer.


I first found this about 6 months ago for sale in Clarksville. It was advertised as a lifted 1978 4x4 f150 with a granny low 4 speed and a 300 with new warn hubs. It had some fuel system problem where it would start up but when you hit the gas, it would die. I called the dude and he even knew where to get a flareside bed for $150. I had it lined up to buy it and the guy sold it to someone else. A couple months later it came back up. The new owner put a new gas tank on it, a new carter carb, new rough country shocks. The rearend was now slipping in it but I gladly paid 1000 for it.


I got on Jeff's and ordered a timken bearing rebuild kit. I also ordered new yukon 3.50 gears and a $300 trac-lok spline carrier. Instead they sent me the $600 yukon dura-grip carrier. That will work with me.




Meanwhile I was looking for a flareside bed. I ended up buying another truck. In Alabama I found a 1977 f100 2wd automatic ford blue with a flareside bed.


I wanted to keep the 78 grille so instead of removing the whole front clip I just took it off piece by piece. I did this on both trucks




I then went ahead and put the bed on the 4x4 frame.

"You might be a redneck if you back up to a bed picked up by an engine hoist while steadying it through your sliding back glass"



Many people do not know this but ford offered an identical truck for the 1978 model year available in the hillbilly deluxe package. Haha I actually drove it around like this a few days.

I used a tractor to move the cabs. To get the 2wd cab ready. I had to remove the entire clutch and brake pedal assembly. At first I thought I could just add the clutch to the end of the single brake pedal assembly. When I pulled the clutch spring loose it about cut the end of my thumb off on the bottom lip of the dash. I also had to cut a hole in the floor for the manual trans hump plate.




I under coated everything I could get to and then put the blue cab on. Also those cab mounts are off the f100 frame. The the passenger side mount on the f150 had rusted around the bushing. The other bushing fell out so I just swapped the mounts over from the f100. I cut the rivets off, punched them through and then bolted the mounts back into place.



I have a few more things I want to do but I am happy with the finished product
I have probably spent more money on this than it is worth but the important thing is that I didn't settle. I wanted a 78 or 79 4x4 with a 300 and a 4 speed. I wanted a flareside and I really wanted blue. I have never seen one just like that and I really hope that I don't see one. I am extremely biased but I believe that everyone wishes they had a lifted dentside with a 4 speed and a 300. Ford blue with a flareside bed. Haha thanks for looking

 

niceproject

 

Thanks. Glad you like it.

 

great pic with the kids and the dogs,Man you need to save that one,the years go by fast

 

Yeah, a lot faster than you could ever imagine.
Your truck looks great, nice job .

 

I plan on doing an album or a big picture frame with all of the pictures in it. I told my little boy that he could have the truck when he gets old enough but he wants a green one. Sounds like a good excuse to look forward for another build.

 

awesome, hope to see more

 

I have a 1978 250 with a 429 i honestly dont like v-8s all that much i want to remove the c6 and put in a t18 with a 300-i6 so, you are correct i envy the engine/tranny combo =) 300's run forever and have enough torque to put a v8 to shame .. sometimes

 

A set of nerf bars and that that truck would be perfect!

 

That is one sweet truck!

 

So cool with the 300! I was hoping for a flat bed though.

 

I just picked up a 78 with the same drivetrain set up and love it. Could not agree more, the 300 with the 4 speed is a fantastic setup!

 

Nice job, looks great!

 

If it was going to be a mud truck I would have put a flatbed on it. i also would have made a big ugly front bumper too. However although it is a ba$tard, I still prefer the overall stock look on these trucks.

 

Thanks man. I know that some people who do not understand the 300 will frown that I have a 6 cylinder under the hood, but I have no reason to go really fast and it suits my needs perfect.
In reality, torque makes you look cool. Horsepower gets you in trouble.