G'day lads, just signed up so I thought I would say abit about my my Long term project that never seems to be finished up. Biught it a few years ago from Sydney for $2000 bucks, it's a 1978 f100 with a 351 Cleveland, C6 and 9 inch. They were the good points the body is pretty lousy mostly bog but am aiming to do a cab swap as I have a rust free cab in the shed. It had been sitting for a while and he wasn't sure if it would make the 800km drive home but filled it full of fuel and water gave it a check over and it ran like a dream... Few creaks and groans to start with but all smoothed out after 100k. So far have fitted new tyres, started interior upgrade and just waiting for funds to start the body. Any tips for what else I should do to her would be great cheers.

Worked out how to upload finally.

 

Hello from Texas! You will find a lot of helpful folks here at FTE. That's a nice looking rig you have there. I'm especially intrigued with the dashboard on the right-hand drives. It's interesting to see how they adapted the location of the radio, climate controls, etc.

I'd make a list of things to fix/check/repair and try to prioritize. Be sure and give the brakes and wheel bearings a good look-see. Front wheel bearing seem to be a very neglected maintenance item.

Beautiful scenery in the background. I've always wanted to visit Australia and New Zealand.

 

X2. Welcome to FTE, there are a lot of good, knowledgeable people here.
I agree, nice looking truck.

 

Hey Voca! Thanks for the reply yeah always interesting when I see the American version and how it's set up as I'm used to sitting on the wrong side haha! Ok thanks for the info about wheel bearings going over it fully this weekend as it goes for a roadworthy check next week so I can finally get her on the road! Then no doubt ill find more things I will change!

And yeah the hills are looking good this time of year, beats living in the city that's for sure!

 

That's a great looking truck and beautiful photo spot also!
I STILL miss my 77 F100 2wd shortbed!

 

man its so strange looking at a right hand drive dent. looks pretty sweet as is, love short beds

 

Great to see another Aussie here! If you are interested, here's my Effie:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...lt-custom.html

Re the number of official steering wheel combinations available in Australia between 1974 and 1980, I think there are three.

This is mine:

 

Wow! Even the steering wheel installs upside down.

Ignition switch in the column?..... sumthin reeks of a GM product.

 

Hey mate your from NSW I see? Good looking truck love the green!

Yeah our dash setup is pretty average looking in my opinion, would love to convert the US one, has anyone seen that done before?
Here are another couple of shots of the rhd dash

 

Yes mate, Sydney.

Although I group up with the black dash facier, I tend to agree Ford took the cheap approach particularly with the Cortina cluster. The US F Trucks have a much better instrument panel, but then not even our XLT's came with aircon, power steering or cruise control (read the XLT sales ads: there is no mention of these extras). And we only had the very basic Custom, and the slightly less basic Custom XLT. But how much comfort do you want in a "truck" ?
I am on a mission to keep/get my F100 as stock as I can, but I'd love to have a companion truck with a converted US dash.

 

You know I love looking at the interiors of right hand drive trucks. And seeing just how similar they are yet at the same time how very different they are to the left hand drive. I noticed the brake pedal is even different then our u.s. trucks. Also I can't say for sure with your version of these trucks, but if it were as U.S. truck I would also say that the front bumper, hood, and bed are off an older model year truck.

 

Oh I forgot to mention that is a nice truck you got there. It looks like you need new rubber cab though. What are those wheels from? Really nice truck though.

 

Thanks for the info mate! It says 1978 on the plates but who knows, what year do you think the hood/bumper/tub is off then? And also what do you mean new rubber cab?

The wheels are just old 5 spoke ford wheels I think they were on the falcons back in the day not sure just cheapies I picked up!

 

Nice lookn dent side nothing better than the old ford trucks.. American or Australian! Lol

 

Well I meant new rubber cab mounts. Or some would call them the bushings that o between the cab and frame. The hood since it doesn't have the F O R D letters on the front is either an aftermarket replacement or from a 73-77 truck. The front bumper style that you have was used between 67-77 I believe. Although I think ford started production of that bumper before 67 just not sure though. The bed with the round fuel filler in the states at least was used between 73-76. 77 Ford started using a squar gas door. Also a little over looked detail difference between the beds, is the 73-76 with a round fuel filler also had slightly narrower and longer inner wheel houses. In 77 with the square fuel doors the inner wheel house was slightly wider and shorter. I also noticed that the rear bumper is from an 80-86 style truck.