Well been a bit since I updated this thread mainly because I haven't been doing much to her with a few other projects but here is the low down:

First off my dad found a free rear bumper that is perfectly straight recently and grabbed it for me. It isn't chrome but it is a nice rear bumper and is a heavy duty one (not that I will be towin with my bumper but it is a lot thicker then a stock bumper. I am going to run it until I find a chrome one. I may just keep this bumper as to my surprise I really like it. I haven't gotten a chance to install it being the old bumper is welded on but I know it will look nice. I picked up some aluminum paint for another project and I like the way it looks so I may paint it aluminum.


I also moved her back to her rightful spot where I always parked her as I hated seeing her not parked their.

Also some of y'all may have heard but for those who haven't I recently picked up a 94 Explorer 4x4 4.0L V6 auto that I got running in about a week and half to be my daily driver until my F150 is going again. The Explorer gets a lot better fuel mileage then my F150 could ever get so I may keep driving it to keep my F150 from getting beat up (but I am worried about messing up the explorer as it has a perfect body too). That will take care of my worries of locking things in the truck.

Once I finish this other project I am working on (which is going fairly smooth right now) I am going to jump back into this project. School is out at the end of this month (May) so I am hoping to get a ton more done.
Trav

 

Ok quick update guys and gals.
Yesterday I grabbed my rear bumper that I picked up for free and set up a spot to clean up the surface rust with the wire brush and painted it bright aluminum. During the daylight that thing is really bright almost as bright as chrome. It came out great and I like it a lot. I couldn't get the chance yesterday to mount it because as y'all know I have to cut the welded on tabs and I had to go fix a leak on my Explorer which ended up being an easy fix.
Trav

 

Well small update:

I did spray out the bed a bit to clean up the mess from when we hauled the scrap in it.


started cleaning up the engine that is going into my 88 but haven't started disassembling it to see how it looks yet. I was able to find the codes on it which say it is an 87 Ford Truck engine which is what my 88 has in it so it is a matching number engine. That is kinda neat being I didn't check that originally.


I came close to buying a 89 F150 4x4 stick shift 302. I was thinking of getting it for my mom but she can't drive stick so I was going to put the stick shift in my 88 and put my c6 in there and call it good but unfortunately I think it sold. I would have done it if I could though because that is one thing I wish this was (a stick shift but I do settle for the C6 being it is one of Fords most bullet proof trans).


I got my Bronco graveyard book today and I have to say now I am dreaming of having even more to this truck.
Trav

 

Update time. Unfortunately it isn't the one that gets her running but it is a decent one that I think a lot of us were awaiting.

I had a set of 8-lug dodge wheels that came with the tires I bought for the 02 F250. I had no use for them so I asked the tires shop owner if he wanted to work out a deal for the 31 10.5 R15 Big Foot A/T with 30% tread and Ford 5 lug wheels. He said give him the dodge wheels with no tires for the wheels and tires. I told him deal and I rushed home and put them on old White Lightnin'. I am not sure weather I will be keeping these wheels and cleaning them up or my favorite ones which I have 7 of them. The 31s lifted my truck a good 3 inches or so and filled in the fenders well and I like the fender flares even more now.
Trav

Pics:

 

Nice! I agree, it looks a lot better with the larger tires.

 

What do you think run those wheels or the chrome spoke wheels I had originally. These ones push out more then my old ones I think that is why I am leaning towards these but I love the old ones too.


I am going to talk to a buddy about a 86 F150 2wd 302 that is blowing a bit of smoke upon start up. What I am thinking is taking the engine from it sticking it in here then build up the one I got from my buddy then stick it back in their and use the other 2 302s to build one for the ranger or something. I am not sure yet. He has a lot of parts in it that I could use for the other trucks too.
Still got to talk about it because originally he wanted to sell two trucks together and the other one I really don't want.
Trav

 

I like the style of the spoke wheels better. But if they're narrower/have more more backspacing than the ones you have on there now, they're going to look "tucked in", even if you put the 31s on them.

So... I say keep the 31s and wheels you have on it now.

Smoking at startup=valve stem seals. Not a huge issue if you're just trying to get the truck going.

 

Well they are the same width just different backspacing. After looking at it and the new wheels on the explorer I think I am going to run these for now. I just need to clean them up and put some clear coat on them.

Ya that's what I was figuring get me by till I could get a really nice engine built. When I build my engine I would like in the 230-250HP range I don't think that is impossible.
Trav

 

Well got another accessory for my 88 a few days ago.

I saw some bed rails with tie downs included on craigslist a few days back and I had wanted them. My dad decided to get them for me for a present and ended up paying $25.

Turns out they are 67-72 F100+ truck original FoMoCo Bed rails with tie downs included.

Going to install them when I get the chance. They are going to help that I can load my bike and use them for tie downs.
Trav

 

Well couple of updates for y'all. Mostly just a few parts I got.
I got some windshield trim for my truck with a windshield for my brother's truck. If you look mine is all messed up from the window installers.

I also got some rubber coil spring spacers for $4 they should level my truck out as they are 1 1/2" to 2".

I also just picked up one more of the chrome spoke wheels to complete my other set. So now I have 3 sets of wheels for this truck since I am the only 5 on 5.5 truck on the lot.
Trav

 

Ok so on the way is valve cover gaskets, head bolts, head gaskets, oil pump, oil pump gasket, exhaust manifold gasket, and intake manifold gasket. Should be here by next Monday maybe earlier.

Going to take my heads off my engine in my 88 put them on the engine I bought and put the new oil pump in and all those goodies above and slap that engine in their and get me up and running.

Also got the bolts I need to put my bed rails on. Things should start coming along on this project. Need to get this one out of the way to start working on the other ones. (Plus with winter coming up I need another 4x4 running I like having a lot of 4x4s running in the winter).
Trav

 

Since my parts didn't come in Friday and should be here today I decided to install the bed rails. They look awesome and are pretty strong. Will get pictures up when I can.
Trav

 

Just got my parts. Got to run to Autozone to get one more headgasket (thought they came together) and the head bolts I ordered.
Trav

 

Good luck getting her going Trav. What kind of bed rails do you have?

 

Yesterday got the engine on the stand took the smog pump, power steering pump and flex plate along with a few other small accessories off.


My bed rails are FOMOCO that have sliding tie downs built in them. Originally they came on 67-96 Ford trucks. You can get them new at Dennis Carpenter but mine are the original fords that I found on Craigslist for $40. Pics of them installed above.
Trav