Hey guys. I've got a 1976 F-150 that I am considering restoring, or maybe just turning into an off-road toy. The reason I'm on the fence is because of rust. It's got rust in all of the normal places. Rockers, door corners, inner fenders, cab corners, and the one spot I can't find a patch panel for: right in front of the bottom of the door, if that makes any sense. I bought a perfect bed, minus a few pinholes over the wheel wells. There is one final kicker. The truck has rusted through the frame at the rear leaf spring hanger. I'm not exactly sure how rust starts in that area, maybe because it gets trapped by the hanger and the tank? I'm really excited and motivated to go somewhere with this truck, I've had it for a little over a year now and I'm in the middle of installing a JBG 6.5" Lift kit. I want to do a restoration, but don't know if this is the vehicle for it. I will post up pictures of the rust, but can't get pictures of the frame rust. Does anyone have any experience with frame rust? Am I getting worried over the normal, easy to fix stuff?
Thanks in advance,
Tristan

 

Even when they don't have rust they are really hard to logically justify rebuilding them.
I would say we do it for different reasons.

As for the rust, get rust free parts or truck to begin with. Doing so is cheaper compared to the labor and disappointment of fixing rust.

 

That's pretty much what I was thinking of doing. There are plenty around here for 3,500 give or take that are in good condition. The only reason this one isn't fully cut up, and a trail rig is because it is my first truck. I come from two sides, one being off- road which means stuff gets scratched and dented, the other being drag racing where it's all motor, looks are secondary for me. This is kind of a new concept in the sense that I have 4x4, but I would cry if it had a pretty paint job and got scratched. Anyway, sorry for the rambling, I appreciate the response.

 

That is why a lot of off roaders just use rattle cans.

 

that thing sounds pretty far gone. without seeing pictures. i think id be enclined to just biuld a trail rig out of it. i did it with a 80's blazer that was rusted up pretty bad body mounts sticking up threw the floor in the back ect. choped the whole back end off re attached the tailgate to the back of the forward cab put a short flat bed on it some 33's wheeled it into the ground then pulled the motor and trans tires ect and bought a truck with a decent body and a blow head gasket and put all the parts into that truck then hauled the remains to the scrap yard.

i feel ya on the first vehicle thing though. i got a 89 Toyota sitting around with 300k miles on it and a rod threw the block. the body is still rust free paint is shot and small dings allover every panel but both the motor and trans are shot. but its the vehicle i had when i was 16 and just cant part with it. some day its going to get some kind of a big hp transplant in it but i just cant decide what i want to do with it and cant part with it after 13 years

 

If the frame was good then yes but if its rusted through forget it.

 

First off let me say that it depends on what you mean by worth it. in all honesty very few vehicles are worth restoring from a profit standpoint. You will almost always lose money in what you spend to do a true restoration on a vehicle versus what the vehicle is worth. That being said resto mods and refurbs have become a lot more popular basically you get the vehicle in decent running condition without necessarily using NOS/OEM parts. In either case though the better question is is it worth it to you if you're not doing it as a labor of love then no it's probably not worth it.

Secondly coming from the Jeep world especially YJ's ( 87-96 wranglers with square headlights ) I'm no stranger to frame rust. Jeep frames rot out very frequently in the same spot you are referring to at the rear spring shackle In fact it has become so popular one guy is now making a living just selling a repair kit he came up with and he fixed his. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weld-on-Jeep-Wrangler-YJ-Rear-Frame-Repair-Rusted-Shackle-Repair-Plates-/201008225765?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AJeep&hash=item2ecd061de5&vxp=mtr this isn't meant as an ad but should give you an idea of a possibly fix.

Whatever you decide to do hope you have fun !

 

What do you want worse an off road toy now to have fun in or a restored truck much later down the road that will take alot of time and alot more money?

I'd say patch the frame by cutting off the bad hanger, plate the bad spot, put on another JY hanger, finish the lift, tube the doors and make it a wheeler.

The blue one is for fun and the black one is for pavement cruising only.

Neither are mine, but that is how I see it.

 

i personally wouldnt try to restore it if the frame is really as bad off as you make it out to be.

 

When I say restore I am thinking of a nice frame/ undercarriage that has been sand blasted and POR-15 put on it. The body would be straight, some use of LMC patch panels, topped off with a 2K dollar paint job. Swap in a 460 to give it some power. Something that most would call a driver, maybe 10-12 thousand invested in the restore. Right now it is an off-road toy, rattle canned 2 colors, super swampers, and wagon wheels haha 1984F150SB: I have a TJ right now that is functioning as the daily driver, and the four wheeling toy, but I go easy on it because it can't take any down time and I'm not quite ready to scrape paint off on rocks. I had a 91 YJ too, had an AMC 360 .30 over and a Muthr Thumpr cam. It was a nasty engine, especially when residing under the hood of a Jeep! To answer to question of me saying "is it worth it." I say that meaning I am willing to do to the work and I want to do the work. Everything done to any of my vehicles is done by me, with the exception of body and paint work. I just wanted to know from everyone else's perspective whether or not this particular truck would be better off playing in the mud, because I could save a lot of time and money by just starting out with a better truck, or am I dealing with a normal truck for the east coast?