Howdy guys and gals.

New member here who has been a truck enthusiast for all my life (35 years young!). I have owned a few trucks in my days, but they have all been Chevrolets. I have always loved 67-72 (owned 3/4 ton 4x4's...71 Cheyenne and 72 Cheyenne Super/Custom Camper) chevy 4x4's.

I sold both of my Chevy pickups, 79 Pontiac Trans Am 10th Anniversary and 69 RS/SS Camaro to save up for a 69 RS Z28 Camaro. I currently own a 1976 Blazer Chalet and 87 Silverado 4x4 shortbed.

Many of my friends had 73-79 Ford trucks and I have always loved that body style. My good friend had a 79 Ford pickup. It was a yellow Free Wheeling 4x4 with stickers on the sides. It was amazing. I have another friend who owns a two tone brown 79 F350 Ranger Lariat 4x4 single cab that has the lighted visor and side tool box. He put a built 390 in it and that got me wanting a 78 or 79 Ford F250 4x4 of my own.

I will be looking for a rust free, original pickup that runs well. I will use it to haul my 4 wheeler to the mountains and back. I will slowly restore it back to original, with the exception of engine, exhaust and wheel/tire mods.

I have read and searched threads here on what to look for when buying these years of Ford trucks.

Rust in the rear wheel wells, bed and underneath on the body mounts.

As far as the engines, I will most likely be dealing with the 400. I don't know all that much about this engine, but it sounds as though I can get better performance by putting in a better cam, intake manifold and 4 barrel carb on it.

I really like the original wheels and hubcaps, but 16.5" tires are expensive (same as chevys). Are there any 16" wheels that look original and will fit the original hubcaps?

I am sure that I am missing things to look for when buying one and would appreciate any feedback. I know there a lot of knowledgeable people here and am glad that I have finally decided to go after one of these beauties!

Happy to be part of this forum

 

Welcome to FTE and good luck on your hunt.

... and when ya bring the ol' girl home, post some pics cuz we are visual creatures.

 

How far are you willing to travel? I know of one in Chattanooga, TN. Its a 1979F-150 lifted 4" on 35" BFG all terrains. Its a shortbed standard cab with zero rust and deep green paint done in 2006. The engine is a "crate" 400 with 50k on it. Really a beautiful truck. $7000

In Cincinnati there is a white 1979 F-250 standard cab long bed lifted 4" on 35's. It has a 460 with a cam and the heads redone. The interior looks really clean and it was restored in the late 90's. The cab has some slight rust on the top of the door, where the rubber seal touches the cab. The only other rust is some bubbling up over the rear pass. wheel arch. $4000 with a spare cab. Its not rust FREE but its not bad at all.

In Cinci there is another truck that has probably sold by now but anyway.. It a 1968 f100 Bumpside 2wd. It was just restored and is absolutely beautiful blue and white. New paint and new interior. The engine is a factory 360 with FIFTEEN THOUSAND MILES. It was a grandpa owned truck until very recently. $5,500


anyway good luck dent hunting! Let us know what you find!

 

Thanks HIO. I will be sure to post a ton of pics when I get her home.

61Steven, thanks for the info on those trucks. I am not able to travel that far at the moment. I'm currently working a crazy amount of hours in the oilfields of ND and looking for trucks in my area. I have seen a few nice ones in the MT, WY, ID, WA area that are very reasonably priced and rust free. I would like to find a long bed truck for my Can-Am Outlander 800 Max XT. It is huge! Thanks again, I really appreciate it!

 

Hello and welcome! Oregon, Washington, and California seem to have the most rust free trucks with the lowest prices.

 

mywheels, thank you for the info. I will have to check out OR and CA. They are a bit far, but if I could find a great deal on a 78/79 F250/350 4x4 Ranger Lariat or Ranger Explorer Camper Special....I'd go!

 

You seem confused, you say you are from Montana, but have Cowboy Joe as your avatar. My wife and brothers went to UW by the way, I went to LCCC in Cheyenne.

If you find one close by Billings I'd be glad to look at it for you if I have time. I found my truck on Craigslist BTW.

 

Took you long enough to get your mind right.....lol JK. Welcome to the club, truck hunting is so much fun.

The biggest rust issue to look for IMO is the forward cab mounts, those are a PITA to repair. Everything else is an easy patch panel repair.

 

I am a huge Cowboys fan....Go Pokes!! I am working in ND to save cash for my masters in archaeology at UW. Great school and community. Most of my family is in Cody, WY and my home town is 20 miles from the Wyo border (Bridger). Thanks for the offer hivoltj, I appreciate it! I will get in touch with you if I find a nice truck in our area on CL.

77&79F250, I knew I would hear that eventually!!! I appreciate the welcome and the heads up on the forward cab mounts. Great info, sir!!

 

Are there any members in the SW Idaho area who would be willing to look at a truck for me in Caldwell?