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I grew up on a large farm so I had a lot of time in the winter to work on stuff in a heated shop, I bought this at 16 (2nd car, my first at age 14 was a 65 mustang I still have too), and drove it until winter. It had a very poor running 360, slipping automatic, and leaking brake booster - just to name a few. I originally was just going to transplant the 73 LTD 460 and auto into it, but in 1986 the Bigfoot craze was strong an I wanted a lifted truck.
I originally lifted it 12", added 44" gumbo's on the 10" wide rims I had (it looked awful), and didnt have power steering. I ran it like that for a year, then winter of '88 (I was a senior in hs) I added a body lift and took the springs to a spring shop. The rears have a lot of leafs, but with the shocks (18 of them) it rides like a cadillac. I painted it twilight blue, added the triple/double rollbar with extended kickers along with 12 KC Daylighters on top, front, and back. I also bought the 15x15 Bart wheels which really look great imo with such a big tire, and have 5.09/5.10 gears. Oh...and in 1989 I added 75 dodge ram power steering - so easy and it turns those 44x18.50's with my pinkie finger.
[QUOTE=hkopp;15972557]Thanks guys, well....most of you.
I grew up on a large farm so I had a lot of time in the winter to work on stuff in a heated shop, I bought this at 16 (2nd car, my first at age 14 was a 65 mustang I still have too), and drove it until winter. It had a very poor running 360, slipping automatic, and leaking brake booster - just to name a few. I originally was just going to transplant the 73 LTD 460 and auto into it, but in 1986 the Bigfoot craze was strong an I wanted a lifted truck.
I originally lifted it 12", added 44" gumbo's on the 10" wide rims I had (it looked awful), and didnt have power steering. I ran it like that for a year, then winter of '88 (I was a senior in hs) I added a body lift and took the springs to a spring shop. The rears have a lot of leafs, but with the shocks (18 of them) it rides like a cadillac. I painted it twilight blue, added the triple/double rollbar with extended kickers along with 12 KC Daylighters on top, front, and back. I also bought the 15x15 Bart wheels which really look great imo with such a big tire, and have 5.09/5.10 gears. Oh...and in 1989 I added 75 dodge ram power steering - so easy and it turns those 44x18.50's with my pinkie finger.
the truck was 10 years old or less.you guys built it! musta had some megabucks around that farm! what were you farming?
i seen my first monster truck show in i think 84 or so at the sullivan arena in anchorage alaska, i was hooked ever since. it was just bigfoot and all he did was slowly pull out in a ford with a lift and big tires, then run over 2 cars slowly next to each other then stood out the door and waved.
i was blown away by this performance and became a 4x4 addict. this pales in comparison to the monster trucks of today and the stunts they do. i think wat attracted me most was the fact it looked like my dad could bolt this stuff on like the average guy and build a bigfoot, in 14 year old eyes anymore.
monster trucks of today are just for the rich, i do enjoy the shows though. more of a gravedigger fan now. still love bigfoot though.
the truck was 10 years old or less.you guys built it! musta had some megabucks around that farm! what were you farming?
No megabucks...I worked since I was 12 (I was 6' at age 12, reaching 6'7" at 18), so I had disposable income with no bills at a young age. I wasnt spoiled by any means, up at 4am to move pipe, done by 7:30 to shower and get to school...3:30 back to moving pipe or work in the fields until 10-10:30 when we ate dinner...homework, then crash. Repeat. Winters were fortunately slower, mainly maintenance on tractors and equipment. We had 5000 acres, 3500 wheat, 1000 acres of potatoes, and up to 500 in alfalfa. We worked our asses off.
The truck was 12 yrs old when I bought it, but it was used on another farm and rode hard. The oil was never changed in the 360, when I pulled the intake it had lumps of coal like old burnt oil. I ended up pulling everything off the frame, was a great learning experience at age 16/7. I already knew a lot of mechanics, welding, etc..but was fun to apply it towards a truck rather than a combine. When I bought my 65 mustang at age 14 I asked my father to help me rebuild the engine...he looked at me and said 'you have a good education, and can read...here' and handed me several auto manuals. If I got stuck after that then he would lend a hand...best thing for me at that age.
Anyway...I got the heads back on today after removing the top end to have everything hot tanked. It was full of varnish and all 8 intake valves were stuck, along with the carb. I installed a new edelbrock intake and a new Holley 1850 as well. Now I need to decide on either a bronco ii or 70 mustang fuel tank and get it put in...the 60 gallon tank I had in the bed is now out...no need for that much fuel now and I want it done right. Next I'll install my tilt column I've had stashed for a few yrs and some other upgrades.
Sweet truck!!! These old 2wd longbeds will always have a special place in my heart. After all my dad's truck when I was a kid was a 77 F150 custom 2wd longbed with a 302 3 on the tree.
01-22-2016, 01:21 AM
