Joe, what you need is a new project. Take a look: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1622...59152380980371

There are a crap load of old Fords sitting around Montana. Most of them are going to wind up a scrap iron. One of them is just waiting for you to come along and save it.

Some of us more so than others.

Yes, I will and yes, he will -- if I get my way.

Agreed. Just an adjustment issue according to the jollyroger himself.

Thanks for the welcome, but I've chimed in on this thread several times before. In fact - see below.

The PO stories all start with inside jokes, like "green is a nice color" and "you can't get there from here - you gotta go someplace else to start."

:-X22

Thanks, Mark. I have been lurking and chiming in here for a while. In fact, the OP in this thread said:

I've let my '78 Bronco thread decay a bit (many updates I have posted on FSB but not on FTE), but I do like to keep the thread going. It's a great way to keep your bearing. When it just feels like you are stuck and not sure where to go, I go back and read through my threads... and realize just HOW MUCH I've already gotten done. It motivates me to do some more.

Anyway - I'll keep up with what I can get done. Progress will be slow at first. I just got a new job and I have many hours of training every week on top of that. But as things get done, I'll keep y'all posted. You've been helpful to that other guy :-roll and I figure I'll pick your collective brains, too.

That would be a GREAT thread Ray! I know Blue is a successful example of your skills and forward thinking.

I know some others have done amazing things as well, like the disk front brakes.

But if you start a thread like that, I'm sure it will be popular with all the larger truck guys who want to travel at highway speeds safely.

I'm going to see if I can give you reps, but I really doubt it. :-arrgh So, I'll just say Attaboy! :D

Hmmm. I think he already has taken it over. If I get a '65 or '66 I will return with pics. :-X06

I see what you mean Fred. I was an avid reader, and tried to interject my experience (sometimes incorrectly) when I saw something I "thought" I knew about. Sometimes, I had to retract my "knowledgeable" input. :)

And you are one of the reasons I have enjoyed being a part of FTE for 5 years. I have a little experience now, but I would not call it expertise. :D

But I am saving the :oval piece I got (and refurbished) from you. It will be in my future shop.

I have made many friends directly because of FTE. Some I've had the pleasure to meet in person, and others, like yourself, only online.

And, no matter what Charlie (Speedyweasel) may tell the group, he is already WAY beyond my skill level. The only area I can show him up is in welding, and I'm still a rookie there. And he has less than a year to gain my assistance in presence with Betsy, because we're moving to Virginia.

Bobby, we never got a chance to meet face-to-face. I tried enough times, but you were always out of town. Believe me, I understand that. I traveled for a living for 37 years.

I have had fun while learning with this thread. We are moving to Virginia by this time next year, so my remaining time to work on Betsy has a time limit, no matter what Charlie (Speedyweasel) says.

As he has noted already, Charlie has been contributing to this thread from its inception.

Charlie, and I think, my granddaughters, will keep Betsy running. That's one of the reasons he's getting the truck.

Mark,

All I can say is... see above... :)


This is one of the nicest things about being a part of this group. I know you must realize there are many differences between your truck and mine. But if anything I've shown in this VERY long thread has helped you and others, it's more than worth it. :-X03

And since your truck has been in your family for years, I think you'll understand why I'm looking for a truck like my Daddy's. A 1965 F100 long bed V8 manual trans. I can still see him driving that truck where others told him he could not go without 4 wheel drive and chains.

I'll help you in any way I can.

I am looking for a "new truck". But the search is rather specific ('65 - '66) with a 352 V8 and a stick. I may have found one in Arizona (thanks Charlie). And one thing I've learned the hard way, even though it has been reiterated here many, many times. I am looking for a truck that's "mostly finished".

I appreciate that info. And I am definitely not stuck on any area of the country to find a rust free "next" project. I will not be looking in Wisconsin or Minnesota, but Montana is not out of the picture. I'm starting in the Southwest though. Maybe less chance of rust.

While I'm still here, I will do what I can to "finish" the bed (but you're buying). I have an idea of how "I" want it to look, but you have to decide that now. My plans have been based on the mirrors I have on the truck, meaning a lower than stock set of stakes. If you want it to look more like stock, that can be done, but the mirrors will need to be changed so you can see behind you.

I'm a lazy SOB. I know what's wrong (after all the things I've asked about on here) but it's so close to being right, I haven't bothered adjusting it.

I guess I could have responded to each of these separately to increase my thread's reply count. I have to admit, it's been kind of "rewarding" to have the most viewed and responded to "build thread" on this forum. But I think a lot of that is because I;m such a blabbermouth. I will now admit to the group that I was amazed when I passed Keith's fire truck build (as I told him). You guys have been good friends, and I don't want to leave you. I really enjoyed attending Truckstock last year and meeting those of you I hadn't seen while I was working (Ross). But I can't imagine my rookie's experience helping anyone who has read the thread. I will still respond to any updates where appropriate, as I have the thread set to automatically notify me.

Joe, thanks for the kind words. I am glad you are saving the Ford script. It does make nice garage art.

So you are heading back east? Maybe we'll see each other at a Truckstock sometime!

Joe,
Moving to Virginia. That will make it a lot easier to work n the truck since you, due to your experience and distance, will be forced into a supervisory/consultative type roll. You can direct the work and then click your tongue in sympathy when the lad doesn't heed your advice and stumbles....LOL


Speedweasel, Welcome to the madness!!


Bobby

We are moving to Virginia from the Republik of Kalifornia as soon as it makes financial sense to do so. I will become a legislated criminal in this state before we move but I plan to hide until we get the truck loaded.

We both grew up here, and it's a shame what this state has become. I won't live here any longer than necessary.

I do plan to go to future Truckstocks when they are within driving range.

But we'd both like to see the northeast in autumn, so maybe we'll hook up that way.

Bobby, you don't know Charlie. He will ask for help when he needs it, but he won't need it nearly as often as I did. I don't know where he learned all this stuff... It was not from me. ;) And he's not a child. He's 39 years old with a family.

And, on a side note, as we are travelling back to VA with a trailer load of goodies, I still would really like to meet you face-to-face at last. We might find an occasion to open a frosty beverage. :-drink

Joe,
39 is still just a kid...lol


When you start heading east, and you find yourself in the area, I'll take you up on the offer of a frosty beverage (providing I'm in town...lol).


Bobby

And that's always been the problem... you're never there when I'm there. Maybe we'll plan to cruise through Albuquerque on a weekend for a change.

I'm sure I'll need plenty. And these guys will want to see how Betsy progresses so I'll post up what I have anyway. I still clearly need your help on my "young" truck - never mind one 26 years its senior.

Oh, you're going to find that Betsy is a lot easier to work on in several areas than your new-fangled Bronco.

And you failed to mention that we went out Saturday for your first crash box driving lessons.

He did really well, a lot better than I did. After just a few trips around the block, he was hitting 3rd gear with no grinding. I'd say Betsy has found a good home. :-blah

You're right! That's because there are no pics ... so it never happened.

Pics or it didn't happen
 

No, this is not in response to Speedyweasel's crash box driving lessons in Betsy.

This is in response to the requests for pics of my "new" truck. I shopped for a long time all over the west to find a truck like my daddy used to have. I found one I really wanted near Phoenix, but it sold before I could get there to look at it. I found another that looked so good, it just had to be Photoshopped. But that guy never got back to me.

This morning, I changed my CL search by a few digits, and found the truck I drove home this afternoon. She currently wears the moniker "Stella" as you can see by the license plate. I'll be changing the plates to give one back to the seller and to use my Daddy's 65 Ford F100 plate number.

Shut up and show us the pics already...


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...32d34c8083.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...da089f6ee9.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...c03a301b85.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...cab73fc7f4.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...98dfb258e4.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...47c59b9247.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...8ad18ac8a5.jpg