Really appreciate everyone's advice. Unfortunately, I'm gonna need to hold off on getting a donor truck and starting the teardown for a while. As much as I want to get started now, the local home owners association doesn't allow this kinda work in the driveway, so I need to figure out how to clean out our garage and how to keep the neighbors from complaining. Will keep posting here as I figure out a plan.

 

Well, Maryland MVA just made this harder ... smog inspection is due on the 79 F100. Guess I gotta figure out a way to make it driveable or turn in the plates. (wonder what would happen if I towed it in on a trailer for smogcheck ....LOL). Anybody had experience with turning in the plates while doing a restoration then going thru the process of getting it inspected and registered again? Appreciate any advice, Happy Holidays, Ken

 

1.turn in the plates
2. get historical plates
no more emissions,plates are cheaper

 

+1, the plates are something like $52/2years, and you get opted out of VEIP.

Also, can you request an extention of the VEIP Inspection?

 

ext is for 4 mths, then it has to be tested, or forfit your tags. I just ran through this with my 82, it now has historic tags.

 

Move over here, haven't had a emission test in 20 years on anything.
Charlie

 

now that's an idea

 

Now I like that idea too ... no sense in testing a truck this old. the last emission inspection, the technician ran the test, handed me the paper and said "it lives to run another day .." I looked at the paper and it said 'failed". I didn't ask any questions .. just hit the gas and thanked my lucky stars, cause most of the smog stuff has rotted/rusted away on that inline 6.

I can still request an extension, but I don't think this thing's gonna be running in 4 months, so time for a plan B. Thanks for the tip about historic plates, I thought there was some limitation on what you can do with the truck (like not a daily driver) maybe I'm confused with what the insurance company said.

Thanks for all your advice, guys.
Ken

 

i got a 1979 ford f150 4x4 that im parting out

 

is it a shortbed? Happy New Year!
Ken

 

We don't have VEIP down here either.

 

yeah its a short bed

 

Update on my rusty f100. My son helped me put the truck back together last weekend so I could get to the emissions inspection station. And I learned why my previous test had 'fail' on it but the truck passed anyway. Turned out that last time the gas cap failed the test but the engine passed the smog check, and that was classified as passing the test. This week, however, the same gas cap failed the test, the engine passed, and the overall classification was FAILED. Got me a little riled up even when the station manager explained that they changed the computers a year or so ago and the rules changed. Such b/s. anyway, I now have a brand new $5 gas cap that hopefully will pass the test. And the station manager also mentioned changing over to historical plates instead of re-testing.

 

Very interesting .. what's involved in transplanting my 2x4 cab, front clip and inline 6 onto a 4x4 frame? I'm really intrigued with building up a 4x4 and having a stick-shift again, but want to re-use what I can of my truck. I've just never even looked at the 4x4 drivetrain and frame setup. Any thoughts?

 

everything is bolt/unbolt. I would use the 4x4 drive line with your 6. would be a cute little truck, your dad would have rather had.