SALE ADD for truck below I'm looking at.I'm not selling it. Just to be clear. This is a truck I want to buy and would like some info befor I look at it. Problem areas ect.


Hello,
I have for sale my 1977 Ford F150 Custom 4x4 truck. 80,000 original miles. The engine is a 351M backed up by a toploader 4spd transmission. I have had this truck since 2003 and need to sell it. The truck has no rust on the body and has been completely redone with new steel. The paint job is 1 1/2 years old and is in great condition along with the interior. Things i have added or replaced: New brakes and lines, new fuel tank and lines, CD player, steering wheel, door and window seals, lockouts on the front, drive shaft u-joints, new mirrors, and a paint on bedliner that looks great. The tires are in good shape with roughly 75% tread. Must see in person to appreciate. This is road worthy and ready to go. Make me an offer. $4700 obo.
Thanks for looking.<!-- START CLTAGS -->


That is the sale add. I am going to look at it next week. What should i look for as for rust areas that have been fixed?? What about Axels and Transmision? Is a toploader a good tranny? Any help would be great from you guys. I saw the pic of the truck and I'm in love. It's everything I want.

Thankyou for all your help.

 

You're in Illinois, and I assume the truck is nearby?

$4700 for a half ton that has (probably) aftermarket sheet metal is about the most I would spend. There are still lots of good trucks like this that are more original and uncut. I'd ask about that motor, and if it's original (never rebuilt) make sure it's been well maintained. The 351M is notoriously troublesome, as you may already know. That 4-spd should be bulletproof though.

Take a look, and if the truck looks like it's been done right, make him an offer! Good luck!

 

I hear this about the 351M somewhat frequently, I had 2 of them back in the '80s and while both were gas pigs and were certainly no hot rods, they both ran excellent and gave no problems. My cousin bought an F150 brand new in 1978 and kept it until '86 I believe and didnt have the 1st problem with it. I wish I had bought it from him.

 

bamaf - Yeah, I know a lot of people that wouldn't trade those Cleveland engines for the world... I just think they're a lot more complicated than the FE (360/390) motors or even a 460. There are just more little annoying problems that can arise over time, I think.

That said, 83capril, don't let that bother you. Damn near all these trucks had a 351m/400, and if at some point you decide you hate it, a 429 or 460 is just plug and go. Everything bolts right up.

 

Most likely that's probably not a toploader 4-speed unless it was swapped in. It's probably a 3-speed with 1st gear granny.

 

"Most likely that's probably not a toploader 4-speed unless it was swapped in. It's probably a 3-speed with 1st gear granny."

Good point... SHOULD be an NP 435... Which is a good transmission.

 

Thankyou all for the info. If my luck is going good, I may have conections to the guy who rebuilt this truck. It looks like one that was in my town wich was rebuit by a friends friend. Lol anyways I hope to look at the truck next week. I will post all I findout and hope that it is good. I'll try to get axle tags ect. I am looking at this to be a backup daily driver. I'm getting 15mpg at best now so I'm thinking I may not loose much there. Also if it is the truck I'm thinking I fell in love with it back in 02 or so. I'll keep you all posted. Again thankyou for the quick response.

 

Ehhhh, as far as the mileage, and not losing much, might hafta think again haha. I get around 8 in my 79 with a 400 (essentially the same engine as the 351M, just a little bigger). Other than that though, go for it, looks like a nice little truck.

AleX

 

I've heard people call the NP435 a toploader because the shifter bolt into the top instead of shifting linkage on the side.

 

see if you can get the VIN # on the truck an run it an see what it came with from the factory then you will have a better idea what has been done to it.

 

that is a good price if the for sale ad is true. take a magnet with you to see if the whole truck doesnt have bondo. i would pay 4500 for it! looks like a nice rig!

 

On a normal 4-speed toploader, the shifter is attached to the side and has external shift arms. They say it's side-shifted, top loaded. The cover to get to the gears is on the top of the transmission versus on the side on other transmissions.

 

Thankyou all for the info. I hope to see this truck early next week. The maganet idea crossed my mind and I will do it. I am just hoping that this truck is as good as the pics show it.

 

look it over good before making a decision. i have been disappointed so many times when going to look at dents for sale that i find online. the trucks literally look mint on the pics but in person the body is trashed. i had one guy tell me his truck had no rust and was straight (pics on his ad showed this too) we go look at the truck and it had cab corners, corner of doors and the whole bed is rusted. come to find out the pics were from 8 years ago. some people will do anything to get your attention and try and sell something. not trying to be negative just want to make sure you look it over good and get a good feel for the seller

 

You r correct bigt, I don't mind rust. Aslong as it's not thro the body. I want a solid cab for sure. Also it must have a good sloid drivetrain. I can deal with surface rust, bad trim ect. I'm not looking for a show queen. I do wanna get what I pay for. If it looks clean it better be clean. I don't wanna see bondo flaking off in 2 years after I buy it. I'ld rather have bought a cheaper rust truck. I'm still waaiting on him for a date to look at it. I find some decent ones in pics but a 3 hour drive is amlost to far to come home empty handed. I also want one I can drive that day. No major issues. I must be to picky. Lol I have found a lot of great prodgects. Just that's not what I want.