1978? stepside
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Freshman User
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1978? stepside
i have a 74 ford f250 longbox. 302 with four on the floor, 2wd . i am looking at picking up a 78 stepside. its got an I6 and a column shift manual . its going to be a parts truck for the cab and fenders as well as some of the interior. its also got factor tinted windows i think.
im wondering if theres anything i should look for before i buy it ? also if there are any parts i should save as well as anything that might hold some value to someone else?
i live in the u.p. of michigan so rust is some what of an issue. the box looks really rough but the cab seems ok.
all comments on it are welcome
im wondering if theres anything i should look for before i buy it ? also if there are any parts i should save as well as anything that might hold some value to someone else?
i live in the u.p. of michigan so rust is some what of an issue. the box looks really rough but the cab seems ok.
all comments on it are welcome
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Sweethome Or
if its a 4X4... axles, steering, transfercase, trans those kinda things are high ticket items... if the 78 has a good grill surround and round headlights i might be interested... my supercab is a 78 and square headlight... i wanna swap it..
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does anybody know how to identify factor tint. also did these trucks even come with it?
tint laws in michigan are pretty strict ,and i think the one lope hole is factor tint.
so thats another added bonus if i can pick this truck up. i will have to read into the laws .
tint laws in michigan are pretty strict ,and i think the one lope hole is factor tint.
so thats another added bonus if i can pick this truck up. i will have to read into the laws .
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
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From: South west Idaho
Since you said all comments are wellcome,okay , a lot of the ford guys don't like the chevy term of "stepside" to be used on a ford. It makes no difference to me, but a few others can get jacked up about it. 
Just friendly advice. JIM
Just friendly advice. JIM
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i just never knew they were manufacturer specific, and its the term i have always used for that style of bed.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: South west Idaho
I think it's 'flare side' or something like that. I still call them 'step side' ,just wanted to say a few,not all,guys get kinda get jacked up if you say anything that relates to Chevrolet. I see you are a new user is the reason i brought it up ,so wellcome to FTE . JIM
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well i was looking at pictures online of other flare sides and realized the truck im getting is a long box flareside, like i said it has some issues but wonder if i should hold onto the bed because i have heard they might be rare?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Ideeho
There were in all actuality less long bed flaresides produced 73-79 than there were short flaresides. And the long beds seemed to get used a lot harder than the shortbeds since most of the long beds were purchased purely for work trucks then had the hell beat out of them. So yeah, they are pretty hard to come by anymore. Not that I'd want one, I always thought the longbed flaresides were butt ugly. And I like the short ones........In fact I used to own a 77 1/2 4x4 Flareside shorty............just a personal preference I guess.........
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
A tinted windshield only could be ordered, or all the glass could be ordered tinted.
This tint is very light...and can be hard to make out under certain conditions.
If MI fails your truck because of factory tint, they would fail every other Ford Passenger Car & Truck, because all used the same shade of tint from the 1950's thru the 1980's and prolly later.
MI tint laws are prolly similar to CA's. This applies only to the add on tinted film sold by autoparts stores also installed by specialty, detail, custom and autoglass shops.
In CA, only certain shades of tinted film are allowed, but that doesn't seem to bother pro athletes, gangbangers, drug dealers, rice burners and etc., because some of their vehicles (like Cadillac Escalades, Honda Civics) have windows tinted so dark, one wonders how the he!! they can see oughtta them.
The polizei love these vehicles, pull them over on a regular basis, issue tickets, then can "sniff" and look around for other violations.
btw: You can buy similar tinted film for home applications from Lowes, Home Depot and etc.
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