Hi all. My name is Rich Halsey and I am the proud new owner of my very first Ford Truck.
I remember when I was a kid helping my dad and uncles cutting and hauling firewood for our family's. My uncles always had old Ford trucks with huge wooden racks and I clearly remember having those old trucks piled to the hilt with wood and them coming out of the woods like there was nothing even on them. I always thought they were the coolest trucks ever and vowed that one day I would own one.

Fast forward to today. I'm married to a wonderful woman and have 5 great kids. I have been deeply into drag racing all of my life and never made time for the truck I always wanted. I have built drag cars from the ground up with some running the 1/4 mile in the mid to high 7 second zone at over 170 mph.

With all the hustle of everyday life, the expense of racing and just not having the time to race, my last car, a 68 Camaro, sat in the garage unmoved for almost 2 years and I decided it was time for a change. I put it on the internet for sale and within a week or 2 it was gone and I was on a mission to find my truck.

After looking all over nearby I finally located one about 4 hours from my home and me and one boy went for a road trip. Its not perfect and some of the things done to the truck I will undo, but its a good clean start.

1978 F250, 400M, C-6, Dana's with 4.56's. I already have a 429 Block at the machine shop being prepped for a swap.
One thing I have learned quick is how brand dumb a person can be only being around one make of cars. I have a TON to learn about Fords but Im loving my new truck so far.


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Welcome to the forum. There are many knowledgeable people here to answer your questions. That is one nice looking truck you have there.

 

welcome to fte! man that is a clean 78'. have any other pics? what is your other plans?

 

wow looks like the truck has already been restored, whats your plans for it it?

 

Wow! that's a helluva start for your first Ford truck, it's a beautiful rig, it doesn't look like much needs to be done do it, body wise anyway, i'm not a big fan of those modern style wheels on these old dentsides, they just don't fit the era of the truck imo, but overall nice truck!...welcome to FTE.

 

Welcome Rich, sharp truck you got there.

 

Welcome to the group, very clean truck. We need more pics! it's called truck **** arround here.

 

Nice shop! *drools*

The only thing your shop and mine has in common is the US General box. Man would I love a shop with a 20 foot ceiling and two post lift. Sweet.


Nice truck.

 

I am also a convert to Fords my parents had one when I was little, but I had owned Chevys until I got married and now love Fords. We inherited a 1994 F250 ext cab w/ 460 5speed. And now I just picked up a 1976 F250 HiBoy, and my wife drives a 2003 expedition Eddie bauer ed. So we are actually a Ford Family now. By the way your truck is sweet.

 

I agree with the above statements! Welcome and good luck with your project! Nice truck!

Hopefully to get rid of those ugly-*** rims and straighten that bumper. Looks like a picture frame is hanging off the back of that rig!

 

Nice truck, I don't mean to offend but if you don't mind me asking... What did you pay for her?

 

looks like a sweet 78' you got there. how far do the tires stick out beyond the fenders with those wheels?

 

Thanks for the welcome and the compliments. I will try to answer some of the questions.
The body is in excellent shape and the truck does appear to of had a complete frame off restoration. You cant tell in the picture but the truck has a dump bed on it (that's coming off) and the PO overloaded it and bent the hinges and when the bed was lowered it got into the cab corners. That is the only bad place on the body and it is being repaired right now. That's also why the rear bumper doesn't sit right. Its on a hinge system and doesn't come all the way back when the bed is lowered.

The interior also has been been redone but it is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. They removed all the factory instruments and gauge covers and did it in stainless steel and autometer gauges and toggle switches for the starter, fuel pump, wipers etc. I guess they were going for the race car look but it HAS to go. Also they covered the door panels and dash pad with bright red velvet, red seat, red carpet. I feel like I should be wearing a red suit and delivering presents when Im in it.

As far as changes, I am in the process of a 429 swap, leaving the C6 for now but later putting a manual trans in it. I also am going to put the interior back to as stock as I can get it, and not bright red. They also did a heat delete on it so I am putting the heat and possibly AC back. It came with the wheels and tires in the picture but also came with 40" hawg's on weld wheels that will prob go back on because Im unsure on the wheels and tires on the truck also.
I also am putting the older style grill in it for personal preference.

My wife and I put about 1500 miles traveling looking at different trucks before I found this one and most were just ate up with rust as we live in the salt belt. I probably paid a little too much for it but for what they were going for in rough shape I would have ended up spending a ton of money restoring one anyway.

Thanks again for the welcome and I look forward to getting to know everyone.

Take care !

 

Nice looking truck you have there! Someday I hope to have mine looking 1\2 as good.... 351m swap over, and I decided too to go 429. With overloads I regularly carry 3,000+ pds. up/down steep, hwy 17, hills. I do just fine; but... If I had to do it all over again I would choose 460 cube's over 429 torque.

Having had both myself I prefer legs and without pushing the rpm I need more grunt from 70 on. She get's up and rolls but you might want more after the bud falls off.... Just saying. You still have time to drop a 460 crank in

My original, to me, thought was better low end torque and I can turn higher rpm's but it's just off a little for me. I think 460's just out power 429's advantage.

Again, real nice truck! You'll enjoy every minute once she's on the road!!!

I grew up around hauling hay and wood.... Days to remember!

 

For now I am sticking with the 429 Internals for $ reasons. Maybe down the road I will make a 500" + out of it.