So many where do I start, just a few. Finding more all the time!!!
1. put aux backup lights on bumper so you couldn't open the tailgate w/o crushing them
2. Wired plow lights so factory lights stayed on and reflected back at you from the plow. He just unplugged them during winter instead of doing it right.
3. Hard wired the dimmer switch with duct tape instead of getting a new plug
4. Wired aux battery in series for an "extra boost at startup"-he was proud of that one
5. Swear he didn't own a ratchet. Every bolt seems finger tight.

But then if it weren't for PO's I wouldn't have gotten the deal I did.

 

MAN! I guess I'm really lucky I got the truck I did. I got a great deal on it, but it wasn't hacked up. It was just worn out. I had to rebuild the chassis, but I was the first one there. Nothing to "un-funk" like you guys.

I've had my share, though. Cowl panels fixed with 2" thick bondo and fiberglass, ....hacked up electrical systems, .....road signs used as floors, etc.

 

In all fairness when buying a 20-40year old vehicle we all need to understand that there was typically an owner who didn't have the money for gasoline let alone proper repairs. At one point I was that guy.... a floor with some roofing shingles over a rust hole was better than having a hole in the floor.

Parts are exceptionally cheap for most f-series trucks and the repairs are simple.
I only wish my 63.5 Galaxie had so much support in the aftermarket and such a selection in the junkyard.

 

One word: WOW.

 

I knew the truck was going to need some work when I bought it, but it has had some serious issues.
1. passenger tie rod end stacked with washers to hold it tight ( like 5 of em).
2. shifter held on with nail ( actually not that bad but the nail breaks eventually and eventually I might fix it)
3.carpet was thin red felt with some interior pieces paint to match. ( felt didn't last long and there was lots of mud and live 22 rounds under it).
4. I got in a ramming car chase ( long story friends suck) but that revealed heavily layered bondo on both bedsides and front fenders. cab is still solid.
5. front cross member welded in poorly.
6. steering box bolted in with improper hardware ( scarey).

I'm getting a new bed thursday so I'm sure I will find more stuff today when I pull the old bed off. I'm pretty sure this truck was rolled and cobbed back together the front diff says 79' bronco in junk yard paint marker ( it was hidden behind a lot off oil)). Even with all of its issues I still love this truck and cant wait to get it back the road.

 

When I saw that one , the first thought I had was "fmc400 is gonna love this one"

 

Actually, I have to confess. I'm my trucks worst "PO"! I'm the second owner and have owned it for 27 years. I drove the daylights out of it for 11 years then parked it with 435,000 miles on it, with the plan of making it my "retirement project" many years in the future.
It's amazing the toll that abandonment and neglect can take on a truck.
Now that I decided to start on it BEFORE I retire I'm paying the price.
Here are some before and current pics. Hopefully, the "after" pictures will follow in the not-too-distant future.

 

PO replaced the front calipers, brake lines, rear wheel cylinders and lines .... didnt replace any pads.

 

i still have these stickers left over from the last owner haha

 

well my truck came with a 390FE, mostly all of the ears on exhaust ports were broken, they tried to mig weld the manifold the head on one side. the other side the used C clamps, the radius arm bushings were none existent, so they tied the steel part to the back of bolt were the radius arm sits in the bracket back so it wouldnt jingle. One hub was installed back wards so FREE was actually LOCK. they replaced the clutch, crossthreaded metric bolts where they werent supposed to be. only 1 of 4 bolts were holding the tranny to the bellhousing. Someone started to put in 4:56 richmond gears in the back and used thread locker on the crown ring which is good but everything else was finger tight resulting in a Kaboom. and lastly the one coil spring was broken so they tied it down with copper wire aswell.

 

Nice stickers.

 

On my new '74 there are too many to list. Everything the PO touched was somehow a**-backward. Today I threw a timing light on her just to see, has been running good, and found the timing 5* ATDC ....

 

Sooo.... what you're saying is the PO and the engine timing were the same?......retarded?

 

Are you talking the your 2wd or my old 4wd chassis, I sold it like I got it and tried to make it as right as possible on parts. And I thru in a factory push bar, what more must I do? lol

 

My PO loved red wire and wire nuts and electrical tape, my engine bay is full of it. He even wired in a toggle switch to the interior dome light. If I pulled all the extra wire from the engine bay and sold it at a recycler I could finance my build