Welp, I just thought I'd do a little build thread on my truck...I've already had it a while now but I'll go over the things we've done since we first picked it up.

She's a 78' F-150 Custom 4x4 with a 400 (with an RV cam), C6, NP205, D44 front, 9" rear. (Has tape stripes and an explorer hood but the Marti Report told me it was just a Custom) Originally was Dark Bright Blue Metallic with Blue Vinyl seats, 300 I6, NP435, NP205 Transfer case and 3.50 open axles. (Transfer case is original, it has a late 77 build date really close to the one on the Marti report...axles are probably original too) It was sold at Krapohl Ford Sales in Mt. Pleasant with a Detroit D.S.O. so it has most likely been in MI it's whole life.

We paid $3,500 which wasn't really a steal but it was the most solid truck we could find for sale at the time and I was going to need one to drive back and forth to school soon...

Here is how she looked when we first looked at her...











After a ride home, and lots of washing...



Here's how the motor looked when we first got it, aluminum foil is over the power steering fluid resivoir because when we first picked it up the P.O. said someone stole it, (and the power steering only half-*** worked at first) We replaced it with a new pump and gearbox with only a few problems (we couldn't get the right fitting for the line running out of the pump and into the gearbox, so we ground down a washer and slid it in there to sort of seal it up, which it worked pretty well) Then there was the plugs which were all crossed and the carb (Autolite 2bbl) which would not allow the motor to run without the air cleaner on and the little choke-flap closed due to a crack in the base.



Replaced that carb with the Autolite 2-bbl from my Cousin's 69' Bronco, which worked but it had a flat-spot so we ended up replacing it later...

In the meantime, driving to school and all of a sudden my truck is sitting a littler lower in the rear and it sounds like a train everytime I hit the gas...



Drove her around with 31x10.50 BFG's on the front and the 32x11.50 Cooper Discoverer's on the back for a while after that...



Then we replaced the carb with a Marine 650 Holley 4-bbl and found a Performer 400 intake, threw some Holley valve covers on there too...



Then we got to some new tires, 32x11.50 Mastercraft Courser MT's (love 'em)



Also got some carpet laid out...



Then came the gas pump incident...thank god the guy who hit me was willing to co-operate with us and pay us for the damages...



And here she is now with a new grille shell, the correct bumper, and a new fender...hood still needs to be aligned a bit but we can handle that...

 

not a bad looking truck, i've seen a lot worse for 3500.00.

 

A lot has been done already, but she still can use more so here's a to-do list for her...

- New carb (Holley 670 Truck Avenger)
- Reese-style hitch
- Levelling kit
- Do something about the indicators and buy a new drivers side headlight bezel (the indicators are different shades of orange and the one headlight bezel moves around a bit due to a missing tab)
- 31-spline 9" Detroit Locker we have laying around the garage put in the rear
- Matching mirrors (drivers side one is taller lol)
- Paint/bodywork (Lincoln/Mercury Cashmere Tri-Coat) most likely being done this Summer...
- Exhaust (Leaky as hell right now, I'd like to get some headers but I'd want to get some coated ones and then run duals with either glasspacks or some nice turbo-style mufflers and dump them out under the bed before the axle...

I'll update this thread as progress is made...

EDIT : Also forgot to mention, pretty much all the fluids have been replaced/replenished since we got the truck...

 

3500 isnt that bad of a price, the body looks pretty straight. The interior looks really nice, what a difference that carpet made huh? Looks like a good build projects...what do you plan on doing to it? Lifting it? keeping it the same? new paint or the same?
Keep up the good work!

 

A lot has been done already, but she still can use more so here's a to-do list for her...

- New carb (Holley 670 Truck Avenger)
- Reese-style hitch
- Levelling kit
- Do something about the indicators and buy a new drivers side headlight bezel (the indicators are different shades of orange and the one headlight bezel moves around a bit due to a missing tab)
- 31-spline 9" Detroit Locker we have laying around the garage put in the rear
- Matching mirrors (drivers side one is taller lol)
- Paint/bodywork (Lincoln/Mercury Cashmere Tri-Coat) most likely being done this Summer...
- Exhaust (Leaky as hell right now, I'd like to get some headers but I'd want to get some coated ones and then run duals with either glasspacks or some nice turbo-style mufflers and dump them out under the bed before the axle...

I'll update this thread as progress is made...

 

A lot has been done already, but she still can use more so here's a to-do list for her...

- New carb (Holley 670 Truck Avenger)
- Reese-style hitch
- Levelling kit
- Do something about the indicators and buy a new drivers side headlight bezel (the indicators are different shades of orange and the one headlight bezel moves around a bit due to a missing tab)
- 31-spline 9" Detroit Locker we have laying around the garage put in the rear
- Matching mirrors (drivers side one is taller lol)
- Paint/bodywork (Lincoln/Mercury Cashmere Tri-Coat) most likely being done this Summer...
- Exhaust (Leaky as hell right now, I'd like to get some headers but I'd want to get some coated ones and then run duals with either glasspacks or some nice turbo-style mufflers and dump them out under the bed before the axle...

I'll update this thread as progress is made...

 

Holy crap, my connection is horrible right now and I apologize for all those reposts, can anyone please fill me in on how to delete them?

 

i got 2 or 3 sets of them bezels and the turn signal lenses. the square ones wont fit my truck cause i have round headlights pm me and let me know maybe we can do a trade or something.

 

Thanks for the offer but how far are you from MI, we might just buy a new bezel and a new lense, or put this pair of older matching lenses on there...

 

Thanks for the update! Glad everything's working out all right! Your truck is almost back to it's former glory!!!

.

 

in nebraska. mine are used take offs also.

 

Thanks, hopefully a levelling kit will be comming soon.

And thanks for the offer spikin but I think we'll probably buy a new bezel and just use the indicators we already have...

 

Alright, today my dad and I were discussing repainting it this summer, and to do this we need to take a few surface rust spots. We're thinking about using POR-15 on the spots where there is surface rust and then rough that up and paint over it. Same with the bed except we're either gonna POR-15 that and put a bedliner over it or spraying in a bedliner. I'd also kinda like to POR-15 the frame and undercoat the underside of the body. Anyone have good experiences with POR-15? I heard the prep for it can be somewhat tedious, but I think it'll be worth it.

 

I got another question guys, I've asked it before, but if I'm rolling down the road and I just drop my foot off of the gas, there's a little clunk that you kinda feel a little jerk. I think the NP205 tailshaft has a little end-play, my buddy said his 78' shorty truck does the same thing, anyone else have this problem?

 

It looks like a great truck man keep up the good work and make her even better.