Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum, but I've been reading it for a little while. I've never actually been a member of any forum, but with all of the knowledge and nice folks, i knew i had to join this one.
I'm a little new to owning a dent, and I've never tried to restore a vehicle, so expect alot of goofy questions from me, lol. The reason I'm doing it now is because I feel like it's something I need/want to do. My brother died in a car accident back in December and it was a devastating loss to me. He was a serious dentside fanatic and had built many of these trucks into beautiful machines. The truck that I now own was his newest project. He loved it. He talked to me about it with such excitement in his voice that I knew that buying it and fixing it up was what I needed to do. This is going to be a very heartfelt and emotional project for me. I plan to make it something he would have been proud of. That being said, before he died, I wouldnt have been afraid to start something like this because I know he would have been there to help me. Now with him gone, looking at this as a big picture is just a touch intimidating for me. That's a big reason I joined this forum. I've learned alot just reading it so far and have got my head wrapped around some good ideas from looking at your awesome pictures.
So, here is what I have. The title on this truck says it is a 1974, but I've been told it looks a little more like a 76. The engine is not original, and I'm told it is a 400M. I've also heard it called a 351/400M. Not sure on that one. One guy that my brother worked with told me that he did alot of work to that engine. It has a flatbed that I'd like to replace with a regular bed. Having a little trouble finding one, though. Interior is very rough. Mechanically, it seems very sound, other than an overheating problem I've been working on. I changed the thermostat last weekend, but still overheating. Gonna try more troubleshooting this weekend.
Here are some pictures, and I hope I can do this right:




I'll add some more later. I mostly just wanted to pop my head up and say hi to everyone and thanks for all the knowledge I've received so far. When I turn bolts on this old truck, it feels like my brother is right there with me. And if that's what it takes to feel him close by, I imagine I'll be working on it for a long time.

 

Welcome to the site. Very sorry to hear about your brother and sorry for your loss. I think it's awesome you want to restore a project of his. Trucks looks to be in pretty good shape. Lots of great folks here to help you out with the truck.

Truck looks like it has been pieced together a bit, but very common for these over the years. It has the 73-77 grill. The cab looks to be a 77 or later cab since the cowl has the spots for the badge. 76 and earlier had the badging on the front fenders. If you want to know for sure what year it is, you can locate a VIN number on the passenger side frame rail between the radiator support and firewall. Sometimes can be hard to find but it's there. That's the "true" VIN of the truck.

Overheating? Is there a fan shroud on the truck?

 

Welcome! Sorry about your loss.

Yes, the grill is certainly the 73-77 style, with 73-75 inserts and clear front park/turn lenses. But, the cowl does appear to have had the 77-79 badging at one time. Cabs can be swapped, and there isn't a VIN on the cab. The only VIN plate on the body, is the warrentty plate attached to the drivers door. There should be a certification label on the driver door jamb. Compare the VIN numbers on those two items, that would be a sure way to determine if it has been "pieced" together from more than 1 truck.

As for the overheating, fan shroud as suggested, or possibly clogged radiator, both good places to start.

 

Welcome to the site, I also am sorry to hear about your brother. I am always amazed that it seems almost every truck on here has an imporntant story/history to go with it. Our trucks become part of our family and you are fixing it up for all the right reasons. We are all here to help.

 

Thanks for the welcomes guys. Upon a little more investigation, I discovered that after started, the upper radiator hose and the line going to the heater core are hot, but the hose coming from the heater core and the lower radiator hose is not. I'm guessing that I might have a bad heater core. Also, there was a small leak near the bottom of the radiator. So, I guess there is a possibility of the radiator being shot, too. I've searched on this forum for tips and tricks on changing the heater core, but havent found anything. I might just need to learn to navigate this site better. Does anyone suggest a thread that would help a novice like me out? And if there is no thread on it, does anyone have any words of wisdom before I plunge into it?

 

I too am sorry to hear about your brother. Do you know if he was a member of FTE?
Here is a link to change a NON A/C heater core:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10...owermotor.html .
Here's one for heaters that have factory A/C:
NORTH COUNTRY SPECIALTIES ®

Another thing you might consider is getting a set of FACTORY service manuals and parts catalogs. Both are available on CD or print versions.
I use the illustrations volume of the parts catalog more than anything else. It has exploded diagrams of the parts assemblies, this comes in real handy when you're working on unfamiliar parts.
Also, don't worry about asking questions, ALL of us have been "noobs" at some time in the past.

 

dont know where you are located but if you did not have the heater on you would only have heat on one side of the heater core

 

welcome my friend, ask away! dig that flat bed....!

 

Welcome to the site. Very sorry to hear about your brother. Heater core won't cause overheating unless you're losing coolant (fluid on floor). Does coolant actually flow out of rad when O H ? I know of a bed near Ithaca, NY a little pricey at $800 or $850 Private Message me if interested. If you search craigs list sometimes you can find donor trucks.

 

A thought on a little home test for your radiator.... Disconnect both hoses and essentially flush it with a garden hose from the top. Water should freely (unrestricted) gush out the other end. If it doesn't you may have some obstruction. The other thing to check is for cracks or leaks; a symptom of this is always having to add water. When I first got my truck it would over heat every once in a while when the water boiled away through the cracks. Some folks here will cringe but I patched it with Jb weld and it's been holding for over a year now; the temperature is much more consistent now. I think it was already mentioned but unless you know it was already done recently, change your thermostat; they can rust closed after a while.

In another thread I read something about 400s being prone to overheating... Something todo with the radiator being to small. Other folks could make better suggestions as to what radiator to try but this is worth considering.

While restoring an old truck can be pricey you have to be careful not to get ripped off either. Whether you are buying parts or paying someone to do something, educated yourself and shop around. These trucks are a great vehicle to learn about mechanical work as they are relatively simple. Oh and you can save an incredible amount of money at pick n pull type salvage yards and Craigslist. Many threads on this site exploit this fact.

All the best!

 

Condolences on your loss..Your project is honorable..

 

Welcome to FTE I am sorry to hear about your brother with everyone here we can make it a truck both he and you can be proud of.