Hey yall... just got myself the canvas for my dream truck, my first dentside. Its a bone stock '78 F250 with the 351M and four on the floor. 2WD until I can find a 60 to throw in front.
First up, its getting a whole new cooling system. Needed a new radiator, and the rest of it was "well, as long as I'm in there..." Parts should be here by the end of the week.
Next is power steering. It has none, and I'm too much of a wuss to try driving around on bigger tires and taller springs without it, so this needs to be addressed before I throw all that on her.
After that comes the body work. It has a few small cancer spots in the usual places, but other than that the body and frame are pretty straight. Mostly it just needs a good coat of paint, if I can find a place that carries the damn paint I want.
I'm not gonna worry about engine performance, a new cam/timing isn't worth the $300 and time it'll take since the engine's only sitting in there till I get a line on a 7.3PSD or 6BT being parted out.

How involved is a power steering install on these trucks? Can the cam timing be advanced with the stock system? Is there a parts supplier dedicated to 73-79's or a place that has a good stock on hand?

 

Here's the usual suspects so start bookmarking. Order their catalogs and start a reference library so ya know what is available in the market.

Jeff's Bronco Graveyard
National Parts Depot:Ford Truck Parts & Accessories | 1948-1979
LMC Truck - Ford Truck Parts and Truck Accessories
MAC's Antique Auto Parts
Blue Oval Truck Parts
Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts
Speedway Motors, Street Rod & High Performance Parts

RockAuto Auto & Truck Parts
Barry Rabotnick's Survival Motorsports - Ford FE Engine Specialists
Carolina Machine Engines-Rebuilt Long & Short Blocks
Domestic Carburetors at Carburetors & More,La Porte, TX
Summit Racing
Jeg's
Shock Warehouse
Inline Tube -The brake plumbing experts
Benchworks Steering
Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA
Borgeson Universal Steering Components
Moog Suspension & Steering Components
Dana-Spicer Axle Applications & Service Manuals


TCP Global Autobody Paintguns, Primers, Paints & Supplies
Autobody Toolmart- Tools, Dent Repair, and Paint Supplies
Del City Quality Automotive & Electrical Supplies
AMK Restoration Fasteners - Clips, Bolts, Screws, Engine Hardware, Fittings, Pins, Gromments, Seals Spacers
The Bolt Depot- Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners Online
Aircraft Spruce- Aviation Hardware & Supplies
Kano Labs - Kroil Lubricants & Penetrants

2WD to 4WD conversion? Think twice because it is not a bolt-on deal. Lots of fabbing involved so it's a better strategy to simply start with a 4WD or donor 4WD.

 

Wow, that's quite the list, thanks

As for the 4wd conversion... I figure if the factory figured out how to make em in 4wd, it can't be THAT difficult. Either way I'm not afraid of a little fab work, and there's plenty in the truck's future already with the engine swap. I have access to a full shop too, lifts and all.

 

No prob... got tired of finding/posting a zillion links so now I maintain a URL file.

Okay.. so long as you have the time, tools (and facilities), and talent, then go for it. There are tons of guys with 2WDs who come into this forum and immediately ponder a 4WD conversion only to find they lack one or more of the above.

With that said, read up on this conversion.. the principles are the same for a F250.... unless ya want to go with a leaf-sprung front end then the game really changes: 1979 Ford F-150 4x4 & Off Road Project Truck - 4Wheel & Off-Road

 

Interesting article... didn't know I'd have to change the crossmember for the conversion. That has to happen for the engine swap later on anyway, so its not adding too much work. I'm planning on staying leaf-sprung, I don't need the articulation of coil springs and I don't want to get too involved with control arm angles and such.

So for the 4wd swap fabrication I'm tracking...
4wd crossmember with fab'd mounts for the wider frame, or just fab the whole thing.
Axle fab... reposition the spring perches and add steering/track bar brackets.
Donor or fab'd steering linkage and track bar.
Frame mount for track bar.
Doesn't sound too bad... what am I missing?
Also, can I use a stock 4wd t-case? That article uses a Dodge case, however they were taking their build in a much different direction.

 

Dunno man... it's a custom application so it'll have to be engineered along the way. That's what hot rodding is all about.

 

Welcome to FTE hang in there with your ideas and read on....Here is a little more info on the 4wd conversion and BTW with a leaf spring front suspention, you DO not need a trac bar.

There is nothing nuts and bolts about a 4wd conversion. Having preformed several myself, there is not a thing that is bolt on or swappable.
The engine cross members are entirely different, and this means that if an un molested truck is what you are after, it will be impossible to create one with a 2wd platform.
The 2wd will have to be lifted quite a way to clear the front diff.
2wd trucks are coil sprung and most F250 4wd's are leaf sprung. None of the suspension items are even close to the same, so you will be fabricating or modifying some original 4wd stuff to work.
Steering systems are entirely different as well, so you will be upgrading that too.
My last conversion with leafs ran me several thousand dollars, and that was with the work that I performed for free.
The difference in sale values between a 4wd and 2wd are minimal, and the 4wd conversion is hardly justifiable.
How far away are you looking? I pick up F250 4x4's for reasonable money. Consider the cost of shipping, and then consider buying a west coast truck with no rust, and I can guarantee that you will be time and money ahead.
Well the frames are similar, with a few exceptions. The frame horns are slightly different, and the frame widths aft of the cab ar different from 73 to 77 trucks. The frame rise is also slightly different, but this is not a show stopper and does not make much difference one the fabrication begins.
Not that the important question is whether or not you will be using a coils springs or a leaf spring. It is possible to install a 78/9 radius arm and suspension. Not a big deal really, and with a standard cab this is reasonable. Not quite as easy with a super cab and or crew cab.
The 2wd frames are not cut for the shackle pivot, and they do not have the provisions for a spring hanger, but again, this is not a deal breaker. Installing a pivot is just a tedious process. Accuracy is key, but I am not telling you anything that you do not already know.
Ok, so next is the transfer case. You have two choices, Install a married case, and this requires the proper transmission. Might find some difficulty making or modifying an output shaft to accommodate the early C6 and a married transfer case. So then the next option is to find a divorced transfer case, and install this. You will have to make up a cross member, but then you will have to get creative with the shifter linkage. See the 4wd trans will have an adapter or tailshaft with a pivot for a typical 205 shifter.
Fabrication is the only limiting factor here.
Next and final factor will be the speedo. See your speedo works from the trans, so that being the case, you will have to get a speed reference form the t-case. If you do not, the speedo will read twice as fast when you put the case in low range.

As mentioned the steering box will have to be relocated, and the truck will require some lift. That engine crossmember has limited clearance so you will be looking at some lift to even clear it. The other option would be to remove it and replace it with a tubular unit.

This is a heck of a project. Not unreasonable, but a project none the less.
2500 bucks for a 2wd might get expensive. I paid 1300 bucks for a 4wd 75 last year, and it was already 4wd with 38" tires, and a strong 460, A/c, and plenty of goodies. I have made these conversions, and can tell you that it is a chore.

 

As Rich (77&79F250) says, it's a chore to do the swap with lots of things to consider along the way to get it right. I "totally" agree that getting a rust free west coast truck is the way to go. You will be money/time/headache's ahead by going this route. Getting input from the FTE guys is always a plus, especially the one's that have already been there...JMO, good luck.

 

I once again will not take any credit for that info, just cut and pasteing it. Those words of wisdom are from (Ed) F350 a well know California truck fabing guru.

 

Haha, I thought I had read that info before. Ed is the man, hands down!! He is a good buddy of mine and has helped me out in more ways than one. He and Ron (Bro_J) picked up a 79 bronco for me last year. Good dude's to know for sure!!

 

Scott any idea why he quit coming to this site, I believe he is on FSB now?

Sure do miss his knowledge and helpful advice.

 

Yeah, he is mostly on FSB now. I really think that most of his buddies are Bronco guys and seems to be more in touch with the way FSB site is set-up (west coast chapter involvement). Yeah he is the "bomb" for sure. If you need to get in touch with him let me know, I have his email/phone numbers. But yeah you can reach him thru FSB (75F350) as well.

 

Ok thanks all I was thinking about was hiring him for 2 or 3 weeks, fly him to Missouri and get all my projects completed, with his help lol.

HJ over.

 

You can hire me to drive 4 hours to see you, take all your good parts, drink your beer and watch you complete your projects.

 

Come on down, buy some parts and I do have some beer in the shop fridge you can have. I haven't really drank in a year or more....so it might be skunked.

But I am sure we could find something to wrench on, how about this project.....

79 F250 frame
D60's
460 C-6 w/NP 205 ready to drop in
8" lift to put on, followed by some 44's and cross over steering.
Figure out how to keep the tube chassis attached to the frame....
Hang a steering column, a few wires to make it run and bolt in a seat.