Tates 72 Highboy - Part 2, The Finished Product

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12-18-2012, 12:20 PM

tpdaniels

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Tates 72 Highboy - Part 2, The Finished Product

This is a summary of what I have done to this truck, it’s showing how a simple project can turn into out of control rebuild. I don’t have the time to write a detailed description, and you would not want to read one that long.

Here is a link to the original thread if you want the detailed version:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...storation.html

Two years and four months, for some that is an eternity to get your old truck painted, for others that seems about right. What started out as just going to be a simple paint job turned into the longest project I have ever undertaken. My truck was in excellent shape, had no "Rot" rust anywhere, just surface on the floor in the bed. I had just purchased it from the original owner in Albuquerque NM and decided all it needed was to be painted, a quick job and be driving my truck. Well it did not work that way. It started when I decided to take the bed off to clean the underside and have access to the frame to clean it, I’m sure you can see where this is story is going. Starting at the front here is what has been done.
Here is all the major new parts I bought, not including 100's of small items, Chrome bumper, grill, inserts, headlight trim, hood chrome trim, side moldings, both bump and bottom side kits, chrome molding around cab for two tone paint on top, rear sliding window, windshield, every rubber piece on the truck, every exterior light or reflector and chrome trim around them, tailgate insert and chrome trim, rear chrome bumper. I restored west coast jr. mirrors. Inside the cab new dash pad, cover for the gauges, glove box, new headliner, factory bucket seats covered in the mustang “Pony” style, full coverage rubber mat and fuel tank removed from cab and relocated behind rear axle.
What took so long was all the mechanical work, I just didn’t know when to stop. It started by adding fully integrated power steering from a 77 250 4X4, complete front axle assembly from a 77 with disc brakes and open knuckle, I had it completely rebuilt every bearing and seal replaced, new rotors, calipers and brakes, I also had it re-geared to 3.54. Switched from 4 speed NP435 to a rebuilt early 70’s C-6 with correct tail-shaft for divorced transfer case for 4WD (almost impossible to find). Switched the steering column to a 72 auto column for correct look. Took the rear dana 60 out to have the shop re-gear it to 3.54 and decided to also add disc brakes to the rear since I had it out and easy to work on. I used all ford parts to convert the rear, also changed all bearings, races and seals in the rear axle. Being this far into into the mechanical s, we went ahead and rebuilt the 360 and added a new flowmaster stainless steel exhaust system.
The truck was completely stripped before painting, everywhere, inside, outside, underneath and inside the bed. The inside of the bed was painted with raptor liner tinted to body color white and underneath the complete truck was raptor lined in black. The floor inside the cab was also raptor lined in white. This is a great sound deadener plus a perfect under coating that dries hard and easy to wash off. The truck was painted with PPG basecoat, clearcoat. Below is a link to 64 pictures if you want to see the truck from start to finish, I may be crazy but I plan on driving this truck at least every week, I did not do all this work to let it sit in my garage and just admire it, it’s going to be driven.

Highboy Start to Finish Photos by tpdaniels | Photobucket

I have driven it about 50 miles this morning and it is as tight as a new truck and rides better than I expected, for those of us old enough to remember it drives just like a brand new truck did in 72. The biggest change is the four wheel disc brakes, they are smooth as glass and will stop you quickly

Here is a few pictures to show the truck if you don’t want to look at the project pictures, hope you enjoy them, it’s been fun and I would do it all over again, it was worth it.

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12-18-2012, 03:47 PM

Buzz44

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Man that is one sharp bump 4wd. I scored some 69 Galaxie XL buckets Im going to put in my 65 4wd. I think your truck is set up perfect.

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12-18-2012, 03:48 PM

napass2004

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Beautiful truck now you get to enjoy it

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12-18-2012, 04:11 PM

BlueovalFE

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Outstanding! Feels good, doesn't it! Took me over 6 years and now it's finally done. Enjoy it, man, that looks terrific.

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12-18-2012, 07:28 PM

Freightrain

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Absolutely STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That IS the truck I would have it I had my choice(only I'd had left the stick in it).

It's also the reverse image of color that is on my '69. I've got the same steering wheel also LOL!