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Restoring Dad's 79

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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 06:25 PM
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Restoring Dad's 79

So a few years ago before I went in to the Military, I got this idea in my head to try and get my Dad's truck back. A little histroy on it. It's a 79 F-250 Custom Capmer Special. 4x4. He bought it right after I was born. I rode in that truck in a carseat. In the early 90's he stopped driving it. Due to the body getting really bad. Shortly before he passed in 97 he sold it to a friend of his. I went with him to drop it off. The truck has been sitting since then. Most of my childhood mermories are riding with him in that Ford. I know it has about 290k miles on it. The truck was really rusty back then. I'm not even sure its saveable now. It's a 4 speed with a mild 429. And i believe it has a the Snow fighter pagage on it. I would like to get it back. I have another 79 f250 2wd. But it would be nice to restore Dad's truck. Any imput would be helpful. Anyone seen anything brought back that was crazy rusted?
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 07:32 PM
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From: western ks
Find a good body and swap it over , much easier than doing body work
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by radar457
Find a good body and swap it over , much easier than doing body work
I would like to save the cab. But it will more than likey be getting a new body. I'm working on trying to get it back before it gets hauled off to the scrap yard.
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 08:03 PM
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If the cabs not bad just get new doors and clip, maybe have to weld in rear cab corners. Have done that on a couple of mine. Being as you have the memories you would likley want to keep the original cab if you can.
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by radar457
If the cabs not bad just get new doors and clip, maybe have to weld in rear cab corners. Have done that on a couple of mine. Being as you have the memories you would likley want to keep the original cab if you can.
I know it would need cab corners, rockers and a floor pan. At the very least.
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 08:50 PM
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I'd check the frame. Flashlight and screwdriver to find holes or soft spots. In year around service in the snow belt they take a beating and are hard to fix right. With 290k, count on just about everything needing rebuild/replace.

Other choices? Combine Dad's truck with a less rusty donor. Maybe rebuild the power train and put it in a less rusty donor that needs it.
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 08:57 PM
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it sounds like this truck has alot of sentimental value like my grandpas. it all depends on how much is it worth to you im lookin at about 10 grand to put mine back together the way i want it.
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Blue and White
I'd check the frame. Flashlight and screwdriver to find holes or soft spots. In year around service in the snow belt they take a beating and are hard to fix right. With 290k, count on just about everything needing rebuild/replace.

Other choices? Combine Dad's truck with a less rusty donor. Maybe rebuild the power train and put it in a less rusty donor that needs it.
It's been off the road since 92. At one point he was going to buy a body and switch them out. I'm hoping the frame is still good. If it's not then i'd take the drive train out and paint a better truck up like his. I just hope the frame and cab can be saved. Down where i'm at now i can buy a rust free 2wd from a junk yard for less than 400 bucks.
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by 75Three90
it sounds like this truck has alot of sentimental value like my grandpas. it all depends on how much is it worth to you im lookin at about 10 grand to put mine back together the way i want it.
It does. My dad was the last person to drive it. I'd like to take my Neices and Nephews for a ride in Granpa's truck someday.
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 09:07 PM
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my grandpas was sitin from 98 to 08 when i got it when i got it home i changed the starter starter solienoid tuned it up an rebuilt the carb before i tried to crank it it fired right up and drove, it was a f150 on a 350 frame and they red flagged me so i tore it down now im looking for a truck with an idi and 4x4 thats priced about 100 - 1500 with a title so i can start my transformaion, its all about how much s worth to you
 
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Old Apr 26, 2013 | 10:19 PM
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Found out that it's sitting right where my Dad and I dropped it off 17 years ago. My Brother and his 2 son's are going to check it out tmrw. I'll know tmrw if it's worth saving.
 
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Old Apr 27, 2013 | 12:47 PM
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So I got directions last night and went there with my camera. Its kinda grown into the trees. About like I remember it. The bad, box it toast, as are the doors, cab floor, left fender.

The good, the 429 is free looks like the fire it had was contained in the carb the wire harness looks good. The frame has rust but looks good, all the rivet heads look nice and clean, its for sure serviceable. the core support looks to be as clean as an NOS one, inner fenders are good aswell. The grille shell is also clean and strait, dash is missing the radio but full gauge cluster and bezel are there. And it still has the big 6x4 steel bumper on the back. Trying to get pictures uploaded but FTE is giving me a few issues.
 
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Old Apr 27, 2013 | 01:04 PM
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Ok the wife's fancy new camera takes pictures to big and I'm not sure how to resize them, but for you facebookers heres a link to an album.


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4218943&type=3
 
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Old Apr 27, 2013 | 03:20 PM
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Wow! That's going to be a nice Project Tom.
 
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Old Apr 27, 2013 | 04:08 PM
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Im rebuilding my dads 79 f150
lots of fun
 
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