Next Project?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,063
Likes: 2
From: Southeastern IL
Next Project?
Hey guys. I currently own 3 trucks and am not thrilled with any of them. Id love to sell all 3 and build my own from scratch! Heres the plan:
1978-79 F-250 or F-350 Crew Cab Long Bed, Cummins or 7.3 Powerstroke, manual trans, 4x4, posi rear, maybe a locker front and to top it off: Dually. Id go all out to make sure its everything I want! Leather seats, possibly King Ranch, center console up front. Some honkin tires to set the look, like some 33x12.50 BFG ATs set on chrome rims (like the look of MTs but not the ride). Paint it black with some sort of accents to break it up some. I saw a pic of a black one with silver in the middle and loved it!!!
Iv never seen a truck as described. Iv seen some close but never a perfect one. If anyone has a picture of one thats close, PLEASE post it!!
1978-79 F-250 or F-350 Crew Cab Long Bed, Cummins or 7.3 Powerstroke, manual trans, 4x4, posi rear, maybe a locker front and to top it off: Dually. Id go all out to make sure its everything I want! Leather seats, possibly King Ranch, center console up front. Some honkin tires to set the look, like some 33x12.50 BFG ATs set on chrome rims (like the look of MTs but not the ride). Paint it black with some sort of accents to break it up some. I saw a pic of a black one with silver in the middle and loved it!!!
Iv never seen a truck as described. Iv seen some close but never a perfect one. If anyone has a picture of one thats close, PLEASE post it!!
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,247
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Well you gotta have a plan, thats step one, now the hard one to figure out is how to pay for it all. And after that its all down hill from there.
I did not know tires "honked", JK lol BTW is your 3rd truck the el camino?
In all reality it only takes time and money, lots of money.
I did not know tires "honked", JK lol BTW is your 3rd truck the el camino?
In all reality it only takes time and money, lots of money.
Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,063
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From: Southeastern IL
Well when you put it that way, I have 4 vehicles lol (El Caminos are technically cars lol)
Anyways, I plan on doing it one step at a time and spending money when I have it. This may also mean taking several years to complete...
I guess I could also give the reasoning behind this project! I own a 460 powered F-250 because I was tired of trying to tow with a Ranger. Tranny went out so I bought a IDI F-250 as the back-up and a gas saver... sort of. Then I bought a crew cab long bed dually F-350 because it came with a truck camper. If you followed that, I didn't particularly "want" any of em lol. So what I want is something that gets decent mileage, looks good doin it, is comfy, and can haul a truck camper. Id rather put a 4BT in this project but theyre near impossible to come by.
Im going to do a running tally today and see just how deep Im going to be in this project. On that note, whats the "typical" cost of a crew cab truck of this era? One that's complete but not necessarily in good shape.
Anyways, I plan on doing it one step at a time and spending money when I have it. This may also mean taking several years to complete...
I guess I could also give the reasoning behind this project! I own a 460 powered F-250 because I was tired of trying to tow with a Ranger. Tranny went out so I bought a IDI F-250 as the back-up and a gas saver... sort of. Then I bought a crew cab long bed dually F-350 because it came with a truck camper. If you followed that, I didn't particularly "want" any of em lol. So what I want is something that gets decent mileage, looks good doin it, is comfy, and can haul a truck camper. Id rather put a 4BT in this project but theyre near impossible to come by.
Im going to do a running tally today and see just how deep Im going to be in this project. On that note, whats the "typical" cost of a crew cab truck of this era? One that's complete but not necessarily in good shape.
Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,063
Likes: 2
From: Southeastern IL
Alright, heres what Iv got. I aimed high on some things:
Truck $2500
Engine $2500
Manual Tranny $ 500
Rims $1200
Tires $1200
Seats $2500
Front Locker $ 600
Posi Rear $ 0
Bed Liner $ 100
Gauges $ 300
Paint $1000
------------------------
$12,400
My gpa is a body man so he could help me with that and Iv got a couple axles laying around so the posi rear is free. King Ranch seats are expensive (obviously) and I haven't decided on rims so I winged it. Figure $13,000 after all the odds and ends and figure another $3000 because no one ever stays on budget...
Truck $2500
Engine $2500
Manual Tranny $ 500
Rims $1200
Tires $1200
Seats $2500
Front Locker $ 600
Posi Rear $ 0
Bed Liner $ 100
Gauges $ 300
Paint $1000
------------------------
$12,400
My gpa is a body man so he could help me with that and Iv got a couple axles laying around so the posi rear is free. King Ranch seats are expensive (obviously) and I haven't decided on rims so I winged it. Figure $13,000 after all the odds and ends and figure another $3000 because no one ever stays on budget...
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: NorCal
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 650
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From: Plant city florida
Around here a crew in... Reusable shape is at the lowest 3,000$. More worth it to find one in the west and ship it over. I did see one on Craigslist, complete 78 f350 not ru Ning for 1500$, never sold. Saw a restored 78/79 yesterday and literally almost died for the whiplash. I'd take each of those estimates and add 25%, restoration = near perfection not the buy the first thing you see.
And if I may make a suggestion; buy a 4x4 diesel of the desired wheelbase with a crappy body and just build off that frame with those axles. Just a suggestion if you only came across a cab, the rest of the body is the easy part.
And if I may make a suggestion; buy a 4x4 diesel of the desired wheelbase with a crappy body and just build off that frame with those axles. Just a suggestion if you only came across a cab, the rest of the body is the easy part.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,247
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
X2 on finding a running driviable CC worth saving (meaning with out bad roof rail rot) for under $3000 in the midwest, add already 4x4 $$$$
My suggestion is get all the parts rounded up and then put it all together and hope to have better luck than Johnny Cash did.
My local JY has 2 77 2wd crewcab longbeds that can be bought for the cost of steel and they have titles. But you need a 4x4 running gear to put under them.
And in that dept a frame swap/stretch is the fastest route. Not counting the diesel swap in there some where.....
My suggestion is get all the parts rounded up and then put it all together and hope to have better luck than Johnny Cash did.
My local JY has 2 77 2wd crewcab longbeds that can be bought for the cost of steel and they have titles. But you need a 4x4 running gear to put under them.
And in that dept a frame swap/stretch is the fastest route. Not counting the diesel swap in there some where.....
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
I mainly suggested a newer frame with everything but the body because a newer, un-rusted 3/4ton,1 ton or better frame would handle the torque of a nice diesel better than the original crew cab frame I'd imagine. Didn't those frames have issues with bending?(the 65-79 CCs?)
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If I were you, I would buy a crew cab and buy a second truck as a donor. 99 - 03 F350 7.3, maybe a insurance write off, and pull your seats, engine and drive line from it. Or do as these guys already suggested and swap the body onto the newer frame
Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,063
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From: Southeastern IL
Thats awesome!!So you guys are saying itd be cheaper to buy a truck with whatever engine and running gear I desire (such as a Cummins with 4x4) do whats needed to the frame to make it long enough to accomidate the crew cab, and run with it? I CAN honestly see where thatd be less work in the long run.
So just to give me a heads up on the work if I go this route, Im thinking I will need to do this:
Remove the body off the frame of both trucks
Measure, measure, then remeasure and cut the frame
Weld in new metal to correct length
Extend fuel lines, brake lines, and such
Figure out body mounts
Lengthen driveshaft (will a one piece work?)
Lower CC body onto frame
Figure out how to make old frame stuff go through CC firewall
Figure out radiator (may have interferance with fan. E-fan?)
Anything else?
Looks like a lotta work still lol. Theyre doin something similar to this on Trucks on Powerblock TV. Its a beast!
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14,724
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From: Gods Country, Kansas
Yea that seems like a good way to go after it. I would use a 2 piece drive shaft, mainly because its really long. Even if you lift it the back drive shaft wouldn't be at that big of an angle since it is a really long truck.
