I'll start with the back story, not because its pertinent, but because it's kind of cool. Recently at my grandpa's estate sale I bought the old farm truck for $45. Ever since it's been the running joke of the family that I overpaid for an old peace of junk with rainbow stripes. After some research, I've figured out that those "rainbow stripes" are the freewheelin' package, and although the truck has some rust issues, all the things that made up the package are still there. Originally, before finding out what it was, my plan was to lower it, out some 20" rims on it, paint it flat black, and drive it. However, after reading numerous opinions on this forum, and kind of getting into the 70's retro (I'm 25), I thought it would be cool to restore the truck to stock since, as the ads said, the freewheelin trucks were "the trickiest trucks in town." Now for my dilemma: due to all the original trim being there, I assumed I had a pretty complete original truck; however, after decoding the vin it now looks like someone switched the motor and teams from a 351m with a C6 automatic to a 400 with a 4 speed manual. My question is, even without the original matching motor and trans, is it still worth restoring it as a freewheelin package, or do I go back to big wheels and flat black?

 

Oh I should mention I suppose, it's a 1977 F150 LWB Ranger

 

It's for you to decide. Dents aren't rare but not many people know about the Freewheelin' nor the Bicentennial package so there is leeway (flexibility) in engine and trans combos.... Very few nice examples exist of them so it would probably garner alot of attention if the rig was restored to a nice example. And is more interesting than a plain ol' Dent with 20s and flat black paint, right?

BTW, I think it is difficult to pull off 20-inch wheels on these rigs whether they
be 2WD or 4WD. I have only spied a couple that have and those were high-zoot builds. Run-of-the-mill trucks wearing 20s make it look like that's where ya put all the money instead of attention to detail, engineering, and decent paint. It just makes it look like you're trying unsuccessfully to yell "look at me!!!" and is a major FAIL in my book.

Oh, welcome to FTE.

 

Yeah I do know what you mean, I was just a little disappointed when I figured out the motor and trans weren't original. Seems really weird that they aren't. My grandpa has had the truck for as long as I can remember and I'm almost positive he never went through the effort of switching it out. The PO must have either a) wanted a 400 or b) blew up the 351, not sure why else you would go through the effort. When I started reading about the Freewheelin' package it really changed the whole direction I wanted to go with the truck. Originally, I wanted to do a CV swap, axle flip and C notch, look into z cutting the frame down to a SWB... but like you said, with not many people knowing about the Freewheelin' package it would be kind of cool to restore. Without the original powertrain though it does kind of open some questions back up. Do I go back and find a 351 with a C6 so the codes at least match? And if not, and the code is already messed up, do I change it from white to silver and look back at doing the LWB to SWB conversion. Seems kind of overboard to worry so much about matching codes on a truck that isn't all that valuable, but it's my OCD coming out haha.

 

OCD can be a good thing... I've got a case of it too but it can pay off in this hobby.

I wouldn't be too concerned that it has the 400/4-speed. Very few if any will check your data plate so leave it be. And if you ever sell it, just be up front that it was already that way when ya got it. It's not an excuse... it's just the reality. I would however make sure the conversion was done correctly with good workmanship standards.

I think the Freewheelin' package is cool because it is soooo retro. Heck, I kinda want a 78/79 Z28 cuz they were very symbolic of the disco era. Remember, what was out is now in! Groovy baby, groovy.

 

I have one I will donate to someone that can use it for real (not just to Ebay it). It has the cruising van, the free wheeling van, Free wheeling bronco, the free wheeling Flareside, the free wheeling styleside, the free wheeling Courier with roll bars!
Printed 9/78 lots of pics.
Shoot me a PM, Bill

 

I've just never understood the idea of a lowered pickup. Kind of defeats the purpose of even having a pickup, but maybe that's just me...

Also, there is no such thing as a 'numbers matching' dentside. The closest you can get is original engine size and tranny type, etc. Like HIO said, a nicely restored Freewheeler would be a head-turner regardless of the engine and transmission that are in it as long as all the work is quality.

 

Hey Bill that sounds cool. I'll definitely take you up on that as soon as I can PM haha. Luckily, now that I have this ball rolling I don't think it will take too long to get there.

 

Voca, so the VIN isn't stamped on the motor and/or trans? So in reality if I found a 351M and C6 I'd be right as rain? That would be awesome.

 

Nope. "Numbers matching" is a GM thing so if you ever hear a claim or see a Ford ad stating so you can usually call their ignorance on the spot cuz with very few exceptions, like K-code early Mustangs, Ford didn't stamp VINs on engines.

The closest these get is "period correct" with the right casting/engineering ID number or parts stamped with the month/day shift reasonably proximate to its build date. For example, a fender stamped six months ahead of the chassis build date is pretty much out the window. A stamping would generally need to be about 30 in advance cuz these inventory got pulled and rigs rolled off the line at a fast clip.