It's like a dog went gnawing on it!

The bumper is original aftermarket but not a Ford item per se. Correct, back in the day rear bumpers weren't required on trucks. The dealer usually had a display rack in the showroom for the buyer to point and choose. Most opted for that heavy "dock" bumper for towing, a few chose the factory OEM "contour" bumper, or no bumper at all.

Those were the days where frame-mounted, bolt-on hitches weren't even on the market. These days the big Broncos are good sources for hitches and contour bumpers.

 

subscribed, im looking foreward to seeing your 4x4 conversion. goodluck and keep posting good pictures!

 

subed. I want to see this

 

Thanks for the feedback on the rear bumper guys! I never would have guessed that rear bumpers didn't come stock!! You learn something new every day though! The plan for the cab corner is completely cutting out all of the rust inhibited metal, and welding all new metal in. I will be ordering the cab corner and patch panels from LMC. Before I weld the new panels in I know I will have to stop the rust somehow, any suggestions? It is even worse than it looks on the underside so I will have to rebuild the underside as well.

 

Thanks for the good luck ill need it!! I have lots more pics to post but I have yet to find to do it!

 

Montana..... You do realize you just told a 14 year old to drink a beer right? I'm sure he meant Root Beer!!!!

Subscribed

 

Hahaha I dident even realize that he said that when I read it!

 

I just read the through the thread, you've got a really cool project! I like the plans you've got for it, a super-cab, long box highboy with a 460 and a 4spd is the truck Ford should have built!

It's neat to see other young guys getting into the hobby too. I started out about 5 years ago when grandpa gave me his 73' f250. I didn't know a thing about wrenching, that changed quick. Experience may be the best teacher, but necessity runs a close second! It also helps to have a vehicle that needs EVERYTHING.

Good luck man! And stick to the root beer!

Sam

 

This thread seems like its gonna be an awesome one to follow ... Keep the pics comin and keep us posted with the progress of the project !!!

 

Thanks for the kind words guys!! Things are kinda slow right now but should be pickin up real soon!

 

Here is some other pics of my supercab, the rust isn't all that visible but it's there...








The rust in the bed its mostly surface rust however to has rusted through in a few places. Thankfully it is nothing major!

Next step was installing the John Deere license plate that I had on my pedal bike when I was 5! Lol

 

Now I'm sure y'all are probably thinkin this kid just likes to take pictures of his truck (as we all do) but between February and now I have gotten a decent amount of work done! Thanks to everyone who replied to my tailgate trim thread I got the tailgate trim off!





I have to get a tail gate, you could practically wear it to church on Sunday! It's too far gone. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that tailgate trim was part of the Ranger package? Anyways I don't plan on putting it back on so I have a set of tailgate trim if anyone is interested shoot me a PM. The only thing I do not have is the trim prices that go around the tail lights.

 

Looks like a really cool project Fear. I like that you are getting started early too. I got my 78 when I was 15. I did a lot of stuff myself, mostly wrong but I didn't have FTE as a resource back then. Good on you for doing your research and good luck.

Subscribed.

 

Thanks buddy! Man am I thankful or FTE, I wouldn't be able to manage without it!! Everyone thinks when your 14 your just a kid, I'm out to prove them wrong. I can wait for the day when my truck is finished and I can say that I did what everyone said I couldent! I like hearing all your guys' stories!

 

Great start for a project!

I went through this same thing a couple years ago. Inherited a 78 when I was 14 from my father ended up scrapping it because it was too far gone. Got a 79 that I started to do a frame off on, but I was working at half the speed of something slow on it, and I couldn't keep throwing money at it. Brings me to the 76 I've got now, at 17 years old.

Here's a couple tips I've got:
1. Make a plan and stick to it (which already looks like you do)
2. If you ever feel like you just want to drive the damn thing off a cliff when something goes bad, time to take a break from it.
3. Do everything right the first time. Don't cheap out on something, only to have to replace it later on down the line. Even if it means holding up the project until money becomes available. That's one thing I wish I did on my 79.
4. Never be afraid to ask questions. The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here.
5. Lastly, once you hit high school time runs out real quick. You'll find yourself spending a lot more time on schoolwork and work (if you are so inclined. It's nice for paychecks, not for spare time) than you can on your projects. Basically, get done as much as you can before the going gets tough, and you'll be golden!

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Looking forward to the work you have planned out. Hopefully you get a little further along with yours than I did with mine.
-Jameson