ECP's 78 Custom Build
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ECP's 78 Custom Build
7 years ago, when I got my learner's permit... my grandpa handed me over the keys to his 1978 F150 Custom. He factory ordered it in 77. Pretty basic truck; 300-6 and a C4. He worked for the Hiway Dept as a grader operator and always had a work truck, so the F150 got very little use.
But! The truck was far from mint. He got in an accident when it was only a couple years old, most of the front end was repaired/replaced. The truck, as long as I've known it, has a brown drivers door (don't back up with the door open!). He kept a sheet of plywood in the box, and it was never parked under cover (the carport was reserved for grandma's Malibu 'vert!) so the box floor is rusted beyond repair. I was using it for a dump run one day, and a rear wheel came off and the axle slammed into the pavement, resulting in a cracked frame above the wheels. At this point, I thought it best to find a donor truck.
Found a 79 F150 explorer on CL for $300. Used by a fisherman, had a cap on the bed all it's life (No RUST!). Had a 302 in it, not running, looks like water leaked from the intake into the cylinders. The PO had the heads/intake in the bed when I bought it.
So the trucks sat for a few years as I focused on other projects.
At one point, I somehow got a 77 F250 Lowboy 4x4... so that joined the fleet.
So, the original plan (once I ended up with 3 trucks) was; pull the 302 from the blue truck and put the 300 from the green truck in it, and keep the rest for parts for the 250 that I would eventually restore.
But now it's changed a bit; I bought another (running) 302 from a Comet for the blue 79. As it was sitting on the stand, I threw a bunch of goodies at it:
And pulled the 79 302
So, by spring I hope to have a running/driving truck (semi-restoring it as I go). Plans for it after that, possible 4linked rear, lower the front, exterior+interior repaint.
When that truck is done (or close to it), I will start on the F250. The body is shot, so I will put the green 78 cab on the 77 4x4 chassis and make a nice 4x4. I have been collecting HI-PO 300-6 parts for a few years now, so I'm looking forward to building that.
Stay tuned for lot's of pics/updates. Engine is pretty much ready to go now. I'm cleaning up the fender aprons and rad support now, and will paint the firewall while the engine is out.
But! The truck was far from mint. He got in an accident when it was only a couple years old, most of the front end was repaired/replaced. The truck, as long as I've known it, has a brown drivers door (don't back up with the door open!). He kept a sheet of plywood in the box, and it was never parked under cover (the carport was reserved for grandma's Malibu 'vert!) so the box floor is rusted beyond repair. I was using it for a dump run one day, and a rear wheel came off and the axle slammed into the pavement, resulting in a cracked frame above the wheels. At this point, I thought it best to find a donor truck.
Found a 79 F150 explorer on CL for $300. Used by a fisherman, had a cap on the bed all it's life (No RUST!). Had a 302 in it, not running, looks like water leaked from the intake into the cylinders. The PO had the heads/intake in the bed when I bought it.
So the trucks sat for a few years as I focused on other projects.
At one point, I somehow got a 77 F250 Lowboy 4x4... so that joined the fleet.
So, the original plan (once I ended up with 3 trucks) was; pull the 302 from the blue truck and put the 300 from the green truck in it, and keep the rest for parts for the 250 that I would eventually restore.
But now it's changed a bit; I bought another (running) 302 from a Comet for the blue 79. As it was sitting on the stand, I threw a bunch of goodies at it:
And pulled the 79 302
So, by spring I hope to have a running/driving truck (semi-restoring it as I go). Plans for it after that, possible 4linked rear, lower the front, exterior+interior repaint.
When that truck is done (or close to it), I will start on the F250. The body is shot, so I will put the green 78 cab on the 77 4x4 chassis and make a nice 4x4. I have been collecting HI-PO 300-6 parts for a few years now, so I'm looking forward to building that.
Stay tuned for lot's of pics/updates. Engine is pretty much ready to go now. I'm cleaning up the fender aprons and rad support now, and will paint the firewall while the engine is out.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2010
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Thanks guys, I figured it was about time to start a thread.
Blue, just bolt-ons on the 302.
Holley 4160 4bbl
Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake manifold
Ford Racing 9mm plug wires
Motorcraft plugs
Aluminum valve covers from an EFI Mustang
ARP 12pt bolt set
Other than that, it's stock. Came out of a mint Las Vegas car. Not even 70k on it.
I just cleaned it up and painted it.
Blue, just bolt-ons on the 302.
Holley 4160 4bbl
Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake manifold
Ford Racing 9mm plug wires
Motorcraft plugs
Aluminum valve covers from an EFI Mustang
ARP 12pt bolt set
Other than that, it's stock. Came out of a mint Las Vegas car. Not even 70k on it.
I just cleaned it up and painted it.
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