Hello everyone, this is our first post. I have to first thank all of you for the good info we have received from the forum for this build over the last couple months even though we haven't posted. Thank you!

My wife has always wanted a 70's F150 4x4 but she also wanted it automatic w/ factory air and they weren't easy to find (affordable anyways). She found this one which is a '78 Ranger XLT that looks horrible from the outside but was in decent mechanical shape and affordable. This truck had the stock 351M rebuilt (professionally) to a 400 only 1000 miles ago and it runs GREAT! The previous owner also had the C6 rebuilt and the transfercase done and then ran out of money.

When we picked it up the front end was SHOT! All the ball joints, tie rods, bushings, seals, bearings, and the like seemed to be original so that was our first project.

After that, we replaced the stock leaking radiator with an aluminum 4 core with twin fans but it still kept overheating so I changed out the waterpump with a flowkooler and thanks to ya'lls help we found out the thermostat was the wrong type (without the flange) and replaced it. Now it runs at 180-190 in traffic in Oklahoma where its been near 100 every day.

Today we got her new wheels and tires put on and an alignment (she wanted wheels that looked a little 70's ish.). I also ordered the complete A/C kit from classic auto air this morning. The original A/C worked once I filled it up with 134 but it isnt very good and the blend door gaskets leak and let in warm air so thats my weekend project. Im going to pull the evaporator and heater core and replace anything that doesnt look good in prep for the new A/C.

Soon we will start doing body work and cutting out and replacing rusted panels.

Anyways, thanks again for all the help!





Bringing her home.... She's had a rough life.










Gotta love the seats out of a conversion van soaked with mullet sweat!




The front end was SHOT!!






All new bushings, u-joints, seals, ball joints, and tie-rods. What an improvement in driveability.






Did the 3G upgrade to power the fans.




Get her some new wheels and tires before we tear her down.






So we decided to just strip the truck down and do the project right.












Took out the A/c and heater box. all the rubber seals were shot so we are going to clean that up before the new A/C kit from Classic Auto Air goes in.

 

Looks good! My gf and I are also restoring a truck, looking forward to seeing your progress!

 

Great project You're well on your way it looks like .. The Dent F150 4wd short wheel base is just a sweet Truck for sure and with air you can't beat that man Perfection

 

Thanks! I know it doesn't look like a Ranger now but it will by the end of the year! Someone over the years decided to strip all the trim, fill the holes with bondo, and then spay paint it brown without masking anything off. Some people's kids!

I need to start hunting down some patch panels and racetrack trim.

 

so you're converting it from r-12 to 134a? I dont know what the kit includes that you ordered

 

I got the "Complete under hood kit" from Classic Auto Air. It includes everything except the evaporator. New rotary compressor, new larger 134 condenser, lines, receiver dryer, expansion valve, and some other stuff. Wasn't cheep so I hope it works.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/76-79-Ford-F...99aef8&vxp=mtr

 

This company Tabco makes an excellent same gauge steel as OEM replacement panels ..

 

WOW! Thats great! Cant believe how affordable those panels are. Ive never welded in new panels but we are going to try to do it our selfs and learn. I'm a decent welder and have watched lots of youtube videos so why not.

 

Looks like you're off to an excellent start! Looking forward to see where it goes from here. Welcome to FTE.

 

Nice work and excellent attention to detail. Good color choices in keeping the suspension looking like truck parts than with a haphazard array of colors like the parts fell out of a gumball machine.

Bravo Zulu!

 

What a relief! That's EXACTLY the look we were going for but weren't sure if we mixed it up enough. Guess we nailed it! Thanks for you input!

 

Awesome progress bud, can't wait to see more

 

Nice!!! what color are you going to paint it?

 

Its my wife's truck and she is leaning towards two tone blue and silver similar to yours.

Im in the middle of rebuilding the heater core / evaporator box now. I ripped it all out yesterday and all the rubber seals are shot and its filthy but the evaporator, heater core, and blower motor look to be in great shape. New A/C should be in in next week.

 

Added new pictures to mu original post.
We decided to just do the project right and strip the truck down.