Ok, I've been looking for the perfect donor for a 4x4 conversion on my truck. Was looking for a 100% interchange 92-95 same wheelbase, e4od, or one with a np435 swap. Well it's not going to be that easy, cause I just bought a 78 f150. A guy passed away that had it. I guess he had started doing a build on it. I have no idea what his plans were, but it's got a lift, and good 35x12.50s. The body is off of it, but cab and bed are very bad rotted. The 302 is out, but covered and is not stuck, and has an aluminum intake. Np205 transfer case. Haven't found the transmission yet, but has a bellhousing on the motor. So looks like I will be doing a solid axle install. And I will use the motor and 9" in my wife's 49 rat rod I'm building. Getting the chassis, driveline, wheels and tires for $300! Told her she could keep the body because they are hauling tons of stuff off for scrap metal. They hauled good headers, two good 4.6 blocks, and tons of other good stuff off for scrap! Poor lady has made about $60 and could have sold a block for more than that. She said I had to have it out on of there tomorrow or she was hauling it. Scraps @ $3 a $100 right now. I haven't seen it yet, my father n law had went with his brother to check it out, but the body was to far gone. When he told me about it, I jumped on it for the solid d44, everything else is a perk.

 

Well, I would venture to say that wives view alot of these things as clutter rather than "future build" parts that actually have some value .....

 

It's all home and in the barn. When I got there, I saw what his plans were. He had a 2wd with a pretty decent body pulled in front of the frame. I'm sure he was going to put the 2wd body on the 4wd frame. She said the 2wd wasn't for sale. The 302 I got, I'm pretty sure didn't go with this frame, it's got the small spark plugs, which I believe are @73 and earlier. Hand loaded the motor, I'll have to take some ibuprofen for my back. It dump green antifreeze out while loading so that's good. Never did find the tranny, Oh well. There was a new set of dronemasters on it.

 

Well you have some good parts there. I am amused at the connection from the 2.5 inch to 3 inch exhaust there in the first pic. Looks like he used about half a can of welding rods to build that up to fit. You get an old school bumper jack too. Concerning the rat make sure it has good brakes. No sense being able to go if she can't stop.

 

It's got a brand new speedway front axle with disc brake setup. If I remember correctly, that was about 1,200 total, that was 4 years ago. Should stop pretty good, considering it will be very light. It's on a 2x3 square tubing frame. Z-notched. The front end is stretched out there. The bed is cut down to 4 foot. Looks pretty mean. Will be an open front end with some crazy headers. Currently has a Lincoln disc break rear end, just tach welded in to make it a roller. It's got an odd ball Lug pattern. Used Chevy wheels on it. Can't have that. I have a set of coil overs for the rear. I started this project 5 years ago, the rat rod fade will be over and back again before I get it finished.
That is a store bought exhaust reducer. He bought the box of welding rods at the store.