A little background, I bought this 1970 F100 Ranger XLT back in early June of 2015, equipped with a 390. Since then I have done quite a bit of work to it. Overall condition was pretty decent, only notable rust rot is on the passenger side lower fender (which I have a NOS replacement for), and a bit under the battery tray from I guess the battery acid dripping down, no big deal.

Anyway, ran through the normal checklist for all the mechanicals on the truck, and most were in pretty good shape, motor ran tops accept was a little rough when cold. The rear brakes were pretty shot so those got replaced. The transmission leaked and that got a fresh rebuild too since it was 45 years old and pretty worn. Also cleaned up and re-done some of the wiring.

Like most things, I can’t leave much alone, so a long list of small projects started. The EFI being one of last mods I did and finished up recently. I realize this mod isn’t for everyone with the expense involved, so not sure how many people will be interested in this.

I went with the MSD Atomic EFI, it had good reviews, it controlled timing and I got in on sale, along with all the MSD products at the time.

The install was pretty easy once you had everything laid out where you wanted it; the wiring was easy but time consuming to get it all neat.

To control timing I needed an ignition control box so I went with the MSD digital 6AL 6425 and I also needed a magnetic pickup distributor so I also went MSD with their Pro-Billet Distributor part number 8594 (no Vacuum pot) along with an MSD adjustable rotor 84211 for phasing.

In short, I am very happy with the results. It runs great and the timing control is nice. I don’t have to touch the distributor again, it’s locked down and all adjustments are now done through the hand held programmer which is inside the truck. Cold starts are a breeze; don’t have to touch the gas pedal. Well, on to the pics J..





You can see I had to do some throttle rod mods here as I installed a Lokar kickdown cable, the stock one would no longer work. I just made a trip down to ACE hardware, picked up some threaded rod and small right angle rod ends, worked like a charm.


During all this, I had an oil leak coming from the back of the intake (what a PITA). I took the liberty to swap in an Edelbrock RPM manifold and sealed things back up. Good to have a truck with no leaks at all now.




I recently did a big Griffin radiator install and Sanderson header install as well.








Oh, and a bit off topic, but I did a Dakota digital gauge swap too.




Wanted the white lights but they didn’t have it in stock

 

Also, here is a complete list of all the projects I have done on the truck in the last 7 months or so.

o Edelbrock Water pump
o Griffin Radiator with electric fans and new Radiator and heater hoses
o 180* thermostat
o Powermaster 200-amp alternator
o Powermaster mini-starter
o New power steering pump
o Rebuilt modified quick ratio power steering gear box
o New power steering hoses
o New chrome valve covers
o Sanderson FF427 Headers
o New 2.5” mandrel exhaust with equalizer tube
o Flowmaster 40 mufflers
o Freshly rebuilt C6 with upgraded drum and Moroso pan
o B&M transmission super cooler
o Dakota Digital Gauges with new bezel
o Dakota Digital shift indicator, neutral safety switch and reverse lamp control box
o New door seals
o New Antennae
o New battery, battery tray and tie down bracket/hardware
o New battery cables I made
o New rear sliding window and seal
o New front suspension, steering tie rods, etc.
o Rear axle flip
o Front dream beams
o New 1” drop Detroit coil springs
o MSD Atomic EFI system
o MSD 6AL ignition box
o MSD Billet distributor used with Atomic EFI system to control timing
o MSD coil
o MSD wires
o Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake
o Lokar kick down cable and bracket
o New modified throttle linkage
o 1976 F150 front disk brake swap
o Front is 15x7 Wheel Vintiques with 245-60-15 Cooper cobra's
o Rear is 15x8 Wheel Vintiques with 275-60-15 Cooper Cobra's
o Complete new rear brakes with new drums, brake pads, wheel cylinders, etc.
o New fuel tank sending unit
o New glove box insert
o Changed out broken E-Brake bracket with good used one
o Installed the poly tailgate bushings, all new tailgate hardware, rubber, etc.


Next Up:
o 1975 F350 Napa brake booster, I already have, just need to install (ultraranger inspired)
o New 1995 Explorer aluminum master cylinder, I already have, just need to install (ultraranger inspired)
o Rear mounted gas tank with in tank pump and fuel return system.
o I have bucket seat brackets, bronco console, but still need bucket seats.
o New carpeting, it's good but old and faded.
o Nicer radio and speakers.
o Sway bar (Have it, just need to install)
o New rear Flex-O-Matic springs (have them just need to install)
o Replace passenger side front fender (a little rust rot), I already have a new NOS fender for this.

 

Looks like you've dropped some coin but, it's nice looking stuff.

 

A bit of coin, but I drive it rain or shine daily and really just enjoy this old thing, more than my 2015 Audi ..

 

The Bump probably gets more waves or thumbs-up than the Audi anyway.

 

Very nice build! The recipe, and likely the budget, are oddly familiar.

 

That it does. Even my wife wants to drive the truck to work now.
The New booster and master install may happen this weekend, just waiting on some new brake line to show up, luckily I already had those metric fittings from another project.



Thanks HIO! I took a lot of ideas and motivation from your build along with many others. Would love to find some buckets and transform the interior now that I have the seat brackets. May just buy those TMI Pro-Series Universal Sport-R Low Back Seats and call it a day. I know you bought the kit to do your Mach 1 seats, you pretty happy with them or would you have went low back if you did it over?

 

Looks nice and I bet it drives just as nice...great job!

I know the throttle body kits are pricey...but I wish these guys made a kit for my 385 series engine, not that I can afford it.

Inglese? Eight Stack System w/ EZ-EFI 2.0®; Ford FE Fuelairspark.com


I have been toying with the idea of getting rid of my 2013 F150 and using the money to put injection and double wishbone front suspension in my '67. Seems like it would hold it's value better than a new truck.

 

The Sport R foams are great but relatively stiff and I sit very upright. And because of the stiffness, the non-tilt column, even with a 15-inch steering wheel, requires me to slide under the wheel.... And I'm below average height!


I'm gonna swap out the driver's Sport R with the stock-foamed, low-back bucket out of my 68 Mustang to see if it is "better". Then I'll figure out what to do....I've still got a pair of low backs I picked that need a full rebuild so my 68, in the end, can remain intact.

 

Thanks...I sold my 2011 F250 diesel, which I loved, but just didn't need that hefty of a truck anymore. Sold it, picked up the Audi for the wife, which allowed me to get more projects, a 66 C10 project, a 93 Jeep wrangler project and a nice 2006 Subaru outback just because it fell in my lap for free (not a project but a good driver).

Let me know how the test fit goes. I'm not super tall at 5'11", and I definitely don't want to sit higher or further forward than the bench seat in there now. The stock mustang seats seemed tiny though, so not sure what to think of those, but if they work, then good enough for me. Also, the tilt steering is another mod I want to do, just can't find a 78-79 tilt column anywhere. I put an ididit column in my C10 and they are just too expensive to buy another one for this.

 

Heck, I'm a dink at 5'-4"... I didn't get that gene.


Yeah, the stock Mustang seats seem small and lost in a relatively cavernous Bump. I like the idea of having a headrest... The foams in my 68 have a lot of give and I won't wanna feel like I'm sitting in a hole. On the other hand, the Sport R seat is tall. I'll take some pics and measurements when I do swap 'em so ya'll can understand the relationships in three dimensions.


Manual tilt column? Like gold plated hens' teeth.... at some point I'll probably go with an Ididit or Flaming River but right now there are other priorities.... like selling my Pontiac so a product from Maranello can take its place.

 

Well, it's not how big the dog in the fight is, it's how much fight in the dog there is .


Looks like we need something between the stock mustang seat and the Sport R seat. I like the idea of a headrest, but I think I would be in a to straight up and down position if I push the seat all the way back.


Luckily I need auto tilt column, but still hard to find it seems. The pick and pull here in Fremont has a 79, I may go and poke around and see what's out there.

 

How was the Atomic EFI install? I am wrapping up a Holley Avenger install on a GM 427, and it has been a nightmare. Holley has ZERO support for this system anymore, apparently it was discontinued and all literature was binned, but there are still folks selling this system new on ebay.

 

Upgraded in all the right places. I bet it drives like a dream now. It's a good feeling when you know your truck is dependable and no worries of it letting you sit. That EFI looks great been pondering going the EFI route on my 66. Have you looked at the VW passat? Seats there was a old build here where a guy used a set I think it looked nice installed if I remember right.

 

Install was pretty easy and straight forward. You can do it in a day if you have ever done one before. Not familiar with the Holley Avenger, is that their MPFI system? The Holley Terminator TBI system would be similar to the MSD Atomic TBI system, and they do sell that still, a lot people like that one as well.


Programming the MSD was easy as well. I did have to mess around with some fine tuning though, but not to bad to get it dialed in. Will probably still be trying different things until I find the perfect setup, mainly on the timing side. I tried this system without the timing setup first and it did pretty good, but it did much better with timing control. The IAC sensor can't quite update as fast as MAP and timing so everything just got better adding the timing function for me.