Ok strap in this is gonna be a long one.


I have this 88 F150 that belonged to my best friend when I was in the military (Air force , Grand forks North Dakota). I met this guy at a gas station after commenting on this truck. When I say we were best friend I mean I ended up living with him and his family. The truck was in pretty good shape and was very unique. 88 extended cab with a 81 step side bed and newer dually fenders.





Then my buddy stepped it up by building custom bumpers , doing a SAS with the Dana 44 out of my 79 bronco putting on 37's , a pretty expensive and custom stereo and a new paint job






And that's how it looked when I got out of the military in 2007. Around 2010-2011 my buddy got out of the military and between his other 3 vehicles a wife and 3 kids moving this to South Carolina just wasn't an option. And without me knowing it he sold it to some local kid. I found out a couple weeks later and wished I could have gotten my hands on it. Fast forward to last may (2016) my buddy tells me he knows a local guy who saw it on a car lot in Bismark ND looking like it did when he sold it. I called the dealer the next day but they had sent it to auction. So I called every auction in 100 miles and found the auction, but they said it hadn't sold so they sent it back to the dealer, I call the dealer he says . " I couldn't find a ,buyer so I junked it" but wouldn't tell me what that meant. I was devistated !!!!!

I thought I'd never see it again but then a month later I'm at work and my wife sent me this




She had tracked it down to a dealer in Minnesota and had it shipped to our house! Btw we had just moved into this house two weeks prior.

The truck has some rough spots but it's all mine. Since we had just moved in it has been low on the priority list but the house is finally where we need it and I can get to work. I've already spent a couple hours bringing the wheels back to life




Replaced the mirrors and did a couple things just to make it reliable. This is how she looks lately




This weekend I got her in the barn and pulled all unnecessary wiring and broken parts off

 

Love that truck and the story behind it. Sounds like you have a pretty awesome wife for tracking that truck down for you.

 

So now I plan on buying a parts truck , the truck needs lots of little things and I'd rather not get nickeled and dimmed to death at the junk yard. BUT I need to decide which direction I'm gonna go in first . The truck needs a new steering column ,engine and a trans rebuild. It all works but the trucks got 225,000-325,000 on the original 302 and automatic

So which should I go with

Option A get a $300 parts truck , a new short block and get the trans rebuilt
Option B get a $450 parts truck , a new short block and swap in a manual M5r2
Option C get a $1800 parts truck and swap in its 351 windsor and Zf5

I'm not gonna be mud bogging it or doing heavy wheeling. I wanna drive to Carlisle and Bloomsburg and around town on the weekends. I have other trucks for hauling wood and pulling trailers.

 

My vote is for option "B".

 

88xltlariat is that the trans you have ? Any complaints of the gearing being to tall?

 

I vote option "C" because I find the 302 to be anemic, while a 351W/ZF5 has quite a lot of potential. Not to mention decent low end torque in stock trim, compared to a stock 302. Add 1.7RR, a better cam (if using a flat tappet 351W, otherwise stock roller cam isn't bad), long tube headers, and depending on budget GT40 heads, for a nice solid upgrade.

That's a heck of a truck story, thanks for posting. Very cool of your wife to do that.

 

Yes, that's the trans I have. First gear is a little tall.

 

I really like your truck and the story. You're a lucky man to have a wife that would do all of that. I think I'd go with option 3, depending on the miles and condition of the engine and tranny. Let us know which route you go.

 

Little update
Drove about 3.5 hours each way today and picked up this 88 F250 for $350
Its got a decent 351 W and a ZF5. Gonna be getting a shed in the next week and then I'll have room in my building to get this in there and strip it down

 

 

awesome truck. is that a bed off a bullnose?

definitely did the right thing with the 351 zf5...the 302 doesn't belong in a truck, much less one with 37's. build it if you can afford to, long tubes are a must at the very least. the mazda trans is a better trans for the street, but its a bit too small for a healthy 351. you could risk running it if youre feeling ballsy and don't plan on beating the truck too much...otherwise zf5's like 4.10's or higher axle ratio.

 

Hi,
Forget the truck!

I think your "Treasure" is your Wife!!!

 

hey now, the treasure can be his wife....but don't forget the truck......

 

Yeah ill definitely be using the zf5 , plus it will make this thing that much more of a mutt. The beds off an 81. It already has 4.10's too! What do you suggest for the 351 build? I've been wondering if and how you tune it with a cam. Thanks

And yeah I have a really great wife , she's doesn't really care what I do with this truck and she's an awesome helper.

 

What you do for a 351 build depends entirely on budget. I could write you a book on the different tiers of builds for different goals.....but let's start with budget, the goal is already evident: turning 37s.