My brother picked up another project last weekend. Planning to keep track of the progress on here. Its a 1978 F250 Ranger Lariat 2WD which is all great apart from the 2WD!. Its a pretty solid start for a project but it will need a fair bit of attention on the body to make it straight again.

Here is a picture when we picked it up. We got it from another user on this forum.


The engine is a 400 modified which wasn't running.



Hood was the first to go.


We couldn't make the engine run so we decided a rebuild was the only way to go. So out it came.










We tore it down this week and got the parts ordered. The came was worn and there was alot of sludge in the oil. Best we could tell is that the lifters weren't getting oil and so the valve would only be opening a small amount meaning it wasn't getting enough air/fuel to fire.

Anyhow be more to come on this project. For now we're focusing on getting it running and driving. Body work will have to come later. A big part of why we bought the truck was because the interior is in great condition. no cracks in the steering wheel or dash pad and the lariat trim is pretty cool.

 

Nice project. I love that lariat interior.

 

Love that beautiful Lariat interior! Looks like a nice truck. Just a thought, when sprucing up the looks of this truck, perhaps change the tan inset to white. Dark brown with white, inside and out, would look great!

David

 

That truck looks familiar! I was just starting to get attached to it so you probably showed up at the right time. I'm really looking forward to seeing progress on this one.

This is the thread I started when I bought this truck and a 78 F150:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...s-morning.html

Have fun guys.

 

Thanks. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to say where we got it. I hadn't found that thread yet but it sure helps. Its a shame about the tilt steering column being gone.

 

Yeah, I felt the same way. You should be able to find one though. Tilt and cruise control. If I come across one I will let you know. Let me know if I can help in any other way.

 

Congratulations-looks like a nice solid rig for a project.

How far are you tearing down the engine? I think after that oiling problem, I'd do a full tear-down and rebuild. Have everything magnafluxed and have the machine work done.

 

You don't use 4WD much of the time but you will enjoy Lariat interior every time you get in. OP was right white and dark brown look great together.

 

So it turns out we do have a tilt column. Just need to know how to operate it. Still not sure on the cruise control. It did have the vacuum unit under the hood so it had cruise at some point.

 

Pushing (or pulling?) on the signal light switch activates the tilt. So the column that is in the truck is a tilt unit?

 

Yup. you push on it.

 

 

some progress on the truck. the engine got held up for a bit because one of the original heads had a crack in it. We found another complete engine and tore it down for the heads. It was a 351M. Still waiting to get the heads back from the machine shop.

In the meantime it got new seals and grease on the front spindles. And some paint. And wheel nuts.



Also pulled the bed and the cab... Plan to do a rough clean and paint on the frame.

 

That's a good way to look at it! I'm drooling over that lariat interior! My lariat's original seat was missing when I got it.

 

Right!? It took me a few days to realize the P.O. of my truck wasn't lying about the tilt steering haha. Just needed some finess when trying to use it