Need help on restoration ideas
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Need help on restoration ideas
I was given a 1977 2wd F150 from my grandfather when he passed away a few months ago, and decided to do a full frame off restoration on it. I figured if I'm going to do it, might as well do it right. I am a new father of twin boys and a 2 year old daughter so I don't have much time to work on truck. I have it in body shop being worked over now, they have bed off frame now, and working on cab in the next few weeks.
I have contacted Tim Meyers and have a rebuilt 400 coming in the next few months from him. He says it should dyno at 500hp with 500lb-ft of torque.
What I am most concerned about is the suspension and the transmission. I am just needing idea on what the best option for upgrades would be to make sure that I don't tear the truck apart. Any other ideas on areas I should be watching or help is very much appreciated and needed as I haven't ever restored a truck before and have only had newer cars that required nothing from me.
I have contacted Tim Meyers and have a rebuilt 400 coming in the next few months from him. He says it should dyno at 500hp with 500lb-ft of torque.
What I am most concerned about is the suspension and the transmission. I am just needing idea on what the best option for upgrades would be to make sure that I don't tear the truck apart. Any other ideas on areas I should be watching or help is very much appreciated and needed as I haven't ever restored a truck before and have only had newer cars that required nothing from me.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 79
From: A dirty little town in OR
What do you want to do with the truck when it's done? It's a 2wd F150 so it's no rock climber mountain goat. It's also no sports car, even with 500(!) hp.
It sounds like it's going to be a super nice truck. I'd rebuild the stock suspension and brakes (maybe add discs up front if you dont already have them, probably do)) and call it good.
A C6 would probably be the easiest trans, but there are some threads on FTE about adapting later model OD transmissions. I haven't read any of them (I have a manual) so I cant say which ones ended successfully.
Drive it. Have fun with it. Enjoy the thumbs-up you get.
If you're wanting to lower it, that's a whole different thing. In that case I'd read up on those threads... that's a whole different world.
It sounds like it's going to be a super nice truck. I'd rebuild the stock suspension and brakes (maybe add discs up front if you dont already have them, probably do)) and call it good.
A C6 would probably be the easiest trans, but there are some threads on FTE about adapting later model OD transmissions. I haven't read any of them (I have a manual) so I cant say which ones ended successfully.
Drive it. Have fun with it. Enjoy the thumbs-up you get.
If you're wanting to lower it, that's a whole different thing. In that case I'd read up on those threads... that's a whole different world.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,559
Likes: 117
From: Gillette, WY
I'd start with this thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ing-build.html
One of the most comprehensive and kick A$$ threads I've read; AND it happens to be right up your alley.
t
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ing-build.html
One of the most comprehensive and kick A$$ threads I've read; AND it happens to be right up your alley.
t
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I'm not wanting the truck to be anything but a head turner (hopefully). It has a automatic transmission in it currently, I haven't opened it up, but am thinking I'll go through it to make sure there aren't any issues. Do I need to upgrade stock C6 or will a fresh rebuild be sufficient?
Cross-Country
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 91
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From: Kalamazoo, Mi
I was given a 1977 2wd F150 from my grandfather when he passed away a few months ago, and decided to do a full frame off restoration on it. I figured if I'm going to do it, might as well do it right. I am a new father of twin boys and a 2 year old daughter so I don't have much time to work on truck. I have it in body shop being worked over now, they have bed off frame now, and working on cab in the next few weeks.
.
.
Doesn't matter what body or drive you have in my opinion. Now there is a fellow from Yuma and a number guru and a few others usually very helpful with these questions regardless of body-style or drive-train. I simply follow what the manufacturers do on modern cars that now push 808 horse power build it tough and for durability with simplicity of classic vehicles,I have a heavy half ton that can tow as much as a 3/4 ton so in reality anything is possible if you spend enough money or take enough time to get what YOU want out of a vehicle.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury, PA
500hp out of a 400M seems excessive unless you are getting some good aftermarket heads on it and a fairly aggressive cam. With an aggressive cam and a C6 you will need to get proper stall speed torque converter. I have a fairly well built 408W with good aftermarket heads and yet a still streetable cam and it does put out around 500 lf-ft torque, but realistically about 400hp.
You can get some extra parts for the C6 and rebuild it yourself to give you piece of mind to hold up to 500 lb-ft torque. The C6 is a stout transmission. They are easy to pull apart and put back together with simple tools. Torque is the important number when worrying about if a transmission will hold. Horsepower is irrelevant.
You could also swap an NP435 or T18 or T19 in if you want to go to a manual transmission.
You can get some extra parts for the C6 and rebuild it yourself to give you piece of mind to hold up to 500 lb-ft torque. The C6 is a stout transmission. They are easy to pull apart and put back together with simple tools. Torque is the important number when worrying about if a transmission will hold. Horsepower is irrelevant.
You could also swap an NP435 or T18 or T19 in if you want to go to a manual transmission.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 1
From: Axtell, TX
You're going to have a lot of ponies under the hood when you get done, and while it may not be a sports car (around turns anyways) it will certainly be pretty dang fast in a straight line. I usually mirror power with brake upgrades. Now's a good time for a hydroboost upgrade. Your front suspension should be fine with a refreshing, but depending on how you're gonna use that hp you may need to address the rear diff. If you're going to have some tires that grip and hard launches then it will definitely need a little help to live reliably. If you plan on being easier on it then it could live. Your rear suspsension setup will also depend on this.
As far as transmissions go, do you want overdrive or no? If not then an HD rebuild of the c6 is fine. If you do then I'd say either add a gear vendors unit to your new beefy c6 or get an adapter and run a built 700r4. You could do an AOD but from what I've read youd spend less and have a stronger unit with the GM piece (unfortunately lol).
Other things while it's all down like a 3g alternator, head light relays, and electric fan are improvements every truck from this era would benefit from.
As far as transmissions go, do you want overdrive or no? If not then an HD rebuild of the c6 is fine. If you do then I'd say either add a gear vendors unit to your new beefy c6 or get an adapter and run a built 700r4. You could do an AOD but from what I've read youd spend less and have a stronger unit with the GM piece (unfortunately lol).
Other things while it's all down like a 3g alternator, head light relays, and electric fan are improvements every truck from this era would benefit from.
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You're going to have a lot of ponies under the hood when you get done, and while it may not be a sports car (around turns anyways) it will certainly be pretty dang fast in a straight line. I usually mirror power with brake upgrades. Now's a good time for a hydroboost upgrade. Your front suspension should be fine with a refreshing, but depending on how you're gonna use that hp you may need to address the rear diff. If you're going to have some tires that grip and hard launches then it will definitely need a little help to live reliably. If you plan on being easier on it then it could live. Your rear suspsension setup will also depend on this.
As far as transmissions go, do you want overdrive or no? If not then an HD rebuild of the c6 is fine. If you do then I'd say either add a gear vendors unit to your new beefy c6 or get an adapter and run a built 700r4. You could do an AOD but from what I've read youd spend less and have a stronger unit with the GM piece (unfortunately lol).
Other things while it's all down like a 3g alternator, head light relays, and electric fan are improvements every truck from this era would benefit from.
As far as transmissions go, do you want overdrive or no? If not then an HD rebuild of the c6 is fine. If you do then I'd say either add a gear vendors unit to your new beefy c6 or get an adapter and run a built 700r4. You could do an AOD but from what I've read youd spend less and have a stronger unit with the GM piece (unfortunately lol).
Other things while it's all down like a 3g alternator, head light relays, and electric fan are improvements every truck from this era would benefit from.
Any suggestions for rear suspension upgrades? Most of the stuff I see is all for 4WD with lifts.
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