Good Morning, I've been a member since I was 17 and over the last 7 years I have been lurking on occasion. Today however I am beginning a new project. I bought my 77 F100 back when I was 17, I paid 700 for it, it was beat all to hell, had slits in the window seal where the previous owner was going to replace the frosted windshield and didn't which is also why it has holes all in the floor board. It did however have the 300 inline 6 in it and I'm not sure what automatic transmission it had but within two years of me snatching it around it was replaced by a late 80s-early 90s model f100 5 speed manual, which I did myself. It was crudely done but the effort was there and by God for the next 3 years I drove it without an issue. Finally one fateful day the wiring harness caught fire behind the dash and I lost all ignition to it, which in hindsight I should have seen coming as I had just put my 4th ignitor box on it over the course of the last two months. I wasn't confident with electrical work and was working a lot back then so it sat against the woodline ever since.

I'm about to be a dad now and I hold to the belief that every man should own a truck. Instead of buying a 30,000 truck that's going to depreciate in value as soon as I drive off the lot with it I've decided to rebuild my old blue ******* child. I know the motor is still strong but I'm going through the entire truck and I'm building it back to last another 41 years while still being used like a truck should. I want to build the 300 to pull stronger but still be modest enough to drive daily if needed and I want to build the body and fix the chassis to be solid and not swiss like. I've already ordered a new wiring harness and began reverse engineering the old one. I'm also deciding to get rid of the old igniton set up, I know a lot of members here like the duraspark 2 set up but I honestly can't get the bad taste out of my mouth of having to keep replacing the ignitor boxes back then. I want to go to an old points style distributor but with a pertronix or similar setup, and just keep the points in the glove box in case of it ever failing.

I'm mostly asking for help as far as the rebuild. I know there are a lot of educated people both formally and through experience and I just want to tips to build this truck back properly from the bottom. I'm not incredibly experienced but I kept the truck running albeit crudely for 5 years and can pick up on what I don't know fairly well. I'm at work now so I can't post pictures. It's rough as hell but it's mine and I refuse to give up on it. Thanks in advance.

 

You can't go wrong with the 300 straight six, it's a workhorse, known for its longevity, reliability, and dependability. It's arguably Fords best engine ever.

 

That's what I've been told repeatedly. Also, I imagine this is talked about often or has been, but if there are any good threads about rebuilds of my body style or building a 300 could you link them? I've got the front clip removed from the truck and the wiring harness removed so I can go just about anywhere at this point on the build. I know I tried my damndest to blow my 300 up because I wanted a V8 but I grew to love that old 300. I want to do it justice and appreciate what I have.

 

you got the right attitude,,,,its the diesel of gasoline motors my first truck was a 77 copper/Wimbledon white,,,just post what parts you need ,

 

As far as parts, I'm not entirely sure, The wiring was mostly the culprit, I live in South Carolina and we get a free windshield replacement with our insurance every year that doesn't drive up our rates as far as I'm told so I'll just file a claim for that. I calked up the slits they made when I first got it to stop contributing to the holes, I'd mostly need sheet metal panels for the floor board, rockers, and like corner of the cab, I have a short bed already so no need to do any frame cutting. I do need to actually straighten out where the bumper mounts to the frame as well as weld where the front clip mounts to it. My concern is where all the dents are on the tail gate and where the door and clip mount up. I've never done body work so this is intimidating to me.

I'd like to rebuild the engine first though. That's the most exciting part to me. I don't want it to kill me in gas but I intend to use it as a truck so I'd like a modest/fairly high amount of bottom end torque. I intend to keep the 5 speed from the 90s model f100 behind it. I didn't have to cut the driveshaft but I think my rear end is a peggy since it only leaves one mark when flooring it.
I've never done cam replacement or any kind of machine work to an engine just simple mount and play work, but I want to. I'd like to build this and learn from it. So if anyone has any good advice or links as far as doing complete overhauls or improvements I'm interested. I don't plan on doing any kind of lowering or any of that nonsense, but I wouldn't shrug the notion of one day making it four wheel drive, I just don't see the necessity of it with the engine I'm building. I just want both wheels to turn on the back and pull like hell if I ever need to. I can save up for pricier upgrades, but I'm not trying to make a monster just a noticeably stronger engine.
Again thank you for the replies

 

That's an excellent description. Fords inline six is very much like a diesel...great mileage, lots of torque, low maintenance, will last forever if you treat it right (oil/fuel filter changes).

 

I actually did think of something, The harness I'm using is one of those generic hot rod universal harnesses. I'm not sure what condition all my connectors are in, but if I were to replace them, do you have any recommendations on where to find new ones? I can always go to my friend's junkyard and find some older ones but that's not a guaranteed success either. I'm also going to solder the wires together and wrap them, I don't want cheap quick connections if I can help it. I'm going to try to replicate the old harness in the new one as best as possible. I'll solder in cables for the Duraspark 2 set up as well but I won't be using them likely. I'm trying to build this to last long enough for my children to burden their children with the repairs, so keeping it functional with the option of easily swapped OEM equipment will be doing my bloodline a favor,