1978 F-100 std cab, long bed
351M
3 speed Auto trany (I think, haven't decoded the VIN yet)
114K miles
Everything runs ok.
Turn signals need some help.
interor and exterior are in pretty good shape. No major rust spots to be metioned.

I have no idea what I'm getting myself into.
I've been trolling for a while and I've done some searches.
Nobody really addresses the concept of a restore project from begining to end.

I read John Niolons' article in the tech article section, good read, very enlightning. But again, it doesn't really address how and where he started and why he started where he did. Just says he started with the frame, well, what exactly did that mean? sandblasting, painting, bushings, any new hardware, what old hardware did he re-use.

I wast thinking about taking everything off down to the frame and having it blasted and painted. Not sure thats necessary. I don't have a clue.

I would like to turn it into a very nice daily driver. Maybe take it to some local shows. I want to stay as true to the original "idea" as possible but just add some conventional reliablity and performance and a little bit of looky-look. I'd like to see the 351 warmed over a little bit. New wheel/tire combo, something that doesn't look like its running on 4 drag skinnies, its actually quite funny to see. Maybe add some disk breaks to the rear. Exterior will pretty much remain the same, just new chrome pieces paint and body work. I'd like to see carpet on the inside, but pretty much the same just cleaned up a bit.

Anyway, just looking for some advice and maybe a little direction.

Thanks,
mike

 

I just recently started my 79 Monster Project. My first goal is to get everything very clean on the frame. Next I am going to install my some of my drivetrain. Next off to the paint shop to get sandblasted, primed and then im going to shoot a matching color of what my body will be. Be sure not to overlook little details like body bushings, seals, and other little stuff on all parts and components. These things add up and can become little annoyances later on. Be sure to take notes, label everything, and take pictures to save yourself time and grief in the complex areas of the project. spending a little time doing these things can save you weeks of headache. It also helps to pick up any documentation you can get your hands on related to your truck and have it on hand and ready to be used.

While the frame is getting blasted and painted im going to work on what im going to do to the body. Im going to check and see what body bushings i need, replace the dash wiring, inspect for rust on the floorboards fix if needed, sand and prep the body for new paint. I am also going to replace all the wiring going through the bed while i have it removed.

I hope this helps you some, dont let the project overwhelm you. It should be a "fun experience" and take your time with it. I will more then likely drag my project our for 2 or 3 years cause i enjoy spending my time working on hobbies.
Good Luck and HAVE FUN

 

Mark-

All comments are welcome and greatly appriciated.
Thanks for taking the time to write yours down.

did you end up buying new bushings and seals?
Are they reusable? I will more than likely replace the bushings for performance reasons, but I was just curious.

Maybe somebody has a list of general pieces related to the frame and what is reusable and what should be considered for replacement????

mike

 

Well its sort of up to you. Most people call me a little paranoid and retentive. But in my eyes I think that since i am spending years of my time into a project that is my baby I im going to replace everything. Its mainly up to you i think, if they show deep cracking or significant wear then i would replace them with no hesitation. I would say the most important ones to replace would the Body Cab Mounts. and then work from there.

There is a system out called the Hyper-Flex System thats a compleat kit of bushings for your truck. You might want to look into it.

 

Mike ,

I am still working on my 79 I started 3 years ago, so here are a few things I learned that I wish I knew before I started the restore . I had in mind just to "clean it up" get it painted, drive it. Now , 3 years in to it, (hit and miss) I realize I didnt start out with a plan that allowed for so many variables. I didnt know that by taking out the seat to clean under it , would expose so much grease and dirt, cleaned the dirt, found some rust spots. Lets see, hmmm, take up the dirty floor mat, more rust, hmmm, cant have that. So, it just snowballs. So, decide how good do you want the truck to look. Decide how much money you can afford to put in it , and over what time period can you spend time and money on it. If you have a wife and family, they get abandoned while you play in the grease. I never could get my wife to get to liking the dirt, so she stays away from the garage. The time frame of working on a project will determine just how much storage your going to need for all the parts, that you need to put in baggies and label as to where the parts went. Draw diagrams of how your wiring and hose harnesses lay out. . As Mark said, take lots of pics, especially of vac/emissions systems. By the time you get it all back together, a person cant remember where every bolt went. If you do a frame up, you have to store all the suspension, drive train, engine, trans, components, while its being blasted, prepped, and painted. . And, you will want to be degreasing and cleaning/painting on them ,while your frame is being done. You will be replacing or upgrading a lot of your parts, that are found defective. Dont throw away all the unwanted , original stuff until you make sure the aftermarket products fit, that you may have to buy for it. The OEM's are all but extinct for 79's and under. And you will need at least a car and a half garage to have ample room for working on it, and for storing parts out of the weather. And one last thing, the VERY first thing you need to do, is take the truck to at least 3 or 4 reputable body paint shops and tell them how you want the truck to look and get bids. I could not find one that would take mine, because all the local shops want collision work only, and the one "true" restorer, said he would do it for 8 to 10 k and have the truck for up to 2 years. Its no good to have a frame up, clean restore, and find out you run out of money for the 5k paint job needed to finish it. Good luck, and dont let me scare you out of your truck fun, it is fun, but you hardly ever see anyone tell us the amount of hard labor and money that goes in to these fine lookin' Ford rides after there done, I just did, have fun all imho,

 

Are you planning a complete tear-down like these guys have done? Or do you need to drive it in the mean time?

I've had to drive mine, so I can't get too carried away with each project. But I've tried to use a logical order in choosing what to do next.

1. safe to drive - brakes, suspension, tires, wiring

2. dependable - engine tuning, trans, fuel system, charging system

3. looks - body work, paint, wheels

4. comfort - weather stripping, seals, seat, carpet

- I'm only starting 3...

Marty

 

Well said guys

 

Thanks for all of your responces.

Love to hear from others.

I have taken John Niolons' article to heart and have started a project book of sorts. Try to get ideas and thoughts down on paper to look at. Just to try to get an idea of what is going to be involved.

I have thought about two possible options:
1. frame off build up - Lots of time, Lots of money, but I think it would be more fun.
2. driveable build up - still lost of time, probably a little less money. Possibily allow us to get rid of a car payment, means more cash to feed the 'Green dragon'. Something like described by Marty.

Seems like I have everything stacked aginst me for this project:
Time - well, I have a wife and a kid, not to concerned about not being able to spend a lot of time on the project, I can just work on it as I get time, no biggie. Who needs sleep!
Money - I don't have deep pockets, things would have to be purchased a little at a time, stock up, and then do some work. Depending on which build option I go with.
Space - I have a two car garage, and it fits one care a lawn mower and a motorcycle, so space is definitly an issue.
Significant other - not to sure she is as interested in this project as I am.
Experience - I have NONE, but it looks like I have plenty of resources 8^)

I have the will and excitment, but the space and money will be a challenge.

Is it possible to do a build up with out having to drop a large amount of money (> 500$) at a time? I realize there are large purchase items/services, but is it possible to spread the cost of those out over time by working on little things inbetween? Am I being unrealistic about the cost of this project?

comments/questions/concerns
mike

 

Hey,
Just be prepared for all the little aggravating things that take extra time and extra money. Some of the biggest problems come when the particular part of the project is in excess of "500 bucks" sometimes your surprised by how many things come up, especially being a Ford whereas everything seems to cost almost twice as much as other brands. One of the biggest problems is when your in the midst of the project and the money runs out, even if only for a short time, it can be frustrating.
You have to decide how deep you want to go into a restoration. Myself, I painted the frame dark grey mettalic which in turned has cost me to go the extra mile with all the "little things" because as i say, after painting the frame you cant half-a** nothing after that, you find yourself, polishing, painting every nut and bolt you touch.
Ensure you have the room for this project because when you remove the bed, cab, doors, hood , fenders, motor tranny, rearend, cab support....You have just overfilled your garage:-)
I wish you well, but just be prepared, I started my build-up of a 77 F-100 2wd last November, and as of right now, I have the rolling chassis done, including most of the motor and tranny and also have the bare cab installed on the frame and I've probably have close to 12 grand into the project and still have quite a ways to go. But, I did have quite a bit of rust to deal with and changed from a 300 six and three speed to a 460 and streetfighter C-6, plus shaved almost everything off the cab. I t all depends on how deep you want to go.
Good luck.
James

 

Looks like your listening Mike, that a good start . I started mine (79f1504x4) going on 4 years ago, and just now getting to start the paint on it myself( whew, MAJOR work ! ). I did NOT do a frame off, and have NOT removed any body panels,just degreased, the chassis many times, painted the frame and all suspension parts / bolts in place ( A KILLER job to do !) I detailed all the engine bay while the engine is out being redone. My life long, good ole tool and die race engine buddy is rebuilding the 351m to a 400 (just a simple build, port /polish. rv cam, deck squared and milled flat, heads redone, bored.040 over, on , on, ) I let a trans shop put new seals in the np 435. Had a upholstery shop refurbish the original bench seat (trying to keep it all looking original) I have boxes and boxes of new stuff from parts places, some OEM, some aftermarket, like some new side moldings, all new window glass, seals, gaskets, marker lens, tailight/headlight trims, floor rubber mat, shifter boots, on and on. At this time , with the cost of the truck $ 1800 ( its a basically sound truck, no rust thrus , because it was a California truck) I have 12,000 dollars invested in it, and about 400 hours of my labor. I have all the paint for it in that price, but still will need 1100 more bucks for tires and rims, and 500 bucks for a tonneau cover. If your still awake, hope this gives you an idea of where truck restoring can go, : ) good luck dude, and P.S. my wife has been good thru all of this, BUT now she gets anything she wants, and she never misses a opportunity to remind of that 25 thousand dollar garage ornament out back, ha

 

i have a 1975 high boy that im going to begin working on in a few weeks here. i have run into the same situation as many ppeople on their first project starting out. my plan of action is fairly logical. im going to gut the cab, take the bed off, then the front clip, then pull the cab, and clean up the frame some. all my sheetmetal is good, except for the cab. my cab is way bad, so im going to just buy a new shell. move everything over, and put itback together in reverse order.