1978 f250 help
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2019
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1978 f250 help
Bought a 1978 f250 2wd service truck yesterday for 500. Rebuilt the carb and runs great. Then a new battery. 3g alternator upgrade and radio with speakers. Factory 2bbl carb. Next is seats....
Can I use explorer seats? Or even better...expedition seat?
I want buckets. And as I work at a ju we have explorers and expeditions all the way up to 2006. But we have no Broncos or good benches
Can I use explorer seats? Or even better...expedition seat?
I want buckets. And as I work at a ju we have explorers and expeditions all the way up to 2006. But we have no Broncos or good benches
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 898
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From: Coos Bay
Any bench seat up through 96. If you have an 89(approx) lariat, will have fold down arm rest in center of the seatback. Problem you’re likely to face, unless you’re vertically smaller in stature, is the thickness of the backs on those SUV seats.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2019
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Sooo0o.....this thing need a body. Cab is bad. Floor is bad. Bad doors. Bad hood. I'd like to just swap the whole thing out for a new cab and front clip......what would it take to do a swap to a bullnose? Like a 82 with a manual and a v8? Besides new mounts for cab
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
1980's trucks are completely different than 1973/79's. All the sheet metal is different, the frames are different, the interiors are different. The power trains were carried over, but that was about it!
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5th Wheeling
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That is fine. I prefer the 8ps Interior. I can fab mounts. We have several rust free bodies for the 80s. But nothing for the 70s
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Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Drove to Twisp, then changed to a different hwy to the Grand Coulee Dam. From there we went south to Pasco, then drove along the north side of the Gorge (Columbia River) to Vancouver.
The gal pal drove, while I looked at the scenery, the old rolling piles of misery scenery...that is. I counted all the trucks I saw, stopped counting Dentsides when I reached 139.
So, if you cannot find a rust free Dentside on the east side of the Cascades, where it's dry as dust, you aren't looking very hard.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2019
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In May 2010, the gal pal attended a 3 day confab in Seattle, then we took a driving tour. First to Friday Harbor for a coupla days then back to the mainland, got on Highway 20.
Drove to Twisp, then changed to a different hwy to the Grand Coulee Dam. From there we went south to Pasco, then drove along the north side of the Gorge (Columbia River) to Vancouver.
The gal pal drove, while I looked at the scenery, the old rolling piles of misery scenery...that is. I counted all the trucks I saw, stopped counting Dentsides when I reached 139.
So, if you cannot find a rust free Dentside on the east side of the Cascades, where it's dry as dust, you aren't looking very hard.
Drove to Twisp, then changed to a different hwy to the Grand Coulee Dam. From there we went south to Pasco, then drove along the north side of the Gorge (Columbia River) to Vancouver.
The gal pal drove, while I looked at the scenery, the old rolling piles of misery scenery...that is. I counted all the trucks I saw, stopped counting Dentsides when I reached 139.
So, if you cannot find a rust free Dentside on the east side of the Cascades, where it's dry as dust, you aren't looking very hard.
...but I am wanting to use what is available to me at no cost. Dentside just arnt available here in good shape. We have 4. Including mine. All are shot.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2019
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Wow...long day.
1st. Nvm about cab swap.
So I spent all day under the hood. Rewired the alternator the coil and electric fuel pump. Re-installed and re wired wi shield washer back into the truck. New headlight switch and headlights. New dash trim. Still working on gauges but I traced the temp wire from sensor and everything is good. So I'll get a new sensor tomorrow. Also plan to swap in a larger radiator from a 78. After I re ran the wiring I put loom over everything. So engine e bay is alot nice now. Also new plugs tomorrow and oil change.
I did discover that the front brakes are brand new so I'll leave them alone.
1st. Nvm about cab swap.
So I spent all day under the hood. Rewired the alternator the coil and electric fuel pump. Re-installed and re wired wi shield washer back into the truck. New headlight switch and headlights. New dash trim. Still working on gauges but I traced the temp wire from sensor and everything is good. So I'll get a new sensor tomorrow. Also plan to swap in a larger radiator from a 78. After I re ran the wiring I put loom over everything. So engine e bay is alot nice now. Also new plugs tomorrow and oil change.
I did discover that the front brakes are brand new so I'll leave them alone.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2019
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So another day of wiring. Engine bay is done except ground d switch will all be redone tomorrow. Also swapping in a better radio and speaker into the dash.
New problem.
Headlight switch is getting hot. Even when off. Also taillight stay one also. But if I run brightness off then the lights all go off. But if turned back up then they come on.
Driver headlight is dim but passenger is normal.
I have tried 3 different switches
New problem.
Headlight switch is getting hot. Even when off. Also taillight stay one also. But if I run brightness off then the lights all go off. But if turned back up then they come on.
Driver headlight is dim but passenger is normal.
I have tried 3 different switches
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Two different 1976 headlamp switches...and if you're buying the switch at an auto parts store, most are made in China crap!
D3ZZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1245) / Available from Ford
1973/75 F100/350 & Econoline; 1976 F100/350 & Econoline before serial number C25,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D7TZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1381) / Obsolete
1976 F100/350 & Econoline from serial number C25,000; 1977 F100/350 & Econoline.
D3ZZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1245) / Available from Ford
1973/75 F100/350 & Econoline; 1976 F100/350 & Econoline before serial number C25,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D7TZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1381) / Obsolete
1976 F100/350 & Econoline from serial number C25,000; 1977 F100/350 & Econoline.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Two different 1976 headlamp switches...and if you're buying the switch at an auto parts store, most are made in China crap!
D3ZZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1245) / Available from Ford
1973/75 F100/350 & Econoline; 1976 F100/350 & Econoline before serial number C25,000
-----------
D7TZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1381) / Obsolete
1976 F100/350 & Econoline from serial number C25,001, 1977 F100/350 & Econoline.
D3ZZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1245) / Available from Ford
1973/75 F100/350 & Econoline; 1976 F100/350 & Econoline before serial number C25,000
-----------
D7TZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1381) / Obsolete
1976 F100/350 & Econoline from serial number C25,001, 1977 F100/350 & Econoline.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 790
From: Simi Valley, CA
1978/79 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline // 1973 LTD/Mustang/Maverick/Comet // 1973/76 Torino // 1974 LTD // 1974/78 Mustang II // 1974/79 Pinto/Bobcat.
1975/78 LTD without hidden headlamps // 1975/79 Granada/Monarch.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 43
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D3AZ-11654-A .. Headlamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-1226) / Recently obsoleted by Ford
1978/79 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline // 1973 LTD/Mustang/Maverick/Comet // 1973/76 Torino // 1974 LTD // 1974/78 Mustang II // 1974/79 Pinto/Bobcat.
1975/78 LTD without hidden headlamps // 1975/79 Granada/Monarch.
1978/79 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline // 1973 LTD/Mustang/Maverick/Comet // 1973/76 Torino // 1974 LTD // 1974/78 Mustang II // 1974/79 Pinto/Bobcat.
1975/78 LTD without hidden headlamps // 1975/79 Granada/Monarch.