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Hey everyone, I'm new to this forum. I am looking to do a frame off restoration of my grandpas 1976 F-150 Custom. I have owned it since 1996 and drove it all through high school. It has tons of sentimental value to me. I am wondering if anyone knows of good step by step instructional series on Youtube or anywhere else that I can watch to get an idea of where to start. I will post pictures when in get off this oil rig and get home. She is ugly but she is mine. Any info would help.
Hi and welcome to the forum. There are numerous step by step guides to auto restoration if you google it. They can't be too specific because the task is somewhat dependent on budget and skill level (what you can do yourself) but for the most part a good starting point to review. Fortunately due to parts availability and simplicity these trucks are easier to restore than some other vehicles. Here is a link to an older post on subject.https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-to-start.html
There is a ton of info here from guys who did build threads on their projects. The more time you spend searching and reading through these multiple page threads of technical info you will learn a lot. When you see something of interest, copy and paste the link into a file and title it so you can go back to it in future when needed.
I see you are from WY so hopefully your truck is as rust free as my WY truck is. The biggest hurdle financially, labor wise, and time is the body and paint especially if the body has extensive rust that needs repaired. So before you start carefully evaluate and plan how you will handle the body and paint portion of project so you are prepared. I've done frame-offs on other vehicles. Can't emphasis enough about importance of taking pictures, bagging and tagging, writing notes, etc as to take it apart. Sometimes the human tendency is that you will remember how it will go back together and we also tend to get in a hurry when dismantling but be diligent as 2 minutes spent documenting will save hours later on down the road. Oh and it will cost 50% more than you think it will!
Take good pictures of removing parts and number parts if needed and catalog helps some , if you have a good work area , pull the bed , pull the dog house(hood , fenders , inner fenders an radiator support ) some pull it all off as one piece except hood maybe but still needs disassembled for paint ,,pull doors ,,and remove interior and glass if you plan on going all the way to check windshield areas of frame ,,of course its easier for some than others ,,mainly tear in to it and document the tear down properly to put back together, helps a lot to bag bolts, nuts , screws. separately an mark were they came from , of course that a complete off frame I assume your doing and with body off you have chassis to see and start on
You can NOT take too many pictures or take too many notes. Even videos of disassembly can be extremely helpful. DO NOT rely solely on user manuals and parts diagrams for reassembly months or years down the road. Zip lock bags for bolts and nuts and washers, tagged with a detailed description of where they go, kept with the parts they go to will make your life much easier. For example, when you remove say the water pump, put the water pump bolts in a back labeled as such and put that bag with the water pump. NOT in a box with all of the other fasteners. Wouldn't even hurt to write a description on a piece of paper and put that inside the bag, rather than writing on the bag itself - the writing can wear off.
I had a buddy who tore down his '64 Falcon to do a quick summer rebuild - 7 years later he had parts and nuts and bolts scattered everywhere, with no clue what went where. He spent hundreds of $$ just on nuts and bolts that were in his garage, but he couldn't figure out what was what. It was a nightmare. I had a '53 GMC that I blew apart, bagged and tagged everything with pictures and 2 years later It was a breeze to put back together.
Beyond that, don't take on the entire restoration all at once, at least mentally. Break it down into smaller projects. For example - first, restore the braking system. Then move on to the motor, then the transmission. Or whatever order, just tackle one system at a time. Most guys will completely blow the thing apart, powder coat/pain the frame, then tackle suspension, then tackle the braking system, then motor/trans, then cooling, etc.....If you try to comprehend everything at once you run the risk of getting stressed out and burning out on the project. I like to keep a "journal" that details the order in which I disassembled everything. I'm always amazed how much that helps in reassembly.
Also, set a budget and fully be prepared to blow that budget to bits, it just happens. All of the little things add up in a hurry. Hell, you can spend easily over $100 on just fluids. Another couple hundred on just gaskets. That rear end might end up being junk. There's always something that you're not prepared for, just don't let it derail you.
Here’s a link to the gold standard of restorations. It’s great reading with lots of good info even if you don’t go to this extent on your restoration. Good luck!
Sorry I sent the wrong link. The build I’m thinking of was a members first Ford truck build. The truck was owned by his boss who also owned an automotive parts business I believe. The truck ended up getting painted blue and I think it was a long bed extra cab.
Maybe somebody else here can send the link if they have it. Anyways good luck!
Mark8man, unfortunately we just moved to Wyoming. Mine was a Utah truck till a little over a year ago. I imagine i will pay out for the body. She is real ugly and rust everywhere. I imagine it will cost me through the nose but id rather it be done right. I want to do everything else like converting to 4X4 and changing to a 5 speed manual. I will get pics up as soon as I get off this rig.
Posting journal entries here as things happen rather when it's all done is a great way to clarify your thinking and elicit comments that can be extremely helpful. I've been doing this on my build and helpful FTE commenters have saved my bacon on more than just a few occasions. Lots of pictures and text explaining your decision making can not only help you but also help a fellow FTE'r who is or will soon face a similar challenge.
After a 4 year cab off frame rebuild of a 81 F100 Flare Side I can say you have gotten some vary good information here.
Bag & tag has to be #1 I used a marker to list the part / screws / nuts, where they went and how many. ie: floor shifter boot, ring and 4 screws. or dimmer switch & 2 screws, etc.
I also had a bunch of 20+ gallon black totes with yellow lids from when I moved and I put the bag / tag & parts that fit in them so I could stack them and make more room in the garage.
I did not do this but it would have helped to mark the outside of the totes so I knew what was inside with out needing to pull each one to check.
I also was pulling apart 2 trucks at the same time to make 1 good one so I had to mark each bag / tag what truck it came from as it went in the tote so latter I knew what truck it was from.
I was looking to rebuild a good looking driver not a show truck but could take it to local shows etc. if I wanted to.
I was also lucky that I could do all the work myself from replacing floors / rockers / cab corners / etc., all the body work & painting to replacing suspension parts & bushings you name it.
If I had to pay someone to do any of the work this truck would have never been started or even bought.
It was a $800 take the weekly trash to the dump truck that got out of hand LOL
Before
During
After
I will say it's your truck and build it the way you want it. I have a few custom touches I have added and not talking the wheels
Good luck with you project and we are here to help when we can.
Dave ----
The only thing I'll add (pictures, notes, labels, etc. are all the best advice) is make sure this is something you can realistically accomplish. We all see those trucks and project cars all the time that get completely taken apart and then sit for years because it is hard as one individual to do it all yourself. Possible, absolutely (there are tons of people on here that do it all the time!).
As an alternative, you could do this in small chunks. Like take the bed off, do all the frame stuff from the cab back, do the bed repairs, etc. Then put the bed back on and work on another section.
Mark8man, unfortunately we just moved to Wyoming. Mine was a Utah truck till a little over a year ago. I imagine i will pay out for the body. She is real ugly and rust everywhere. I imagine it will cost me through the nose but id rather it be done right. I want to do everything else like converting to 4X4 and changing to a 5 speed manual. I will get pics up as soon as I get off this rig.
Some food for thought OldYeller. You may want to seriously consider getting a donor truck with a solid body. Can't begin to explain the benefits in cost and time. Also if the truck has a lot of sentimental value, you might want to restore to its original state. Converting to 4x4 and 5 speed changes the truck totally and dimishes the sentimental aspect. Maybe restore Grandpas truck and then get another 4x4 dentside a few years down the road if thats what you really want.
