Hey ladies and gentlemen.

I am needing help. My boy and I pulled my dad's f250 out of the fence row today. We will being trying to restore it with a 5 year end date. I am expecting to spend upward of $20k on this restoration. It is my opinion that if this truck wasn't my dad's I wouldn't even attempt it but because it is and my boy will be with me through the majority of this process, in the end what he learns and time spent together will be worth it. The end game is to have my son driving it on his 16th birthday and using it as his first vehicle. It'll be a daily driver with the occasional pulling of 4 wheelers, side by sides, dirt bikes, or maybe even horses on occasion.

Little history and specs of the truck:
1988 Ford f250
EFI 7.5 460L V8 Engine
5 Speed manual ZF S542 transmission
Borg Warner transfer case

The truck was parked in the fence row approximately 15-16 years ago with several small parts being robbed from it over the years. The reason it was parked is the build up of multiple problems that left it not worth fixing. For starters the engine was only running on 6 cylinders. The final straw that broke the monkeys back was the clutch went out.

My plan is to do as much of the work myself to get it on the road again then once it is running have it go to local paint and body place to be repaired and looking like new again. The cab is actually in decent shape rust wise. The bed is not so much. As for the interior mice have definitely made it a home. It stinks to high heaven.

Anyway I hope I have been able to give you guys enough info so you can help.

Questions:

Where do I start?

I am contemplating on what to do motor wise going forward. Do I stay with the 460? Do I down size to a 351 or 302? Do I switch to diesel? I would like to keep it original but the 460 is not known for mpgs and gas prices won't be going down any time soon.

What transmission and transfer case is recommended going forward?

What issues will need to be dealt with on the ECU side things?

I know I am not thinking of the small things. Because of this those who have restored vehicles what do you wish you would of known before you started your first project?

Washing the old girl up before we bring her home to start.


These are just a few of the questions I have been racking in my brain for several months. Any help with these questions would at least get me started on this long journey.

Thank you!

 

I would start with what you have, find out what's wrong with the engine. Begin with a compression test, that'll tell you if the base engine is working properly or needs work. Can't really go any further until you get the test results. Auto parts stores usually have a loan a tool program where you leave a deposit, borrow the tool, use it and bring it back for your $$ back.

Problem with that is you won't know if the compression gauge is accurate so it's probably worth paying a few bucks to get a new one or ask friends/family if anyone has one you can use.

Oh incase you don't get instructions with the tester, all you have to do is remove all spark plugs, disable the ignition system (pull the coil wire), disable the fuel system (fuel pump cutoff switch passenger side kick panel) bop it with the ball of your fist it'll trip, to reenable it just push the button down, install the gauge in the 1st cylinder, hold the throttle wide open and crank the engine over 10 secs. Record that number along with what cylinder it came from and move on to the next until you get them all.

A strong battery and/or a connected battery charger will assist with this test. Come back to this thread with results of the compression test and I or others here will be able to guide you further.

 

Great project and great advice above, if you can keep the engine/drive train I would, how many miles on the truck? my advice is keep as original as possible, plenty of parts available and lots to be said about using original systems for future troubleshooting and repairs, yes gas miliage will be sucky, but might save money on the build going this route and 460cid is one cool motor, I commend your father on his good taste!

go thru every system, teach your boy brakes, cooling all of it, he learns and you know he will be in a safe truck

 

oh I would keep the rims too, I am refinishing rims for my '66, just my humble opinion