Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a 1980 manual drive F350 4x4 1 ton. Pics below.

I am set to try to restore it. It runs, has a rebuilt motor (400, now 406) but need a new air cleaner assembly badly—I may have to come up with a work around, because the one on it now, is useless, and cannot be repaired—there’s cuts all along the base someone did (thus NO SEAL), and the top hole is so worn the washer barely covers it.

The frame is in decent shape, but there is rust and holes on the passenger side near windshield, and on rocker box area, as well as just below the door assembly. Rusted side part of the bed too. Floor pans on driver’s side shot. I will be doing some welding with new sheet metal in many of these places. I have ordered new pans.

I need to figure out this whole windshield thing—mine is stuck with butyl. It all needs replaced as I will be repainting to the original color (see below where a part of the current paint job peeled to reveal the under coating base). The windshield needs to come out because of the rust (and holes) you can see on the passenger side. I have no idea how to replace it…do they make an after market gasket for this?

I will be wire brushing the entire underneath/frame, degreasing any spots, and then applying Por-15—starting this week.

I am also going to sand the body, replace the rusted spots with lower door posts/rocker box assembly. Do some fab metal work on the rest, and then, prime and shoot it myself. This might take a week or so, just to get some of the replacement metal that is still pressed out. The bed, I have sheet metal I will form and weld.

Oh, the tailgate opens and shuts, but the entire mechanism is rusted. That issue also on tap this week for inspection and then…who knows. Difficult to find replacement mechanisms, easy to fine the handle assembly.

OK, enough from me, here are some pics:



Sand—the original color.

pass side bed corner

Pass side window worry….two small holes

Pass side door hinge/bracket rust


More pass side rocker/post rust

 

Welcome to FTE and thanks for the pics of your project.

Don't forget to join your NC state chapter.

 

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The folks that know about this sort of thing don't often visit the "New Member Introductions" forum. Your best bet would be to post over in the "1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks" forum.

Welcome aboard!