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I have stumbled on an opportunity to purchase 2 trucks. One is a '76 ranger xlt with 390 auto and short bed. The other is a '77 long bed, 302 3 spd. It has been hit in front end and I am pretty sure the frame may be tweaked. The front fenders and passenger side door are pretty much junk and the cab floors are pretty rough. The 390 turns over but the 302 is locked up. The bed floor, inner fenders, and lower rear bed corners are rusty on the xlt. I can get both trucks for what I think is a fairly good price. I keep thinking of what I could do. Could I part the second truck out and help recoop some of the costs. Do I just try to get the one running and flip or keep for project? Thanks for the input guys.
If you have the money, space and free time to get both, go for it. Can you get titles for them? Even better. Short bed trucks are a hot ticket now days. Heck just the actual short (bed) is worth $$. I got the 79 Bronco with a bent rear frame and have parted that thing out like crazy on here. I got it for the motor originally.
I have stumbled on an opportunity to purchase 2 trucks. One is a '76 ranger xlt with 390 auto and short bed. The other is a '77 long bed, 302 3 spd. It has been hit in front end and I am pretty sure the frame may be tweaked. The front fenders and passenger side door are pretty much junk and the cab floors are pretty rough. The 390 turns over but the 302 is locked up. The bed floor, inner fenders, and lower rear bed corners are rusty on the xlt. I can get both trucks for what I think is a fairly good price. I keep thinking of what I could do. Could I part the second truck out and help recoop some of the costs. Do I just try to get the one running and flip or keep for project? Thanks for the input guys.
'77 302 3 spd long bed wrecked & engine that is locked up vs '76 390 auto short bed & engine that "turns over" anyway. Two totally different setups and unknown issue sets.
If I'm looking for a truck / project for "me" and those are my choices, I'm going for the '76. We already know the '77 needs fenders, likely inner fenders & rad support, radiator, a door, maybe engine too. Reads like the only items on the '77 that will help the '76 is a driver door and hood, maybe windshield, but no indication that it needs them. Yah, the '76 sb is my choice.
If I have space and ability to start parting out trucks, shipping, etc ... then, if price is right and Wife is on board, I get both.
You said the biggest thing. Wife on board. LOL. I can get one in garage but she said she didnt want to look at any trucks outside. I can put the 2nd truck somewhere else for now. This is a take one take both deal. I am thinking start with the "worse" truck in the garage and tear it all down and see what is salvageable. Then get the '76 in and start working on it. I am thinking of a project with me and my son but I already have a '55 and would almost just get the '76 running and try to sell it. I am really looking for a '79 4wd.
Time out, what do you mean "Wife on Board"? You mean yours is NOT already on board? You are married and have a son, what's to get "on board" about? I am only picking on you. Best to get both trucks and have both and one place. DO NOT start getting and hiding other Ford trucks at friends houses. That is how issues start. Like the time I told mine to get down and get her own socket...
Sure paint it all black, what ever you want honey. Happy wife, happy life.
PM sent.
You said the biggest thing. Wife on board. LOL. I can get one in garage but she said she didnt want to look at any trucks outside. I can put the 2nd truck somewhere else for now. This is a take one take both deal. I am thinking start with the "worse" truck in the garage and tear it all down and see what is salvageable. Then get the '76 in and start working on it. I am thinking of a project with me and my son but I already have a '55 and would almost just get the '76 running and try to sell it. I am really looking for a '79 4wd.
If you get the '76 running well, you'll be smiling.
'55 what?
If it's "two or none", if you have the space, your plan reads OK to me.
Any short box has more value, the XLT adds more, the FE adds more. the '77 is just a parts rig so that part is a no brainer, the question is how bad is the rust in the '76 and is it worth trying to restore?
Any short box has more value, the XLT adds more, the FE adds more. the '77 is just a parts rig so that part is a no brainer, the question is how bad is the rust in the '76 and is it worth trying to restore?
From what i can tell the '76 has pretty solid cab. The radiator support shows some rust and the bed has some rust in floor and rear corners and inner wheel wells. My wife is "on board" with me buying them she just said if i couldnt get them all in garage i would have to do something with them. LOL. I already have my 55 f100 in the garage and it cannot go out. I could fit one at a time in there.
Since it sounds like you don't really want them, I'd fix one to flip and sell off any good parts that are left to either fund the '55 or to go find the '79 you want. Pull the parts truck in first, strip it, clean and catalog everything that's sell-able or use-able, then scrap the rest. Then pull in the good truck and fix it up.
You lol, that but depending on if you live in town and have to deal with city ordinances or a HOA? A metal carport can be put up by a install crew in a couple of hours, too include driving the anchors. And than at your leisure you can concrete it, close in the sides and ends (with roll up door) and have another shop in no time. My wife said what ever is on that other side of the back yard fence is fine.
I added a new parts shed and when the red truck came out the garage for good...well I could part it outside and not at least cover it.
You say you really want a 1979 F150 4WD. Don't waste your time, money & effort buying these trucks you found, buy what you really want.
Buy these, a couple of years will go by while you eat rust dust, & you'll be no closer to having what you want. And, most likely, as soon as you buy them, the exact 1979 F150 4WD you want will be for sale, a couple of miles from your home, at a great price. But, you'll have no garage space or money for it, so you'll have to pass on it.
Well I have the trucks at the house now. The '76 I am going to pull seat and carpet out this week and get it pressure washed and cleaned up and in the garage. The owner said that something was going on with the starter either the teeth ground off flexplate or starter or something. Gonna get to checking that out. I know passenger side floor board needs replaced possibly rocker. The cab mount looks good on both sides. The '77 I set it aside for a while. It will probably be more of a parts truck.
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Two totally different setups and unknown issue sets.
