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Ladies and Gentlemen I have 2 choices to pick a truck from.
Both are 1977 and both are missing Heat and AC.
The black one has a 351m engine and needs a drivers front fender and has some waves in the bedsides but no rust issues from I was told.
The second one has a 408 Stroker, lifted, and has no rust issues from I was told as well.
Both run and drive and are "dependable" both have decent interiors as well.
The black one will need a fender, lift kit, paint, heat/ac and has the smaller motor and its only 2.5 hours away.
The brown one has the bigger motor, needs paint, heat/ac and of course is a little more expensive but only by about 500 bucks and its 7 hours away.
Let me know your thoughts, I personally like the brown one but I have a few more questions for he seller.
Neither one would be on my radar, but the black one looks like there's hope for it. the brown, or woodgrain or whatever that mess is supposed to be looks way too kiderized and you can expect the mechanical to be as sloppy as the cosmetics.
I've been looking all over here where I'm at within 250 mile radius and these two are in my price range at the moment and there really isn't any others available.
without knowing your abilities, body, mechanical, and such, it would be tough to answer your question.
BUT on the stroker one..
Who built the stroker engine. a clean experienced machine shop or in a barn with sandy floor??
Who installed the lift, are the pinion angles correct, brake lines correct length, springs and shocks correct and much more..
seems like the other one could be evaluated much easier with a little knowledge of these old trucks.
without knowing your abilities, body, mechanical, and such, it would be tough to answer your question.
BUT on the stroker one..
Who built the stroker engine. a clean experienced machine shop or in a barn with sandy floor??
Who installed the lift, are the pinion angles correct, brake lines correct length, springs and shocks correct and much more..
seems like the other one could be evaluated much easier with a little knowledge of these old trucks.
Agreed, I was hesitant on the Black one due to the 351M engine is all. I am mechanically inclined, grew up on farm working on tractors and machinery and I am a helicopter mechanic by trade. I know my way around old vehicles pretty good so I am not worried too much about the mechanical stuff aside from rebuilding an engine in my garage, I would either buy a crate motor or have it rebuilt by a reputable shop.
Agreed, I was hesitant on the Black one due to the 351M engine is all.
The 351M was just never intended by Ford to be a high performance option like a Boss 302, 351C, and the several others. It was intended to fit the smog days and always came with a 2 barrel carb. I've had one since 1986, same one. Mild bolt ons, stock block except torque grind cam. A 460 would not have treated me any better. It's a truck,not a race car. I don't tow loaded up race car trailers with it either. Even on a 70 mph interstate which I tend to avoid with any of my several, 55-65 suits me.
The 351M was just never intended by Ford to be a high performance option like a Boss 302, 351C, and the several others. It was intended to fit the smog days and always came with a 2 barrel carb. I've had one since 1986, same one. Mild bolt ons, stock block except torque grind cam. A 460 would not have treated me any better. It's a truck,not a race car. I don't tow loaded up race car trailers with it either. Even on a 70 mph interstate which I tend to avoid with any of my several, 55-65 suits me.
So you're saying the 351m isn't necessarily a bad engine just not really designed for running down 75 mph highways and pulling heavy leads then? I'm not against the 351m as I could always swap it to a 351w or a 400 later if I went with the black truck.
Basically I need a driver to and from work (15 miles round trip) and can haul stuff from lowes or home depot from time to time while I build and work on it.
So you're saying the 351m isn't necessarily a bad engine just not really designed for running down 75 mph highways and pulling heavy leads then? I'm not against the 351m as I could always swap it to a 351w or a 400 later if I went with the black truck.
Basically I need a driver to and from work (15 miles round trip) and can haul stuff from lowes or home depot from time to time while I build and work on it.
Swapping to a 351W would not be so easy .... but a 351M and a 400 share everything except pistons and crankshaft. I built my home hauling materials. I've driven the old truck on camping trips and to far away places to get motorcycles, etc. Geared for it, 351Ms are fine at 75, but my truck is a 4wd not so sleek, non aerodynamic brick like block with two solid axles, no overdrive in the automatic transmission, 3.50 gearing, & just 31" tires. I have a newer '07 truck and 4 cars, including a GT. The only vehicle I enjoy running 75 in is our 2001 Mercury GM if on a Texas or Wyoming like highway. As a Trooper for over 30 years ... I long ago learned that speed doesn't add enjoyment.
351Ms will pull heavy loads, but guys now a days want to haul *** while doing it. I see locals with trucks pulling 3 or more mowers on a steel tandem axle trailer gagging it full throttle. I never get in a hurry when loaded.
I would pass on both, I think. The brown one definitely looks to have misalignment between track bar and drag link, which doesn't give me much hope for a well put together "408 Stroker". An assumption, but just based off my experience. The black one appears to have a bed swap (absence of racetrack trim on the bed), and generally quick and dirty satin paint jobs hide a multitude of sins. If you are desperate and they are not too far off they may be worth a look, but I don't trust anything a seller says without verifying in person.
I would look for one with as little rust as possible, and as unmolested as possible. Where are you located?
Swapping to a 351W would not be so easy .... but a 351M and a 400 share everything except pistons and crankshaft. I built my home hauling materials. Geared for it, 351Ms are fine at 75, but my truck is a 4wd non sleek, non aerodynamic block with two solid axles, no overdrive in the automatic transmission, 3.50 gearing, & just 31" tires. I have a newer '07 truck and 4 cars, including a GT. The only vehicle I enjoy running 75 in is our 2001 Mercury GM if on a Texas or Wyoming like highway. As a Trooper for over 30 years ... speed just doesn't add enjoyment.
351Ms will pull heavy loads, but guys now a days want to haul *** while doing it. I see locals with trucks pulling 3 or more mowers on a steel tandem axle trailer gagging it full throttle. I never get in a hurry when loaded.
First, thank you for your service, secondly I wouldn't be trying to go fast myself, I enjoy the cruise lol. The black truck didn't seem too bad really other than the 351m (which I might be past now) but a fender, paint, lift, wheels/tires, and drive it ya know.
I am also wondering what it would take to swap to a 460, would the transmission and all that still mount up the same? I am assuming a BBF will require a completely different transmission.
I would pass on both, I think. The brown one definitely looks to have misalignment between track bar and drag link, which doesn't give me much hope for a well put together "408 Stroker". An assumption, but just based off my experience. The black one appears to have a bed swap (absence of racetrack trim on the bed), and generally quick and dirty satin paint jobs hide a multitude of sins. If you are desperate and they are not too far off they may be worth a look, but I don't trust anything a seller says without verifying in person.
I would look for one with as little rust as possible, and as unmolested as possible. Where are you located?
I agree with trying to find one mostly unmolested for sure, I am in Alabama and anything "decent" is at least 12 hours or more away from me right now. I have asked the seller of the black one if the bed has been swapped and for any photos of "before" he did anything to it. I do think in terms of unmolested trucks between the two the black one is def more stock than the brown one. As for the alignment on the brown one I could not say as its over 7 hours away from me. But, the black one is only 2.5 hours away.
Pass on both. The lifted one screams frustration, trouble, money pit but hey that's just me. Any statement of "No rust" by a seller must be verified with own eyes. The definition varies wildly in the hobby.
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Neither one even has heat? 
Really?
I see locals with trucks pulling 3 or more mowers on a steel tandem axle trailer gagging it full throttle. I never get in a hurry when loaded.
