For those who didn't see what I did last winter, check my gallery for the latest pictures. This winters work has been centered on the cab and the frame and mechanicals under the cab. Removed the bed again just for ease of getting around the truck, then removed the transfer case and transmission. I disconnected the steering linkage at the gearbox, broke all the cab mount bolts off and one of radiator support mount bolts and then jacked up the rear of the cab about a foot. Oh, I disconnected the upper radiator hose also. Removed the rear cab crossmember and both fwd cab mount perches and had all those parts sandblasted. Both fwd cab mount perches required rebuilding do to rust. The rear mounts were in good shape. With the cab raised as it is I had enough room to clean up the frame and underside of the bed and paint everything. It also made installing the transmission and transfer case a lot easier. I ordered a complete set of cab and radiator mounts from LMC Truck. They are a bit pricey but duplicate the origionals well. It will be interesting to see how much adjusting I will have to do the get everything lined up again with these new mounts. I also ordered a new set of transmission cooling lines from Inline Tube. This is the 3rd set of lines (brake and fuel) I gotten from them and again the fit is almost perfect. So far in this project I've been lucky with the rust. I didn't have to replace any bed parts but I do have to install a new outer rocker panel on the drivers side. I suspect this was caused by spilled liquids over the years getting through the seam below the door. I've always tried to keep the drains open in the cab corners and keep junk from accumulating there. It has paid off as they are still solid.

 

Gary, the truck is looking great..let me know how the parts from LMC work for you, i am thinking about dropping $3000 thier way in exchange for some parts this summer, and would like to know. Congrats on the truck, shes lookin good.
---JOHN

 

Site sponsors that carry parts for your year:

www.autokrafters.com
www.macsautoparts.com
www.broncograveyard.com

Partronizing FTE's sponsors is an excellant way to insure their continued support of this site, and as a result, the continued operation of the site.

 

Ken, do any of our sites sponsors have text catalogs for request? If they do, i would gladly use them this summer....
---JOHN

 

John, Yes. They all have catalogs for the asking. I've used Auto Krafters for bed parts last year and found them OK, although 2 of the bed bolts were too short. I purchased the rebuild kit from Jeff's Bronco Graveyard and some parts for my 9" rear end and found them to be great. I'm thinking of going with Mac's for the outer rocker panel I need to replace this year. I've also used Dennis Carpenter in the past and found their merchendise to be very good although he is proud of his product if you know what I mean.
Gary

 

Gary, Love your truck and pics! I am doing the poor mans resto also. It is nice to see someone doing a truck as nice as possible, but still on a budget. Too many either aren't restored (and there is nothing wrong with that) or are way over the top show rides. I like to see painted undercarriage components, so I am really enjoying your truck. Keep up the good work. Are you going to keep the colors the same? I like how it lends itself to the 70s look. I would do the jade green, but with a budget like mine, Rustoleum hunter green gloss is as good as it gets. Also, did I read correctly that you did the frame in brush on bedliner? I did mine with Rustoleum satin black, but am already sort of regretting it, because it won't be as durable as some of the other products out there. Anyway, keep up the good work, and again, nice to see someone doing a real budget resto. Ted

 

I know Macs and Auto Krafters do. I've order catalogs from them in the past. Not sure on Bronco Graveyard, its not obvious from their web site (maybe I'm missing something?).

 

Colo79,
I ordered the body mount kit from L M C and was actually very disappointed with the product. They had raised the price by twenty bucks and.... two of the retaining nuts that are welded onto the bottom, were welded on crooked, so the only way the bolt would start was cross threaded. Had to pry off the nuts and use my own nuts. Wouldn't have minded if it hadn't cost $180 bucks plus shipping. For that price it should have been spot on.
My resto isn't quite poor mans, even though I am poor, thank god there's enough hours in the week to work two jobs...One for house and family the other for the truck:-)
Take a look at my gallery, I have also painted my frame.
James
Maine

 

Ken,
Do you look for more sponsors? I know National Parts Depot recently released a couple of Ford Truck catalogs, one pre-96, other 96 and up. both have lots of great parts and decent prices. I've been buying mustang parts from them for years, and was kicking myself after spending a bunch of money at LMC just months before NPD's catalogs came out. Rick Schmidt (NPD owner) sponsors a Mustang forum and might be up to sponsoring this one too, especially considering the volume you get here.

 

I don't know if they have a printed copy but you can down load their complete catalogs in pdf format.

http://www.broncograveyard.com/cat/

 

Jeff's Bronco Graveyard has a nice 80 page catalog. If you order something from them they include one in the order. You can download it in pdf format or if that's a problem, call them @ 1-248-437-5060 or 1-248-486-1760.

 

Hmmm I have placed two orders with Jeff's Bronco Graveyard in the last 3 months for over $1100.00. The last order took 2 1/2 weeks to get shipped and then only part of it. I finally had to cancel the last item and buy it locally (front hub and rotor for my '95). No catalog in any of the three shipments.