restore question
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 592
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From: BC, Canada
Surprisingly easy to take off the body, although I haven't taken the cab off yet. The front clip is held on by 10 bolts I think, and the box by 8. Get a couple friends and you can have them off in a few hours, depending on the level of rusty bolts etc.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by f150 1979
im goin to pull my 351m out of my 78 f150 and was wondering how hard it is?
my other question is how hard is it to pull the body off of a 78?
thanks
my other question is how hard is it to pull the body off of a 78?
thanks
What is your goal? Meaning what is the purpose of pulling the motor, the body. Are you doing a complete restoration? Cleaning and painting the frame right now? Just want to see what it looks like in pieces? Fixing floorboards and cab mounts?
If your just pulling the motor and want the front off, it's not that much more work once you are ready to pull the motor. Some wires and some bolts. Once you have the front off, the cab is a breeze. Linkage (steering and shift/clutch) and levers if it's a manual tranny and/or 4x4. Sometimes it's better to pull the body off in one piece, sometimes it's better to pull the front, then the cab. Depends on what you are doing. Examples are, if you are grafting in a motor/drivetrain from something else and need a bare frame for installation/alignment, pull the cab and front as one. If you are doing a resto, or paint job, most importantly with a color change, pull the body off in pieces.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Sussex
when i took my cab off. I took the whole front clip off and the engine out. All that was left in the frame was the steering gear, and the transmission. I used a tractor with forks on it to lift it off. I put two tow straps under the cab and lifted them up. That made it super easy. I have a friend who did his with a bobcat. The tractor has more of a reach, though.
I suppose you don't have to take the entire front clip off, but I think you could end up twisting something, since the radiator support holds part of it up, and it will be gone, or at least not sitting on the frame anymore. I think that would be too much weight hanging off the front for the few bolts holding it on in the back.
Just my two cents.
I suppose you don't have to take the entire front clip off, but I think you could end up twisting something, since the radiator support holds part of it up, and it will be gone, or at least not sitting on the frame anymore. I think that would be too much weight hanging off the front for the few bolts holding it on in the back.
Just my two cents.
