Hi guys. I’m looking for some advice.

Several months ago I spent $500 and bought a ’77 F100 with a 302 purely as a part-time, beat-around, haul-off-the-trash truck. The last time I tried to crank it (2 weeks ago) it would not start. Even so, I would have to say that it runs, but has a lot of problems and is in pretty darned rough condition. Since I wasn’t looking for a regular usage ride, I thought it was a pretty decent deal. Now I need to decide if I should invest more into it or not.

Here is a list of the things I know are wrong with it:
1) I suspect the engine needs to be rebuilt because it blows smoke that is (I am told) most likely oil, burns oil, when cranking and the radiator cap is off, water erupts rather violently from the radiator (there is a new themostat in there – done it myself), is rather hard to crank when cold – takes a long time, and it appears it blew a freeze plug last week – water all ran out.
2) Very loose steering (tried tightening quite a lot, but still has ~25 degrees of play)
3) Keyswitch electrical is all messed up and about half bypassed.
4) Only about ¾ of the dash electrical is currently working
5) The alternator seems to not work – have to charge the battery regularly
6) One of the rear shock mounts (on the frame) has broken off, so there is no shock on the one side
7) Needs new tires
8) Interior is very rough
9) Bed is severely rusted out
10) No tail gate
11) Passenger’s window crank is broken
12) The body isn’t in too bad of shape, but I feel sure that a fair amount of shade-tree body work has been done by previous owners

Based on all this, my questions are these:
1) Does it sound to you all like I need to rebuild the engine? And if so, ow much should I expect to spend (don’t really have the time or know-how to do it myself) or would it make any sense to buy a rebuilt engine and swap? How much $?
2) Does anyone have some rule-of-thumb they use to decide the break-even value of fixing something like this?
3) Or should I just try to sell it.

I know it is hard to judge a truck’s condition with so little to go on, but any comments would be appreciated.

 

Takoga,
sounds like you have a real project with your 77!If you pay someone to repair that truck to dependable ride you are going to spend alot of money,also if you do ALL the repair work yourself you'll spend a fair amount of money.
Remember that working on these old trucks requires patience and a love to do the job.There is no good break even point when you consider time and effort.
tjh

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Feb-02 AT 04:26 PM (EST)]1)A Blown head gasket causes the coolant to blow out of the rad Violently.
2)Burns oil> Valve seals &/or guides,Worn Piston rings.

Pretty well all the other stuff is an easy fix as long as you have the time and energy.



Dennis



Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"


78 F-150 429CJ,Silver
w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon

 

Wow, I thought my truck was in rough shape when I bought it. If the body is in fare condition I'd say keep it and do the work, although it will require a lot of your own labor and significant financial cost. The good part is that once it's back to good shape you can depend on her for a long time, as long as you keep her up. My biggest problem was that my truck had been neglected for years and everything that could be worn was/is...luckily I have a 300 and it just keeps on turning. If the body is in really tough shape - rusted floor boards and cab corners, you might want to think about buying another truck and using the one you have now as a parts donor...
The steering part shouldn't cost more than a few hundered and some hours of yours tearing it apart, little things like the broken shock can be welded for next to nothing, electrical is usually cheap too - just have to be able to read the diagrams, the engine will be the most costly and maybe best to find a local mechanic (always get a second opinion) and have him tear out the 302, personally I'd go to a 300 or up to a 351W. This site is great for hard to find information and good tips. Expect to build up a cache of tools too. A lot of these jobs require special tools - but not near as bad a younger truck design would be. I guess it depends on what you want from the truck and how many weekends the wife / girlfriend will let you work on it before the squaking starts

 

You bought it as a beater/work truck. I would keep it that way. I wouldn't mess with the engine. Just go buy another beater car where the engine runs good and drop it in. Put the word out, and I bet somebody has an old thunderbird, ltd, cougar, mustang sitting in their backyard that will run and they will get rid of cheap. I never have problems finding old Ford vehicles sitting around waiting to be scavenged. I bought a 79 cougar for the 351w for $200.00. It runs surprisingly good and I put it in my 1980 f150 (had to rebuild the fuel system from sitting). I just sold the c4 out of it for $50.00. My truck was like yours till I eventually found a decent bed for it.

I drove it around along time rusted out and an oldtimer told me I had a "happy truck". I said why do you say that? He said because it's so rusted, waves to you as it goes by.

 

if you need the truck for more than a beater id fix it otherwise id just use it as is until it falls apart. the main question for rebuilding the engine and truck is do you have the time, patents and money to do it your self, or even more money to have some one else do it? and what do you need the truck for? if u need it just for a once in a while beater, id leave it alone. if u want it for more id fix it up alittle. just do an engine swap and change the bed. glass is easy to find in salvage yards, so are tailgates and maybe the odd bed