Well I sort of lucked into a donor for my 1965 F100.

Awhile back I mentioned to my neighbour (also a Ford guy) that I wanted to upgrade my truck with power steering and power disc brakes,
maybe swap out the 6 cyl I have in it.

Only problem is that I didn't know of any 1973-1979 Ford trucks around that I could get parts from.

Turns out he has a 1979 F150 that he wasn't too sure about selling or keeping.

Well eventually he decides to sell,
I have to make an offer (sight unseen),
so I tell him that I have no idea what it would be worth (as I really didn't since it was sight unseen),
he says $100.00 delievered.
Well, what to do, what to do....... Heck Yes!

So the day arrives when the truck shows up,
I got a 1979 F150 Ranger XLT to use as a "Parts Truck",
Kind of a pitty really but I can use alot of the other items in my 1979 F250 4X4 project,
so it all works out really.
I'm told it has a 460 under the hood, upon further looking (and checking casting codes),
I actually have a 1972 429 Police Intercepter! (explains the "car" style oil pan but how nice is that)

I get all my power steering bits, tilt steering column,
all my power disc brakes bits (has a new master cylinder & booster already), and a big block/C6 combo.
Not a bad deal at all.

Now all i have to do is figure out how to swap in the tilt steering column,
figure out the wiring and actually transfer over all the items to upgrade my 1965 F100.

Pics of the "Donor"
www.supermotors.org/vehicles/registry/detail.php?id=12000&s=34982#content

 

Wow..lol
thats some good luck if I ever seen it. Have fun moddin, and let us know how its all going. (still trying to figure out what im doing with mine....decisions decisions )

Rick

 

Are you sure there is not a lost zero here. That just is not realistic unless the guy was smoking crack. That thing looks like it would make a heck of a good work/driver as is! Great going if thats the real DEAL....

 

That's the "Real Deal"!
I figured he might want somewhere around $400.00 - $500.00 for it,
and I wasn't expecting delievery either.
Yet he told me what he figured was resonable (maybe his wife was on his case about too many toys or something, I don't know),
who am I to argue about it.

Either way, I have my "bill of sale" and now it is registered in my name,
so no going back now.

I thought it had a 460 under the hood (as that is what I was told),
it just didn't look right for some reason (maybe it's the "car" style oil pan).
So I started looking at the casting numbers and found out it isn't a 460 after all.

I doubt that he knows/knew what was under the hood,
I almost feel bad for getting the deal, ALMOST!

I haven't even started to take anything off of the truck,
can't bring myself to rip apart a Ranger XLT truck as of yet.

 

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but those D2VE-AA heads are not Police Interceptor heads. They are, in fact, the least desireable head performance-wise that came on a 460. The are an open chamber design yeilding lower compression. The cylinder heads that you want for performance are C8VE, C9VE, D0VE or better yet the SCJ/CJ head which is D0OE-R (very hard to find).

 

I'm going to have to say "OOOPS!"
I guess the old saying "Too Good To Be True" really applies with this then, dang!

Well at least I got a good running big block and a good working C6,
and all the other items for my swap at a decent price.

Guess I won't feel to bad when it comes time to rip the donor truck apart.

Thanks for the info on the performance cylinder heads.

 

Super good deal what a steal ford a decently good truck yeah it sure will make a good parts truck

 

Dragon22, I didn't post on this yesterday but you got the deal of the month, my friend. IMHO you need to start planning and selling parts that you can't use to raise some capitol.

My recommending that you freshen the engine/tranny, clean the chassis and move your exsisting sheetmetal on to the new chassis.

This way you don't loose the use of your truck until it's time to make the move over. I think I might try moving the cab/front clip in one piece then the bed, and drive a different pickup over a weekend.

John

 

Thanks for the recommendation.
The engine runs very well,
it has 22in/lbs of vac at idle so I figure it to rather strong at the moment.

I do plan to change the intake and carb combo to some aftermarket items eventually, same with the exhaust.
The C-6 will get a once over and a shift kit installed also.

As for the chassis swap,
Is it really the better way to go?
Seems to me that the wheelbase is different, wondering how it would look after all that work.....

I can see it from the point that everything is already attached to the frame,
but does it all look correct after all has been swapped over,
can anyone point me to a pic or 2?

I'm not worried about down time with this project,
it is my toy, not my main transportation.

Any and all help is apprieciated.

 

I have not done myself, but FBpete has. Remember everything from the rear cab mount forward is the same, and the gas tank is already between the frame rails. I want to do one and think because I have pulled sheetmetal, it could be a better choice than moving items under a current truck, which I have done.

Choose the method that you are most comfortable with.

John

 

I know I late to post but, man that donor is better than my daily driver; I guess my no luck will continue to run through me only.. lol. Great find, I like a site unseen that comes out smelling like performance upgrades....

Mitch