Need Advice
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From: West Coast Rain Forest
Need Advice
I'm going to be looking at a 1979 F250 Camper Special 4X4 with the 351M and 4spd.
Just wondering about anything in particular I should look at for that year of truck.
I already have '85 and '87 full size broncos and I have looked at a few '78/'79 Broncos so I know about the B pillar rust and floor pan etc, etc.
However I don't know about pickups in general or the M class engines.
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated
Thanx
Jim
Just wondering about anything in particular I should look at for that year of truck.
I already have '85 and '87 full size broncos and I have looked at a few '78/'79 Broncos so I know about the B pillar rust and floor pan etc, etc.
However I don't know about pickups in general or the M class engines.
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated
Thanx
Jim
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From: fargo, nd
well... the camper special means its got 1 ton rear suspension... the 351m is actually a pretty decent reliable motor... just got smogged to death so its a bit underpowered- even worse being a 1979- they got catalyetic converters on them... but otherwise it would be a pretty decent truck assuming its in decent shape. if you wanted to swap a 460 into it you could do that too... it just wouldnt meet emissions... but it would bolt up to the tranny... anything else you want to know- ask more specific questions
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From: West Coast Rain Forest
No concern with meeting emmisions as the registered gvw is 5001 kg which makes is smog testing exempt up here.
just wondering if there is any particular places where rust likes to get into the frame or certain things to look for on the engine.
thanks again
just wondering if there is any particular places where rust likes to get into the frame or certain things to look for on the engine.
thanks again
New User
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: East Troy, WI
Tuff questions as we are talking about a truck that is almost 30 years old. Cab mounts, roof and dash board (window leaks). If any of these are rusty, it is most likely a turd. The 351M is a decent motor. You need to advance the cam timing to get any power out of it as it was factory rated at like 140HP. You can also swap the crank and builtup a nice 400 motor with 9:1 compression and work those Cleveland heads a little. My 2 cents.
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Other typical rust areas--
1. Top corner of the windshield where the A pillar meets the cab roof (see my gallery for an example)
2. Rust-through over the rear wheel wells--there is a cavity between the inner wheel well and the bedside that will hold mud and water and is prone to rusting out. (also see my gallery)
3. Another place that holds mud and water is the lower rear bed corner, just ahead of the rear bumper. Both sides of mine had experienced some rust-through (no pics of that, tho) and one side had been repaired with bondo. That one has new metal welded into it now.
1. Top corner of the windshield where the A pillar meets the cab roof (see my gallery for an example)
2. Rust-through over the rear wheel wells--there is a cavity between the inner wheel well and the bedside that will hold mud and water and is prone to rusting out. (also see my gallery)
3. Another place that holds mud and water is the lower rear bed corner, just ahead of the rear bumper. Both sides of mine had experienced some rust-through (no pics of that, tho) and one side had been repaired with bondo. That one has new metal welded into it now.
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