Long story short, I have a 84 f-150 Just rebuilt the motor and rear end bout 7 months ago. The body is becoming more of a problem with rust (gotta love MI weather) and the suspention is still stock. Im trying to find some sites besides autotrader or ebay (already checked those) to find a truck my 302 will fit in. Im looking for a rust free or atleast just surface rust truck with no motor/dead motor. You guys and girls have any sites to suggest? Or do you think its a waste of money to try such a indever? I love my truck and want another f-150 just cant afford a new one Thanks for any help/info


Alpine

 

I am somewhat in the situation you are in. But after looking, I am finding most trucks are in the same shape mine is in. If you do find a nice truck, it's usually a 2wd, very well kept with a nice motor and drivetrain, and has a steep price.

So I have resolved myself to keep patching. I bought brand new front fenders. They have held up well and are a good investment. I bought half of a frame from the junkyard, robbed all the braces out of it to replace mine. Painted the frame up and installed the braces. I have patched the cab for now, and a bedliner has covered up some of the rust so I can use the bed.

These have all been little projects over several years when I had the time, a little money, and didn't need the truck. That's my worst problem. I cannot have my truck down for very long, because something always comes up and I need it.

 

I think Franklin 2 has the right idea. I would think about stripping the truck down. Have the FRAME & SUSPENSION metal parts powder coated. Then have the cab repaired & painted have bedliner applied to the under side. The same with the fenders, hood, and bed. That would give a life long truck. With the truck you have you already know what you have. Buying another even rust free it will only be a matter of time before your at the same place.

 

just a idea, maybe instead of finding a good bodied truck minus the motor, try to find a cheap beater to drive around in for a while and patch up your good truck.

kind of the same winter situation around here, Iowa winters love to eat ford trucks. during the winter i back my 96 into the garage and throw the cover over it. i drive my beaters around in the winter and bring out the good truck when it gets nice out.

 

I will be dismantling this Texas southern truck in two months time. You can have the body and chassis. I have no need for it. It will be sitting on scrap wheels and tires. Come haul it away............
No engine, No Trans, No Carrier, No cluster, Has new A/C evaporator and heater core that will stay with truck. Power brake Booster is about 5 years old. Has recent power steering box, and recent radius arm bushings. This truck will not have a radiator or anything forward of that, nor all the electronics. I will not cut any wires if somebody wants this body and chassis, but I need some of the under dash and engine compartment wire harness. This is a freebie...

Here is the link:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...?albumid=26725

 

Hey 82f1507.5, where are you at? I need that truck. Let me know something!

 

I'm near Houston about 16 miles south west (I-10 or 59 as the crow flies)

 

Just a backup plan suggestion. You can also watch for police impounds or check the local papers, call garages etc for dead beat vehicles. A lot of people abandon a vehicle with a bad tranny or motor when they find out how much it will cost to repair it.

When I was doing my 2WD to 4x4 conversion, I found an impound that had been parked too long due to a blown head gasket stranding the truck. The guy finally got it out, took it to a shop to have it fixed then couldn't afford it. I bought the truck for $300. Interior was rough, motor had a bad head but had new radiator, water pump and stuff (Looked like he tried changing everything but bad head). I took the 4x4 suspension and tranny, gave away the gauge cluster tach to a guy here on this forum, gave the motor, wiring harness and my old 2WD tranny to a friend for his project car, the wkeels and tires wennt to a friends trailer and I stripped the rest for spare parts. Took the carcass to a junk yard. There wasn't a speck of rust on it and they will likely get a lot of use out of it themselves.

Anyway, there are tons of abandoned vehicles. You just have to call around and have patience.

Good Luck,

Lee