FBP has the rite idea. if ya want a nice truck try and do the work yourself if ya run into troubles ask some freinds(dont tell anyone what ya got to spend itll go quik then always make it seem like your on a tight budget. big block power is the only real cheap way to go 300-500 hp is pretty easy to obtain.up grade your brakes from a 73-79 disc setup found in most junk yards.same with the power steering.im up to around 3grand in mine and its a blast to drive.thers plenty of help here with the tuff stuff also

 

Wizzard351,

Thanx for your recognition man, I 'preciate it.

I agree with you 100%, on best, way, to have a sweet ride. Plus L.V.-Nev teaches us to hold our cards out of sight & not give them away. I always shop down, that way we can keep it a buyers market. If we just plunk down dead presidents any seller asks 1st time around, then we help to make it a sellers market. They are over priced, IMHO.

I closed my "shop" 5+ years ago & retired. I'd still be building Custom Engineered rides if I found skilled reliable help I could depend on. Seemed all I got were users looking for Sundown & Pay Day, or really skilled folks with all sorts of "problems" that I just didn't care to live or deal with. Substance abuse & radical personality issues are not a part of my business plans, nor is poor quality workmanship, or re-doing jobs, ya know?

I'd have my clientele write up their own concept first, including what they want it for, what they want to be able to do with it, how thay want it to look & finally about how much they 'd like to spend to achieve it. Then we'd start "paring" it down into reality.

For some reason Novices come along with grandiose schemes & dreams which Wow the "Magazine Crowd", but have no practical use. I mean it's alright if a customer wants to build & own a "Trinket", but I'm just not the one for that because I don't care about it. Most clients I dealt with were just folks who want to have a ride they can get in & Drive~ Ride In ~ Enjoy and have Pride in. Not a Riddler Winner, or a NHRA Champ Pro Street, Just a sweet good running great riding/handling, reliable "play toy" ride.

I am a firm believer in displacement + torque = efficiency & performance. I can't get folks to realize they use more fuel & effort trying to pull a lot of weight with a small engine than using a huge engine & really tall gears which large engines pull effortlessly. Of course Tall gears kill small engines and any hope of performance too. Short gears kill small engines also but perform 'til they break, however uneconomically that my be.

FBp

 

if i had 10k i could pay off my '72, fully restore it EXACTLY how i want it, so if you got 10k and money is no prob, my b-day is july 23rd. lol

 

Ford Stranger:

I have about $10,000 in my truck and that includes the $1,000 I paid for it. Mine also came from a family member. I rebuilt the 360 with a little bit of a cam, Aluminum Intake and Holly 4bbl. I have gone through about everything except the rear end and Tranny and that is for this summer. Paint is a Base Coat / Clear Coat. I stayed stock with everything. Shop around and do your homework. The journey with these old dogs is most of the fun. Mine is by no means a show truck but I can tell you every time I fill up with gas (which is quite often) I get positive comments and admirers! Have fun with it.

George

 

We just restored our 1971 F-100 shorty and we have had 10 offers to buy it all over $18000.00 . so as for your truck not being able to acheive a 10 grand note is a farce.

Do some research there are alot of great companies out there that can save you a ton of cash. I would give you a couple of names but I am not sure if they are sponsers or not of this site.

Also if you decide you want to go to your local Autozone and buy these parts there make sure the person behind the counter is not a chevy man ( Dumb *** )

 

I just wanted to say thanks again for all the advice and input I've gotten from everyone. So far I've talked to a few people that know about engines, and they've all suggested rebuilding the engine and putting a larger crankshaft in it before buying a new crate engine. Apparently it's a lot cheaper. I also never realized how much more expensive it is to restore a Ford as opposed to a GM vehicle. I guess you get what you pay for.

I've also been told that it's not really necessary to upgrade the front brakes to disc brakes. I don't know, though....... I drive pretty fast. I usually need to stop fast, too.

 

Ford Stranger, you don't NEED to upgrade to disc, but it does make a difference in the feel and ease of stopping the truck. Upgrading to power as well as disc was significant in feel and effort. Just find a donor 73-79 truck and use this site as a reference. It definitely was worth the money and effort.

 

Take a look at Hemmings it might be of some help

http://www.hemmings.com/

 

Don't worry about the doomsayers saying it will never be worthe 10K!!! Man, I thought I lived in the poverty belt!!!! Mine isn't even done and the 3 offers I've recieved are well over that..

Pete gave you the best advice. I'm semi-retired and still do hot rods for a select clientele...Mostly just guys I've built something for in the past...

Anyway, set a goal and a theme for the truck. Plan what parts, labor, and outside labor you will need to achieve this goal, then get out there and work your plan!!!! The biggest mistake I've seen people make on a build is to NOT stick to a central theme throughout the build.....ie, 20" wheels and rubber band tires with a 70's looking two tone paint and diamond tuck interior... Don't hurry on the project, if you don't have time to do it right, when are you going to find the time to do it over? Order the parts you need well in advance of actually needing them on the build, careful shopping can save you hundreds of $$$$ on the build....

Three things separate a quality build from all the rest; fit, finish, and detail. Nothing looks worse then a done project with $10K in parts on a truck with ill fitting doors and fenders, dinged up trim, wires hanging all over in the cab and under the hood, and a bunch of little things that just don't fit correctly because the builder failed to take the time to fit and adjust carefully.

Be realistic with your expectaions. Don't expect a cheap rebuild on the engine to be a 400 horse ground pounder, and if you do build the 400 horse pounder, don't expect the stock driveline to live very long.

Again, as Pete said, a good plan is the first and probably the most important part of any build project.....

Oh yeah, have fun!!!! Don't put so many hours in the project at the start that you get burned out on it and cobble up the rest of the build or just lose interest and leave it parked at the 1/2 done stage.....

 

Well I know this truck had bids to $11,200 but owner didn't take...and I know its a not a 67 - 72, but done right they can still fetch a dollar. I would love to have this truck.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...6278522&rd=1,1