hello all, i just got another 79 f150, short bed 4x4. i was origonally just gonna take the 351m, dana 44hp, 9" rear, 4spd tranny and np20-5 transfer case out and use them all in something else, but im having second thoughts. i kinda want to repair all the rot and keep the whole truck now, im not sure if it is worth it though. both floor pans would need to be replaced, along with both rocker panels, both cab corners, the bottom of both doors, inner fenders and the left side of the firewall is nearly gone.

i have a link to pictures of most here:
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/keyul87/

my biggest concern with this is the fire wall, its a bit hard to see in the pictures, but most of the drivers side is gone. also, the previous owner has tried to patch the floor pans when he owned the truck and those are rotting away. take a look and let me know what you guys think. i havent had much experience with sheet metal work. your input would be greatly apreciated.

thanks

keyul

 

I'd go for it, give it another life.

But if you decide just to take what you need, I'm in desperate need of a new grille and grille gaurd .

 

it certainly would be a great learning experience. the bed needs work too. the previous owner welded in a flat sheet of steele for the bed floor. the tail gate has plenty of holes in it as well as the front of the bed and there are the usual bad spots on top of the wheel wells.

 

i think i'd try and find another cab in better condition,should be plenty of them around,just my opinion,good luck whatever u do

 

I'd second the new cab approach, that's the way to go. You have an awful lot of time getting all that rot patched back right, and after you were done if you didn't blast and reapaint the entire cab it would probably continue to rot away around your patches. If the mechanical part of the truck is worth saving, get a cab, clean it up and get good protection on it, then slap it on and you're worries about that all important part are over...

 

Wow, I would like to put my 65 F100 2X4 on that chassis.

dave

 

unfortunately for right now i dont have muh of a budget to work with, so a new cab may have to wait for some time. in the mean time, i think it would be fun to try and make some new floor pans, cab corners, rockers a new section of firewall. the junk yards around here have nothing older than 90 anymore, one i checked said they dont keep anything past 95 now! so finding just a cab might be tough, but i figure if i can make some new patch panels for this thing and really clean the rot out too, if it lasts that would be great, and if it doesnt, then thats just more time to look for a new cab! plus i wanna have this truck able to go out in the woods by winter time, i miss off-roadin.

 

May want to check your area, I purchased some scrap metal from recycle scrap yard, found the place carries metal of all thickness, shapes, and sizes from 35 to 50 cents per pound. They also carry new stock but did not inquire about prices.

dave

 

how goodof quality was the metal you purchased? did it have rust or any ohther sort of corrosion on it?

 

The couple of metal recycle yards I have visited usually have separate facilities for recyled metal, and another for scrape, or none reusable metal. I found majority of the recycle metal was overstock, with or without surface rust. Other material was used with surface rust, painted, or patrolium based surface film, nothing in yard could not be reused. My most recent project, not started yet, purchased some heavy gage 4" square stock that was free of any rust, paint, etc. but does have a patrolium based film intend washing off before welding. For crossmembers, purchased heavy gage channel stock that is painted, appears they may have been used for industrial storage racks. I cleaned the area that required welding and found no evidence of rust. Probably need to see if recycle shop in your area, if so check it out and see what is available. Recently found a vintage salvage yard where they will cut out any section of truck or car you want, not sure what they cost, may inquire in your area for something simular. May want to est. difference in cost of $50 cab corner or floor pan to the cost of salvaged or recycled metal and time spent cutting and reshaping.

dave

 

thanks for the idea, hadnt thought of that before, ill grab my local phone book this afternoon i am going to a guy today who has some ford parts, getting a few radiators from him, ill see if he has some cabs as well. or if his cabs are bad as well, there stil may be something i could cut out of there and reuse.