78 Ford Stepside
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From: Wingo, Ky
78 Ford Stepside
Most of you have read my earlier posts about trying to find a truck to work on. Well recently I came across a 1978 Ford Ranger Stepside. The truck has a 4speed, and is 4wheel drive, with good tires and aluminum wheels. It does not have a motor. The guy wants 300 dollars for it. I have a 460 that I can put in it. If I am correct arent stepsides more valuable than a styleside? I use to have one but sold it and have always wanted another one, I think I have fell on top of a miracle to find this truck. The truck is not painted but the body is dent free and rust free except a little bit on the floor panels. The floor of the bed is wood, did some come like that or did somebody do it like that? Also I was wondering what style of rear bumper looks best on a stepside?
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
Snap it up. IF the body is cherry, you are stealing that truck from him. I have no clue what bumper looks best on the stepsides. I have a stepside bed on my crewcab without a bumper so I will be watching this thread for ideas. The bed in my truck is (was) wood, but it is completley rotted out. My guess is they were factory wood.
Carpenter Local 745
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: on da beach
Buy the truck!
The original bed was wood with the retaining straps, was this way until the composite beds took over.
The original bumper was the C channel type and is the best looking to me.
The step type bumper looks to bulky to me.
The bumper was just alittle longer than the tailgate and ended at about the outside of the tailights.
The original bed was wood with the retaining straps, was this way until the composite beds took over.
The original bumper was the C channel type and is the best looking to me.
The step type bumper looks to bulky to me.
The bumper was just alittle longer than the tailgate and ended at about the outside of the tailights.
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From: North Reading Mass
Check the VIN and find out what engine was in there. The 460 won't bolt up to the tranny if a 300 6 or small windsor V-8 came out.
This style truck looks great good luck
regards
rikard
This style truck looks great good luck
regards
rikard
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From: Wingo, Ky
Originally Posted by rikard
Check the VIN and find out what engine was in there. The 460 won't bolt up to the tranny if a 300 6 or small windsor V-8 came out.
This style truck looks great good luck
regards
rikard
This style truck looks great good luck
regards
rikard
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From: Wingo, Ky
Well I went to look at the truck 2day. The owner wasent there so I only looked at it from a distance. One day when I catch the owner there I will give it a good look over. But as the owner had said the body is pretty good on it. In the earlier post I wrote that the owner said it is a 78, well it might be a 78 frame but it has a 67-72 model body on it. Does that make it anymore valuable? Either way I still want this truck and I hope I catch the owner in the next few days.
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Posting Guru
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From: North Reading Mass
Well if you have a 460 it should fit. One other area to check is rust on the cab mounts. If their rusty it will be much easier to replace before putting the engine in. Yes the bed was originally wood. My buddy had a 79 PU and replaced the wood with oak.
regards
rikard
regards
rikard
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2007
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The beds were originally wood. You can either buy a kit, or save the pieces and make you own if you are skilled with woodworking tools. The rear bumber was a C- channel as mentioned above. I believe 5" C-channel. Also easy enough to fabricate out of aluminum or steel.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: west central florida
Originally Posted by masterbeavis
Snap it up. IF the body is cherry, you are stealing that truck from him. I have no clue what bumper looks best on the stepsides. I have a stepside bed on my crewcab without a bumper so I will be watching this thread for ideas. The bed in my truck is (was) wood, but it is completley rotted out. My guess is they were factory wood.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
Buzzbait, its not much to look at, and I doubt its factory.
Dustin: The only advantage I can see to having older sheetmetal on a newer frame/drive train is parts availability, and hopefully less hard miles and neglect.
Dustin: The only advantage I can see to having older sheetmetal on a newer frame/drive train is parts availability, and hopefully less hard miles and neglect.
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