I am buying a 95 F150 4.9 5spd Long bed regular cab 2WD for my best friends Dad as a thanks you for all the years he has supported me. It has 124K miles and has no rust around the wheel wells! Talked him down to $450. I would like to do a build thread instead of reposting every time I have a question, is this alright with the moderators?
He is a middle aged guy who has to drive a mini van to the tech high school he works at, I am looking to make this a comfortable smooth, good looking ride. It has they gray bumper and plastic grille so I plan to replace those with chrome ones. Then basic tune up stuff:
-plugs, wires, cap and rotor.
-oil and filter
-flush coolant
-gear oil
-radius arm bushings
-bjs and tie rod ends if needed
Anything else?
Upgrades:
-New seat, prolly out of 97+
-50 series flowmasters, full exhaust(work in shop)
-herculiner
-new nice looking not extreme tires.
-Paint frame/suspension with por15
-coldair

Have any other suggestions?
Im looking to keep it around $3000 total
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

A nice stereo, Maybe a nice set of wheels if it doesnt have the nice Polished ones already. Thats nice what your doing for him.

 

Sounds like a lot of good ideas i like the sound of a good stereo and whatever you want to add to it that you like for example those nice headlight taillights

 

Oh yeah one of my friends is a sound guy, he said he would do the stereo for me, it has steel five spokes, I might give him the wheels from my truck and take the steel ones cause I dont care as much.

 

fuel filter
pcv valve
air filter
crankcase breather filter
Check belt and hoses
Check bearings and brakes

Second the radio and or speakers, nothing too loud or fancy just better sounding, the stock speakers dry up fast.

Almost forgot: check the m50d there is an article on this site, for the plugs leaking. It is at the top of the tranny. Replace transmission fluid and redo the plugs if necessary. Also, you could change clutch and break fluid if it has been sitting or you have doubts.

 

Shocks
BFG Longtrails or Ruggedtrails

Most of the items suggested
will get you to your budget in a hurry.

It will be well worth it.

 

Yea, humm what else? Maybe a huge box to put it in, so he doesnt know lol.

 

Yeah, thanks for the suggestions, I will post pics when I go pick up the truck.
I also get a good discount at local shops 25-30% so that will take the edge off most of the small stuff.

Edit: are there any worth while mileage upgrades? What do you guys think this will get in town?

 

sounds like it will be a really nice "payback" gift. This must be one heck of a guy!

 

Projector head lights, Billit grill, and euros. Another think you can do is simple like 30% tint. I got that on my truck and everyone likes it. Since your painting the truck, maybe find a cowl or raim air hood for cheap and throw it on, or a roll type or hard tauno

 

Those lights look stupid! My personal opinion, they only go with certain colors, i had them on my brake lights, I HATED them. Id say keep the regular headlghts and get the clear directional lights ifanything.

Try that Engine Restore stuff, put it in your oil. It works wonders! Woke my engine right up!

 

i would suggest a leveling kit or small lift, esp since its a 2wd.

 

If the link works it shows the style of projectors that I have... I think they look good, Chrome would be better

 

Im not a fan of any euro lights, except clear, I dont think any lift because we are talking about a middle aged school teacher, plus we want the mileage are high as we can, gas is already around 320 here. I like billet grilles but presonally only on trucks with a chrome trim around the grille(not this generation). The engine restore sounds like a good idea. I want thinking about the trim along the side of the truck and the chrome fend trim that came on the lariat or xlt models?

 

HAHAHA your from Lynn? I have friends from marblehead, Salem and Lynn, most of who I race Dh with. Strange area imo maybe I'll see your truck next time we are up there.