The plan
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The plan
Hello all,
I've been around the forums for a little while. I got some great info back earlier this year for my first Ford truck. I thought maybe I'd share what's happening in my tiny corner of Ford truck world. Just warning you now that you only need to read on if you've got nothing better to do.
My first Ford truck I bought July '07 for $600. It's a green '86 F150 work special with a 1978 351W, 3spd/OD manual, ext cab, long box, 2wd. Unfortunately the body was rotting away, the tailgate had fallen off, the whole box was junk in fact. There were holes in the cab floor big enough to lose your dog through. The 351 windsor under the hood though was decent, besides a high oil pressure issue. Everything worked well until I neglected to check the rear diff fluid and it overheated and trashed itself. In looking for a parts truck or just another rear axle I came across another Ford truck for $600.
I bought it. A 1984 F150 XLT with a 302, a 3spd/OD, ext cab, long box, 2wd. The body is in better shape, much more salvageable. It has a trac-loc in the rear end and the 302 runs well enough. It did need a fair list of things to safety and that's what I've been working on for the last few weeks as time and weather permits. The previous owner bought the truck new in 1984 and has taken good care of it, but 24 years of Canadian weather take their toll on anything metal. He's emailed me about 3 times so far with extensive info on work he's had done to the truck and maintenance routines he followed. He even sent me a few pics from years ago.
The day he bought the truck in 1984
He had it repainted in the early 90's
This new '84 just has to survive the winter to show he's worthy.
I have a plan and a vision. I figure I can take some parts from the '86 that I need and out of the two build one decent 80's F150. I'm going to clean up the body and frame completely. I even have all new polyurethane body mounting pucks. I'll have him repainted red (right now he's been painted red with a roller) with all the trim blacked out, the big, black push bar will come from the front of my '86. I'll add heavy duty springs or whatever is needed to raise the front a bit. I'm going to start with 31" tires, but what I want is the biggest tire that will still give me full articulation even if I have to go with Bushwacker Cutout fender flares. The 351W will come out of the '86 and will be rebuilt, either just a mild perfomance rebuild or a complete Edelbrock Power Package depending on the funds on hand. Headers into a true dual exhaust with Cherry Bomb glasspack mufflers and blacked out exhaust tips exiting in front of the passenger rear tire on a 45degree slant. Interior wise, all the woodgrain has to go, it's hideous. The plain grey dash panels out of my other truck will take their place. I'll be adding a full stereo system including a 12" sub.
I'll shoot some pictures soon of my driveway, which thankfully, although I live right in town, is long enough to have two F150's jacked up and apart and can still fit my car and a work van.
That's my story, I didn't say it was a good story...
I've been around the forums for a little while. I got some great info back earlier this year for my first Ford truck. I thought maybe I'd share what's happening in my tiny corner of Ford truck world. Just warning you now that you only need to read on if you've got nothing better to do.
My first Ford truck I bought July '07 for $600. It's a green '86 F150 work special with a 1978 351W, 3spd/OD manual, ext cab, long box, 2wd. Unfortunately the body was rotting away, the tailgate had fallen off, the whole box was junk in fact. There were holes in the cab floor big enough to lose your dog through. The 351 windsor under the hood though was decent, besides a high oil pressure issue. Everything worked well until I neglected to check the rear diff fluid and it overheated and trashed itself. In looking for a parts truck or just another rear axle I came across another Ford truck for $600.
I bought it. A 1984 F150 XLT with a 302, a 3spd/OD, ext cab, long box, 2wd. The body is in better shape, much more salvageable. It has a trac-loc in the rear end and the 302 runs well enough. It did need a fair list of things to safety and that's what I've been working on for the last few weeks as time and weather permits. The previous owner bought the truck new in 1984 and has taken good care of it, but 24 years of Canadian weather take their toll on anything metal. He's emailed me about 3 times so far with extensive info on work he's had done to the truck and maintenance routines he followed. He even sent me a few pics from years ago.
The day he bought the truck in 1984
He had it repainted in the early 90's
This new '84 just has to survive the winter to show he's worthy.
I have a plan and a vision. I figure I can take some parts from the '86 that I need and out of the two build one decent 80's F150. I'm going to clean up the body and frame completely. I even have all new polyurethane body mounting pucks. I'll have him repainted red (right now he's been painted red with a roller) with all the trim blacked out, the big, black push bar will come from the front of my '86. I'll add heavy duty springs or whatever is needed to raise the front a bit. I'm going to start with 31" tires, but what I want is the biggest tire that will still give me full articulation even if I have to go with Bushwacker Cutout fender flares. The 351W will come out of the '86 and will be rebuilt, either just a mild perfomance rebuild or a complete Edelbrock Power Package depending on the funds on hand. Headers into a true dual exhaust with Cherry Bomb glasspack mufflers and blacked out exhaust tips exiting in front of the passenger rear tire on a 45degree slant. Interior wise, all the woodgrain has to go, it's hideous. The plain grey dash panels out of my other truck will take their place. I'll be adding a full stereo system including a 12" sub. I'll shoot some pictures soon of my driveway, which thankfully, although I live right in town, is long enough to have two F150's jacked up and apart and can still fit my car and a work van.
That's my story, I didn't say it was a good story...
