This is my first post here, and am pretty excited to share my new project. I was recently given an 81 f150 custom, 302, stepside, and 4sp manual. I really like the truck but it needs a little work. The motor is the worst part so that is where I am starting. The bed is next, if anyone knows where to get a regular bed to replace the stepside I would love to know about it.

So here is where I am at with the motor, I just got some gt40 heads, looking to get some long tube headers(don't know which ones to get), the summit 4400 cam, an intake, and a holley 570 cfm carb, along with a complete rebuild. I probably won't bore over any just because of money, unless it looks real bad in there. So hopefully in the next week or two I will be tearing the motor out and starting. Any suggestions for the build? I could use a new clutch, what is the model of my trans? Thanks alot guys, really looking forward to driving this thing.

 

i got my box off craigslist. I haven't seen the condition of your box, but if you want to keep it and restore it, i'd get my parts from lmc truck. I'll just toss this out there just cause, but in my opinion anything bigger then the I6 is a waste. They aren't a racing engine but they are indesctructible and produce alot of low-end torque(well, more then that 302 ever will). Just my 2 cents.

 

It's not a Chevy Stepside, it's a Ford Flareside and is a sought after body style.

I wouldn't change it.

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

Well the bed is in pretty rough shape, probably going to take quite a bit to get it fixed up. I will look into LMC. I'm not looking at making the 302 a racer, just have enough power to get around and pull a small trailer with a lawn mower to my dads. Point taken on the flareside, every time I say step side to an older feller they always correct me but I haven't seemed to quit saying it.

 

We gotta keep trying ...

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

Sounds awesome man! Hope the build goes good for you.