It was a Ford truck kind of day today. First off, I couldn't start my 76 2wd. I had my magnetic pickup replaced in the distributor a week ago and stopped having no-spark problems. This morning I couldn't start it, and it I narrowed it to no trigger signal coming from the distributor. I think the mechanic I had put the magnetic pickup in, didn't know exactly how to reassemble the distributor. I ended up replacing the distributor with a points distributor I had laying around. I'm using an MSD 6A box, so I can use either type of distributor. By the late afternoon, the points distributor with a fresh curve and points dropped in, and the truck started right up. It's running well again. I've been so frustrated with the intermittencies I've been having with my 2wd, that I've been scoping Craigslist for a 4WD. After a dozen years of having 3 2wd Ford trucks, I'd vowed to myself that if I got another one, it would be a 4X4. So I picked up a 79 F150 Explorer Custom 4X4. It's got a 400 and NP435. I'm assuming it's a NP205 transfer case but I'm gonna have to start identifying components tomorrow. I was told that the differentials are "lockers" and 4.11 gears. I know it drives like it is significantly lower geared than my 2wd. I read somewhere tonight that the F 150 4X4 in 79 would have had 3.55 gears. The engine compartment looks bone stock. It still has Y pipe single exhaust. I'll take pictures tomorrow. I did a bunch of highway/freeway driving to get it home. It steers fairly well. I would like to "center" the steering wheel. Probably typical of the 400 I hear a lot of lifter clatter. I think I also hear the "pff" of an exhaust leak, although it isn't obvious at the exhaust manifolds. It still has a air pump with a belt on it. I also spied a cut rubber hose, that was explained to me had been part of the air pump plumbing. I wonder if I might be hearing the air pump "pfff" away. This truck also has dual tanks. My other dentsides have only had rear tanks. How is this going to effect being able to maybe put on headers and dual exhaust? I'm assuming I'll have to run both pipes down the passenger side and somehow get the drivers side shifted over to the passenger side. 4X4 is new to me. I've only driven a late model F350 in 4X4 (pushing busses and driving in the snow and ice) that utilized an electric switch to go into 4wd. This is a work truck and I only occasionally needed 4x4. What should I know about the old school transfer case, hubs, and differentials?

 

The NP205 case is a part time t-case, if you have this t-case you'll have manual lockouts on your front hubs, it's a gear driven case and much more desirable than the NP203 case which is a full time t-case and chain driven.

 

Decoded the VIN and looked around abit. VIN says I have a 351M. After scraping crud off the valve cover, the engine/emissions/timing decal says it's a 351M. The front differential has a 3:50 stamped on the tin plate as well as D9TA AC and 610067. It does have locking hubs and the Tcase has a shifter that includes 4L N 2H 4H. I tested it briefly. It all seems to work albeit a bit noisy in 4WD. Ordered an intermintent wiper switch as the one in it only works on high speed. Lots of drizzle here in Seattle, looking forward to having delay wipers. I might have to swap the switch in my 2wd if this works. How do I verify I have a NP 205? Is the shifter enough of a confirmation?

 

Yes the shifter is enough, it's a NP205

 

It's a 205. Ford didn't mate the 203's with a 4spd.

 

So I've figured out how to post my pictures. I've installed the 73 grill and bumper I'd saved. I've purchased and installed a pristine 73-79 tailgate with nearly perfect bright strips (in seafoam green). The 79 grill and bumper will appear on the classified ads. I now have two 67-72 style tailgates to sell as well. One is pictured here on the truck. I have had the front brakes rebuilt, the left front U-joint replaced, and new premium Warn locking hubs. I've determined that the front axle is open, and the rear has either limited slip or a locker, not sure which as of yet. If you jack both wheels up, they turn together. I've just taken delivery of a delay wiper switch/modulator box. The passenger side door panel is in great shape, the drivers side is in terrible shape. It has a custom seat which has too much bolster under thighs and sits a bit lower than my stock bench in my other truck. I'm finding it makes my back hurt some. The valve train was making some excessive noise. I had the passenger bank looked at, and shop milled a couple of the rocker stands to tighten up the valve lash. It's less noisy, and now I think the other side needs the same treatment. In a year or two, I suspect I'll be plotting a new engine.

 

If the AXLE code on the Warranty Plate begins with a LETTER, the truck originally had Limited Slip (9" Trac-Lok).

If the AXLE code begins with a NUMBER, no Limited Slip.

This pertains to the rear axle only.

The 4th digit of the VIN is the engine code: 1977/79: H = 351M // S = 400.

 

I'll have to crawl under and see if I can find a tag on the 9". The next three days are going to be my brothers wedding, so no greasy hands until next week. Thanks for the info.

 

first off nice truck, seems like a good buy, and mine started out as a 4x2, but then we found a complete mint rolling 4x4 frame, and thus i am the owner of a 4x4, should be fun when i am done, and it will come in handy come the cold months of winter,

also i always thought it would be cool to put letters on where the 78-79 hood has FORD spelled out, and replace it with BUILT, then have a 73-77 grille that of course spells FORD, then get a license plate, that says TOUGH, now that would be cool,

B U I L T
F O R D
TOUGH

it would make people read it for sure! lol lol even better if BUILT could be made out of metal letters that could be made via a CNC machine, then a simple chrome job, and bingo, it would look stock, and people would scratch there heads?

also you might have to change your name to Old White Truck, or Old Tan Truck, ( i can't tell if its white or light tan?, i guess its a creamy white?, i am always guessing some times between a off white, and a light tan)

-Brent

 

I think I remember seeing that in CL, as I live around the same area. Just the fact that put in your sig you have a B4 VR6 says your alright people.

My other vehicle is a Rado G60.

 

Those pics bring back memories. My first dentside was a 79 F-150 Ranger Explorer 2wd with the same color and stripes,and interior. My Father inlaw bought it brand new. It had dual tanks,tilt,A/C and 460. That was 21 years ago,still miss it. Nice find !

 

sweet truck man... Hope it gives you many years of fun behind the wheel...

 

I'd describe the color as kinda pale yellow. Wife likened it to ****. I still have the Old Brown Truck (in the background in the pictures). When I first came to FTE in 1998, my nickname here was Big Brown Truck. When I tried to log in a couple of monthes ago, I couldn't remember my password or some such thing. I have a long history with that truck and while it would seem logical to sell it now, I'm still kinda attached. It's due another paint job, a straight rear bumper and to have the dent in the side of the bed fixed. I've come to love the 390 it has in it. I really wish I knew how I could swap a 390 into the 4x4. I have another 390 on an engine stand that needs a rebuild w/ an Edelbrock intake/carb, and adjustable rocker arm set. I may use the 2wd in warm weather and use the 4wd in foul weather. I'm seeing prices of dentsides lower right now than ever, so I don't think this is the best time to sell.

 

its yellow, and the other truck is brown,,,,,,,,,, i won't go any further with that one


but in all serious now, i think its as simple as getting a transmission out of a truck that has a 360, and from what i know, it will bolt right up, i don't have as much experience with manuals as some on here, all i know is a 360 c6 would work as a easy swap to get your 390 in the 4x4, but as i can see the 4x4 is manual,

now i would say all you need is a 360 manual transmission and bell housing, and possibly a fly wheel,

i am not sure what transmission you need? as i have limited knowledge of them, i am sure someone on here can point you to a transmission that will bolt up to your 390 and transfercase,

heck i made mine real custom, since the truck used to be 4x2, it came with a rebuilt like new 1971 302w, and i had already got a new edelbrock performer intake and carb, so i said can i make this work, now that i got a rolling 77 F-150 swb 4x4 frame which also came with a NP205?

i do some research, and i find Ford kept the transfercase to automatic transmission bolt patterns the same, all the way up to the early 90s, so with my AOD rebuilt and converted to long tail shaft for 4x4, i went to the wreckers and bought the connector piece, they call it a adapter, and sure enough that early 90s adapter bolted right up to my early 80s AOD, and then with some slight grinding into the adapter, the transfercase shifter cleared, and bolted right up,

i always get heads scratching, they always think you need a 302w c6 to connect it to a NP205, (mind you Ford didn't use the NP205 in the 80s, so it was all blind luck) then i say its a AOD with a '77 NP205, they go really? then i explain

so a lot is possible, i would try to get that 390 into the 4x4, as i am not a fan of the 351m or 400, there alright, but due to a number of factors i would still prefer a 390 any day, or even a late 60s to 1971 302w, (72 the power started dropping every year, due to fuel crisis and smog mods and low compression)

best of luck, i am sure you can get that 390 in there

-Brent

 

Here's what I've read about dentside 4x4's
From the cab forward, the frames are all the same width.
360s are common place in pre 77s
Steering changed mid year 77?*(perhaps only on F250)
Front differential has high pinion on 77-79?

The optimist in me thinks:
Get engine towers from a 73-76 (perhaps even earlier) that had an FE
Get FE bellhousing from 76 and earlier FE
utilize the same NP435/NP205 I have in the truck now

What I worry about:
Input shaft on my tranny being the correct diameter/splines/length
Oil pan.. my 351 has rear sump..... can I get an FE rear sump? does it have to be rear sump?
engine clearance with front diff and driveline.


Any ideas? Anybody ever put an FE in a 78--79 Bronco or F150 all the swap info I see is about swapping to a 385 series motor which I'm not that interested in doing. I'd sooner just rebuild the 351, increase compression, new cam/intake/carb and perhaps build it as a 400.