I have very mechannicaly sound 78 F150 4x4. However, the body is just gone midwestern. I mean it's a rust bucket.. The cab isn't SO bad, but I will be replacing the bed with a wooden-style stake bed, since the tailgate is the only thing holding it together.

My question is this:

Should I try and hunt down a good condition used cab? Does anybody know where I can get a NEW refab cab? (I have seen new cabs for $400 less doors and front clip and intereior, but I can't find them anymore..)

Or should I try to weld up new panels? The floor pan is gone from about 5 inches below the fuse block all the way back to the rear stepping for the rear body mounts, and the body mounts area isn't soo hot either. The back of the cab just kinda flaps in the wind where it connects to the fllor pan, and the only other horrible area is the door frames. The previous owner put really shotty welds on some plates around the bottom of the frames, and if you lift the weather stripping at the bottom you can see right through to the ground. But it has new doors and a good dash and a sunroof =-)

What would you guys recommend I do? I don't have alot of money at the moment ($300 a month for insurance and only being 18 will do that), but do have plenty of places to do this work and also an alternate vehicle while I work on this one.. It alrady got a new rear end and gas tank..

Thanks much,

Matt

 

Matt- for what's it's worth, Iv'e been thru this with a 64 cab and it's NO fun. Try anything to get a rust free or nearly rust free cab if yours is that bad. It will save you so much aggravation it's worth the price. Western/Southern cabs are available just look around. Iv'e dealt with a source from Oklahoma and had good luck. I don't know where you are, but he'll deliver to the midwest if needed. Write to Jerry at, partsman1(No Email Addresses In Posts!), and see if he can help you.He specializes in truck parts.
Best of luck to you, Phil ( Indiana )

 

Matt just keep on looking. You may need to buy the whole truck to get what you need and you can part out the rest. I have bought 5 trucks for parts and have sold parts, until I don't have any cost in my parts.

John

 

Matt it looks like Strawboss has what you are looking for in the Bluegrass state.

 

I live in Milwaukee, WI...

How would one even go about shipping a cab or entire truck?

I got my insurance down to ~$120 a month so I found myself having more money =-)

Thanks,
Matt

 

Hi Matt, you boy's up in the rust belt may do things different, but us ole country boys, would get a tow dolly and pull the whole thing back from Ky. or load the cab in the back of the truck and drive it back.
Sorry bout the insurance but you gotta quit standing on the gas while the cops is lookin.

John

 

I'm doing the very same thing. I have a 79' F-250 4x4 that has a less than perfect cab on it and also have bought a parts truck with a good cab.I'm in the process of switching them now. The old cab is in better shape than yours it sounds like so if you can figure out how to get it to where you're at from Wyoming, it's yours.

 

Well, lol, I'lll be in northern Cali for new-years..but I'm flying..umm....I can only imagine what shipping would be..lol..

What kind of shape IS it in?

 

The cab is not as rusted as yours sounded to be. Infact, It has no rust except a little surface rust where the primer was a little thin when I started to work on it. Shortly after that I found this other truck with a really clean cab and I abondoned the old one. The way the old doors hinge need a little tweecking but other than that there is nothing a little paint wont cure.

 

The floor is in good shape? If I took the bus stop signs out I'm using as a floor you could shift the tranny and transfer case by hand..Not to mention fall through..

 

The floor is sound. The carpet is rough. It could be the road department might buy back the signs to pay for more parts for your truck.

 

>The floor is sound. The carpet is
>rough. It could be the road
>department might buy back the signs
>to pay for more parts for
>your truck.


lol..but more likely considering this city (Milwaukee, WI) they'd charge me for them and then fine me for them, even though they came with the truck =-)

What year and everything is the cab? Is it 4x2 or 4x4?

I'm in the process of asking around for some shipping prices.. Could you possibly give me your city?

Thanks,
Matt

 

The cab is off a 79' F-250 4x4. If it could be of use to you, it would be better than hauling it to the nearest wrecking yard which by the way is 110 miles away. I live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

NB

 

I definetly want it..I need to figure out how to get it here though =-)

If it's in as good of shape as you say it's in, it's a done deal..Thanks!

I'll email you privatly..

Matt

 

I got good money that says he wont ship. hehehe

Time he gets done crating and shippin maybe $1500.00 - $2000.00