I hope to begin restoring my 77 F100 soon, but I'm having trouble finding the resources I need. Does anyone know of any catalogs that may have a somewhat complete selection of parts for my truck? Right now, I am having to thumb through a couple dozen mags to find everything I need.
By the way, I notice that nearly everyone that posts talks about a truck that they have "beefed up". Doesn't anyone like to restore their truck to OEM standard? Am I the only one?

 

Dan you have wandered through the field without saying just what you are looking for, besides free catalogs.


Some of us like to add creature comforts to our truck, like power steering and brakes, and stereos . There are so many good old trucks still out there, that there is no real value in leaving them stock. We can make them more to our personaliets. Unless you do a $15 - 20000.00 restoration, which in most cases you can't recover anything close, the best thing is to make yourself happy, and build the truck just like you want it. I am tired of shifting gears, fighting a nonpower steering, and not being able to stop. Your 77 should have most of those features already. Unless this was your grandpaws truck build it your way.

John

 

The reason not many people leave their vehicles stock is because they arent as fun as one that you made to YOUR liking. Say you spend the 15-20000 on a resto job, yea it will look like it came of the showroom floor but it wont be much of a head turner when you drive it down the street. Now take the same pickup spend 1500-2000 for a good paintjob of the color YOU want, about 700-1000 if you you do it yourself with a little help. Do some custom pinstriping(this can be done yourself, its really easy). Build the engine the way it pleases you. Get some rims that look good with the pickup. Maybe tint the windows, a sunroof perhaps. Tonneau covers usually look good on 2wds. If you dont want the tonneau cover, bed caps and a tool box look cool. And if you are like me you have got to have tunes. I mean not the factory radio but a CD player, subwoofers, amps , the whole 9. If you do any or all of these things you will get a bunch more commments on your pickup. What I just described can cost you varying amounts of money depending on where you buy. I would expect to pay 5-7000. Good luck.

Fordman

 

It sounds to me like you are on the right track, a Ford truck. If stock is what you want, go for it. I personally do agree with the other two guys, but I think any old Ford truck is a headturner. I have a 73 F100 and have added: chrome rims, running boards, bed rails, '79 grill, mudflaps, clearence lights, power steering and power brakes, I tailored it to what I wanted to drive - and I love to drive it.

Some good resources for OEM replacement parts are:
Dennis Carpenter reproductions (not sure of web address)
Both are free and have most any part you would need to replace.

Good luck with your pickup.

 

DanI found the AutoKrafters and Obsolete Ford have useful catalogs. Dont forget to post adds on the FTE classifieds when you are looking for a particular item. You might be surprised how many guys have extra parts cluttering up the garage and making the wife mad. I think like you do about the restoration thing. I've got a 67 that I have been trying to restore to original, all the way down to the AM radio and hub caps. . Even though its not a "frame up" kind of job, I think its neat to have an "original" truck. I like to see the old timers smile when I drive by. But you gotta do what works for you. Thats why the other guys are right too! I like to see a nice looking Ford truck, original or custom, it doesnt matter.

 

I'm kinda in the middle; I have a 71 that I'm restoring and I most important thing to me is that the truck is able to keep it's identity. The reason that I am restoring this truck is because I can't afford a new (1999) truck and I’m dissatisfied with the quality of today’s autos (plastic crap), others do it for nostalgic purposes. I personally like the way the 71 looks so I must keep the body original. As far A power steering and power brakes, sure, they were available during that year, why not. I plan to be an every-other-day driver so I decided to drop in a 5.0 efi, considering that when I bought the truck, it had no engine or trans.

Go ahead and dive into it, it’s going to be a learning experience.

MAC Antique Auto has a lot of OEM engine parts and stuff.

Phone 716-433-1500
Order line 800-777-0948

 

You will attract an apprecative audience to a faithfully restored truck but it will be small. There are several things to consider. One, unless it is 25 to 30 years old, collector status just won't apply; most would call yours an older truck. Two, truck shows typically don't have a class for restorations; I haven't seen one.This really seems to cut down on the interest with no trophy. Outstanding restorations normally start with heavily optioned vehicles or else stripped models. Some NOS or even used parts can be hard (read expensive) to acquire unless you have a donor. I believe that most of us change our trucks to handle better, stop quicker and travel down the highway with ease in ride and gas mileage; few trucks even into the 70s ever did that.

 

Dan; Back 5yrs ago I did a frame of resto on my dad's 76 supercab Ranger XLT,right down to the hubcaps. The parts are still available from ford (the ones I needed anyways)spent 3700 and done everything myself from engine,rear-end, paint.
never entered it in a show, but to be frank no one commented, but I didn't care I was happy untill a parking lamp post walked down the side of my beautiful Truck! (my fault)!!Regrets.....yes I wish I could have restored it in a garage, done it in the back yard.
The Am/Fm 8-Track jogs alot of memories to theives!
Have Fun Restoring Yours

 

Dan,
I agree. OEM stock is the only way to go. I own a beautiful '79 F150 4x4 with many unique options like deluxe interior fact. cruise. Just repainted professionally in original silver poly using hard as rock urethane PPG bc/cc. Besides newer wheels/tires I prefer the all original look. What the hell, I even like original wheels when re-finished properly. A '67 F250 camper special is the next project.

These trucks came tough as nails straight from the factory. Still, these are toys to many owners so upgrading is a part of the game. In many cases it lowers the value though IMHO. For example the guy trying to figure his electrical problems after buying an F150 with a 428 engine dropped in . . .

 

One clarification . . . I don't mean to imply there is anything wrong with adding power steering, brakes, etc. from donor wehicles of the same truck family.

 

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In addition try www.autokrafters.com. Catalog is $6.00 and worth it.

Regarding stock vs. modified, do what makes you happy. I really doubt the '73 - '79 trucks will ever be real classics. Getting everything working right is hard enough.

I'd recommend adding power door locks so you can lock and unlock both doors without getting in every time. Cruise control and a CD player are nice on long trips.

 

 

Well this post has aged well. Curious to know how that restoration that started 25 years ago went? Did you spend 20 grand as a couple posters suggested it would cost to do a OEM refurb? That same 20 today would be 50 and as 1 poster mentioned, the Fords from that period just didn't really turn in to classics. I have a 77 and a 79 both F350's I bought about 3 years ago, one as a farm truck the other as a "project'. The current cost of parts has made me realize they will never be anything more than they are now.

 

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