You can still find new outer rockers and I think for our truck, they were $3-500 for both sides. Then you have the additional cost for labor and paint, but with all of the work that you have done to your truck, it would be worth it just to keep it in great shape.

Mine were so bad that I was surprised that the running boards were still attached to them. On the driver side where the outer rocker comes up on the angle and transitions to the horizontal part where the door sill trim meets, I had a line of rust pin holes for about 6" and the floor was starting to flex.

 

I haven't looked too deeply for any parts yet...gonna get with my paint guy and see what exactly I need once show season is over then source everything for him. I figure with everything invested it's worth it to me to get all of the rust off of the truck once and for all (or at least as much as is possible).

 

That sounds like a plan.

 

were you able to sell the old wheels?

 

I'll keep the factory wheels just in case, but the old "fancy" wheels are sitting in my spare downstairs room with the tires mounted on them still. Someone wanted the tires and was going to buy them at tax time, but never came through.

 

2 year bump...lol

Since our last installment, some things have changed, just a little. Here's some of the components of the new interior that went in. 2000 Ford Expedition center console, buckets from a 1997 - all covered by my upholstery shop with custom stitching (the top of the console is sitting on the passenger seat in this photo). Also, I got my steering wheel re-covered by Craft Customs in Texas, and found a 2000 Excursion center section/airbag that has the blue Ford oval on it. 97/98 trucks didn't have that - just a raised/embossed plastic one color logo.




I don't see it covered, but, in this front shot you can see I got a replica SVT Lightning grille insert now instead of the black honeycomb. A lot of people reacted positively to this change, and the little bit of chrome stands out nicely. You also see in this shot that gone are the big Bushwacker flares in favor of the stock wheel trim.



Mechanically, well, we finally dealt with Spark Plug #6. The CalVan repair kit came in clutch a few weeks ago and is a pretty easy way to fix the stripped plugs in these trucks all things considered. The insert repair is holding up well, and I may do the rest this winter whether they need it or not. The kit comes with a hose to use air to get the valves closed, the inserts, a guide to keep the reaming and drilling straight, and the proper size reamer and drill bit to size out the hole...as well as the inserts themselves. The inserts are pretty beefy. Think doing one cylinder only took me 2 hours, maybe?

 

I really have a desire now to try and take this truck as far as I possibly can, and the future list of work is pretty extensive. I don't plan on throwing all of the stuff out there that I am thinking of (not for any strategic reasons or anything like that - just don't want to oversell anything). I just don't see this style of truck done like this. Most everyone goes either back to OBS (or older) or goes newer. In the end, maybe I'm trying to prove the point that someone can take one of these year trucks and make it something really, really impressive. Right now, it's a good 5 foot truck - the paint has some issues, the rockers still need fixed properly (not my band-aid repairs), and a few other things...all things I hope to accomplish this winter.

 

Bill a truck of that age being a "good 5 foot" is something to say of itself. Looking forward to what you are able to do with it to get it to the level that you want.

 

There's a lot of "next level" crap in my head right now. I want to go back and repaint the frame...maybe in Tux Black, maybe not...and various lift/suspension parts. It's definitely getting a disc brake rear axle under it (I have it, it's going to get gone through by my driveline guy to do the seals and check out all the gears and stuff after Carlisle is over) and all of the associated parts with that along with Expedition front brakes. I'm changing wheels (again) to something polished aluminum rather than chrome (these Fuels are already pitting in some spots that I know of but not many others would pick up on...ug). I'm set on interior, obviously, but I do have one or two more tricks up my sleeve there as well.

This also may, or may not, be one of the changes...at least the back half of the truck anyhow...

 

Many, many years ago I was looking at a Ford truck that was on a local lot and it was a black, supercab, flare side. Personally I like the look because it is not the typical "cookie cutter" look. So the search begins for a super crew or Lightning bed for The Bull

 

I know some would object to a flareside bed on an extended cab, but yes, it's not the typical cookie-cutter. Hell, this whole truck isn't to a degree. I think the mounting points are the same, I just need to confirm that.

Supercrew would not work - they're 5 1/2 ft beds I believe. Lightning/Flareside is what I'd be looking for. And I know I could get good $$$ out of my styleside since it's clean and the paint's damn near perfect.

 

I was could not remember if they had a 6.5' super crew in that generation and as I type this, I had a DUH moment.

 

I also think the SuperCrew beds were also just a short styleside bed with different taillights - but I'm not 100% on that.

The more I think and look at it - the more it might be a reality....we'll see.