This thread will track the progress of my 1987 F250 4x4 project. I just got this truck on 9/10/10 for $750. It has a 4-speed manual gearbox, manual locking hubs, a 3.55 rear end and a longbed. Got it with 95k miles and it used to be a farm truck. 2k on new tires (uniroyal laredo AWT's 235/85/16 (31.7 inches) on stock rims). To get it home about 15 miles all I had to do was put in new gas. The end result will hopefully be a reliable truck for hauling things to the dump, home depot runs, and light towing. I am not going to be building this truck up into a show truck or a mud bogger - just a "regular" truck. I am new to Ford trucks but can turn a wrench so most/all of the work will be done by me.

Problem areas:
1) rust - see pictures and the cab floor is pretty bad. Cab corners too.
2) Cap - needs to come off and will very soon.
3) front tank seems to not be working (no fuel pump noise when front tank selected and fuel gage pegs to over full - probably sending unit I believe)
4) spark plugs in cylinders 2 and 5 are stuck in the head. I can turn them both so I am soaking in PB blaster and working on them. Hopefully this will work without snaping them off!
5) distributor cap screw (one closest to the engine) will not turn. PB blaster on that as well.

What I have done so far -
1) changed oil and filter
2) new air filter
3) new wires
4) new plugs (motorcraft), still working on 2 and 5!
5) cleaned the truck up. Since it was a farm truck it has a lot of built in grime. I took a lot off but the truck still looks dirty. Here are some pictures of the progress so far. First set is as I got it.

 

I know it does not look it but here is the truck after being washed and the engine bay cleaned up a bit.

 

here are some of the interior - pretty basic. Oh yeah - that blue color on the doors and engine bay is the original color.

 

more interior shots

 

Rear of truck - newish hitch, tires and wheels, shocks may need some work you think?

 

Not bad, great price.

You should be able to score interior parts out of an XLT for cheap, or go for Bronco bucket seats.

I see you're having issues with removing a few plugs? Hit it with PB blaster, and try removing them with the engine still warm...it should loosen up for you.

 

looks pretty good, id say you need to have the front springs re-arched and throw some new shocks on her, noticed the spring was sitting on the bump stop..

 

That is a nice truck for the money I picked up a 1990 for $300 and I've got my work cut out for me lol No 4wd to get back into shape though. Thats a damn nice interior it's got looks just like the interior on my 87 F150 what was the original color just solid blue or two tone??? Curiousity lol. my interior was trashed by field mice and god knows what else though. good Score and those 300s are damn near indestructable btw, that is IF you didn't already know that

 

For 750 bucks you got a steal! Maybe its just the pics, but that body looks to be in great shape. Dunno how much bondo might be under that paint job, but youll find out. And that may also be why it doesnt seem to be cleaning up. Is there any clearcoat over that white? There doesnt look to be from the pics.

If your interested, this is what my $300 89 F250 looked like 2 days after I brought it home, the same color your truck was before it was repainted:

 

The spark plugs are getting shot with PB Blaster twice a day and the vehicle is being driven. I am a chicken when it comes to getting the plugs out - really don't want to break them off so I am just moving them back and forth till I hit major resistance.

Thanks for pointing out the front springs issue - didn't even notice that. I will add that to the list.

Blue Rebel - I like your truck! I am thinking on getting running lights like those down the road. The paint on mine does not seem to have a clear coat and is not professionally done. I am thinking of painting this myself after the rust is cut out / stopped and may go with something close to original with the blue but make it two tone with white as well.

 

like this???


Lol Obviously I'm Biased but It'd look damn good if done right!!!!

 

Yep! or vice-versa with white on top and bottom, blue in the middle. My reasons for these colors are that with the blue, I don't feel so bad about the un-repainted parts (since they are blue) and the white is an easy color to make look OK when doing a home paint job. I hope I can get a pass from the 'paint wars' that have gone on in other threads as this truck was $750! Professional paint would be at least $3k around here.

One more thing I noticed when working on the truck is that it is SO BIG! I work on little italian cars all the time (alfa romeo mostly) and it is sometimes cramped in the engine bay. With the truck, I need a step ladder just to get at about 1/2 of the engine and I am 5'11". Also, while washing it, it just kept going and going! What I am trying to say it there is a whole lot of truck in these trucks!

 

BR,
Are those trucks in the picture you posted a stock f150 and a stock f250? I know the bodies are the same but the f-250 looks so much bigger! That is why I actually bought my truck - I liked the stance. Was looking for a 87-91 4x4 with extra cab for the 5-speed. Was looking for an I6 300 as I read good things here about them so I thought I would be getting a F150. Even looked at a couple but decent (I mean running, not non-rusty) were 1200-2500. This came up and was cheap so I went to take a look and, again, really liked the stance. Thought about it for a couple of days (originally wanted the extended cab and a 5 speed) and pulled the trigger. So far I am happy as I think any truck that runs, turns, stops, and can do all three for a 15 mile trip home has to be worth $750.

One more thing - no inspections or emissions for historic vehicles (20yrs) here in MD! $51.50 for 2years of tags too! Took all of 20 minutes to get the truck on the road and legal!

 

I know what you mean about BIG.. Mine is Ext cab long bed, As Justin Wilson would say "I garonteee" you a wash and wax is an ALL day job, maybe a day and a half in winter months. (shorter days)

 

lol yup, in that pic both trucks are bone stock, all the way down to tire size. I agree, Ive always loved the stance of the 3/4 ton trucks. Although I gotta say, that half ton had a real nice stance to it when I first got it...