Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - Helipirate’s 1978 Ford F250 Super Cab 4X4 Project with Lots of Pictures

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Helipirate’s 1978 Ford F250 Super Cab 4X4 Project with Lots of Pictures

Hi everyone

I am starting a thread for my new project. It is a 1978 Ford F250 Super Cab 4X4 with a 400 and 3 speed automatic. I really like the look of these trucks. They are hard to find for a decent price in my area. I finally bought this one in February even though the body is in bad shape because it was the only super cab I could find with 4 wheel drive in my price range. My goal is to make it a clean looking reliable daily driver.

A little back ground on my current situation and my automotive experience before I start. I am 28 years old and work as a helicopter pilot. I have my first kid due in a few days. I work out of town so that combined with a new baby on the way may keep progress slower then I would like to see, but $$ will be the main factor in the time frame. I do all my own vehicle repairs but, I have not rebuilt any vehicles, done any body work or rebuilt any engines, axles or anything complicated so I will be asking for lots of help.

Now back to the truck. Listed below, in no specific order, are the major things that I want to accomplish along with rebuilding some mechanical parts. I will replace more rusted sheet metal then repair because, a lot of it is cheap and easy to find. I will be documenting progress so hopefully others can help me if I am doing something wrong or else learn something they don’t know how to do. I will also provide the costs, mostly just so I can keep track of it.

Exterior
Sandblast and powder coat frame………….................….est. ?
Replace Cab……………………………….…………….$125
Replace Bed………………………………………….….$175
Replace Fenders……………………………………..…..$45
Replace Doors……………………………………...……$60
Smooth seams on cab…………………………….......….Free
Shaved Drip Rails…………………………………….….Free
Add Drivers side tool/storage box in bed….......................$10
2 inch body lift…………………………………………..est. $90
Pre 1978 grill swap…………………………..………… est. $50
Paint…………………………………………………….est.?

Interior
Custom Dash/ Gauges………….......................................e st. $600
Refurbish seats or swap seats…....................................…est. $300
New seat belts…………………........................………..est. $300
Sound proofing/carpet……………...............................…est. $300
Power Windows…………………….........................…..est. $75
Power Locks…………………………....................……est.?
Weather strip………………………….......................….est.?

Engine/Suspension
New fuel tanks/lines…………..............................……….est. $500
Air Conditioning………………........................……….…est . $1000
On board air…………………....................………….….est. $200
6 inch lift………………………..................……………..est.?
Rear Disc Brakes………………......................………….est. $200
Hydroboost………………………......................………..est. $100

TOTAL SPENT SO FAR $ 415

Here are pictures of the truck I am starting with. As you will see there is LOTS of rust. The P/O said it has a 6 inch lift but I am unsure if that is true or not, it has 35 inch tires.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0271.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0272.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0512.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0506.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0509.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0511.jpg

First thing I did was head out to local junk yards and searching the classifieds. I came up with all this in march and april.

Replacement cab with much less rust. Rust only on cab corners and one rocker panel. Cost me $125

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0417.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0419.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0446.jpg

These back seats are up for grabs if someone wants them pm me.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0447.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0524.jpg

Truck bed with tool storage box with virtually no rust. Cost me $175

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0520.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0522.jpg

A junk yard tool storage box to weld into the other bed side. Cost me $10. Another junk yard has two more so if some one wants them then pm me we can work out details.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0516.jpg

Two rust free doors. Cost me $60

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0519.jpg

Two fenders with no rust. Cost me $40

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0518.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0517.jpg

Grill and inserts. Cost me $40

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0514.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0513.jpg

Got these also, they are up for grabs they are in great shape.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0515.jpg

Looks like you're starting pretty much on the ground floor like I did. Mine was in overall better shape, but I started from the frame and went from there. I have a progress thread (which I haven't posted to for some time...bad bad bad), called "Progress on Buford". I haven't really posted a ton of pictures in the thread, but I have posted a number of them in my album should you want any references. I kinda went off the deep end on my project, but I knew I would from the get-go. I don't have a wife, so I can't be forced to sleep on the couch for buying parts.

Anyway, looks like you've got your work cut out for you, but at least you're attacking it logically.

personally to me that looks like a 6 inch lift.. i say this because that truck is a non highboy so it sits 4 inches lowe than any highboy and 35 inch tires fill the wheel wells on a highboy nicely and those tires look like the have more room on that truck leeading me to believe it is about 2 niches taller then a highboy

Looks like your at about 4 grand and you seem to have parts available that are really,really cheap. I you dont have body tools and paint...that should be a couple grand right there for supplies.
Good weatherstrip will set you back $400.00

If I had to do it over again I would not keep track of what I have in my truck. You wont want to know in the end.:)

Good luck and post lots of pics.

By the way, i'd be interested in both toolboxes and grill inserts.

Behemoth-Your album is awesome, I will have lots of questions for you I am sure. The first few being, did you powder coat your axles or paint them and how far did you tear them down before doing so? I don't want to tear mine down to bare tubes so I will probably have to paint mine. Also how much did lining the cab with lineX help with keeping the cab quiet?

GrinnerGetter- If your interested in those parts PM me. I don't have the tool boxes they are some that I saw at another junk yard but I was going to go cut them off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73f250highboy (Post 10325697)

I ran 36X12.50R-16 Swampers with ease using 3-inch Rancho leafs on my 78 F250. Doesn't take much to fit a big tire on these trucks.

[quote=helipirate;10326488]Behemoth-Your album is awesome, I will have lots of questions for you I am sure. The first few being, did you powder coat your axles or paint them and how far did you tear them down before doing so? I don't want to tear mine down to bare tubes so I will probably have to paint mine. Also how much did lining the cab with lineX help with keeping the cab quiet?[quote]

I can't actually answer the question about the cab noise yet, as I still haven't finished. I'm on the home stretch, and I'm pushing really hard to have Buford running by mid-June, but we'll see. As for the axles, I painted them, as they'll still have to be rebuilt. I'm going to beef up both the Dana 44 and the 60 in the rear. There's a shop here in Spokane that is going to rebuild them, while retrofitting the rear for disc brakes. I'll probably get that done this fall, but will run on what I've got for now. When I do that, I'll look more seriously at powdercoating the carrier.

By the way, thanks for the thumbs up on the album!

How much do you want for the grille inserts?

Dang, where do you live? Here in Pa that bed would have been at least $1500, especially with the trim and the toolbox. How are you finding such a deal on parts?

You have Visitor Messages. I am unable to pm you due to low post count.

Ford 141- I live in Utah, there used to be even more trucks to choose parts from but about two weeks ago my main junk yard got rid of about 8 great trucks so now the pickings are getting slimmer I was a little bummed.

Another trip to a couple junk yards today.

Got this perfect dash pad today, no cracks or anything. Not sure if I am going to sell it or dye it. Can anyone tell me their experience with dying vinyl?

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0527.jpg

Here are the two spare tool boxes up for grabs GrinnerGetter has first dibs, be warned they are gonna be pricey with shipping they are big around 40x24x15 and kinda heavy too.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0538.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0539.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0540.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0502.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0528.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0531.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0529.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0530.jpg

and one picture of work for fun :)

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/IMAG0378.jpg.

Let me know if grinner passes on one of the boxes, I'd like to add it to my F350 if so. That's awesome that you can still find lots of parts for these trucks. All of the yards around me got rid of all of their old stuff years ago when the scrap prices started going up. There is only pick-a-part yard here that has a couple of these trucks, but they are pretty picked over. If they ever do come in, they get picked fast. Most people (like me) just part out the junk trucks themselves and sell the good stuff on Craigslist.