Just wanted to introduce myself
 

Hello folks. I bought a 1979 F150 Ranger 4wd with the 6.6L 400 in Hillsboro, OR about a year ago. I'm fairly sure it's a short box. I've been skulkin around the site for a while but this is my first post. I currently live in Kirkland, WA. Moved up here from Portland, OR about 6 months ago. I'm no stranger to online forums, but I am a newbie to old trucks. I can already tell there's a lot of knowledge in the halls of this here forum so I'm very happy to be here as I have LOTS of questions. I'm absolutely positive some of them are silly questions that would make the most novice mechanic or builder roll their eyes so I'll be sure and use the search tool often ;)

Now, the truck...the story behind the truck is by no means amazing or even that interesting but, I'll share it anyway. I bought it from a guy who worked for the trucks original owner. The story I was told was, the family who purchased the truck owned a farm in Vernonia, OR. They bought two brand new F150 Rangers at the same time in 1979, to work on the farm no doubt, trucks were virtually the same but one had air con and one didn't. The patriarch of the family passed away roughly three or more years ago, still had these trucks lyin around the farm. I heard that his daughter took the truck with air conditioning and the guy I bought it from, who worked for the company and the family directly, was given the other one. Well, he didn't know what to do with it and let it sit outside on the farm for a couple years until finally he decided to sell it. He threw it up on Craigslist, I needed a truck, saw it, I totally dug it, had no idea what I was getting myself into and purchased it.

What's been done to the truck since I bought it you ask? Right off the bat it needed new tires. I loved the look of the 33's that were on it...errr...I think they're 33's...I may be mistaken, but in any event....so I found some and had them put on. I have a good friend in Portland who's a very gifted mechanic. He replace the heater core, replaced the brakes pads and one of the brake lines, put in an aluminum radiator, new horn, did a little bit of engine tuning, fixed the gauge lights, etc. I know there's a few other things but I don't remember off the top of my head. This last summer I was told the differential needed some attention, sooner than later, so I bit the bullet and had a limited slip put in. The bed had a small but significant rip in it near the tail end when I bought it. I found a welder in Portland, had him button it up for me. Regarding what I'm about to describe, I may have the verbage wrong so forgive and correct me if need be. I decided that I prefer the look of the truck without the bottom half of that racetrack molding so I removed it and had the holes on the passenger side welded up, still need to have the drivers side patched up. Just met a local welder the other day so I may have a guy. We'll see. I put in a new stereo and speakers, threw a new seat cover on and redid the weather stripping on both doors. Parts I have that need installing: new starter, new regulator for the drivers side window, window weather stripping, new seat belts. I'll be working on all those things myself over the coming months. I've been purchasing most things through LMC Truck.

I'd very much like to have the truck painted once the holes are welded up, have a tailgate that's in better shape and acquired all the appropriate trim molding. The truck bed clearly needs work. I'll give that subject and all my other questions their own posts :D I must say though, I drive it almost every day and the truck runs great! Haven't had the chance to try out the four wheel drive yet but I have no reason to think it won't work just fine. I have to remind myself from time to time that it's a rear wheel drive. It's usually when I'm peelin the back tires in the rain by accident :-X04

So yea. There ya go. I hope this post finds you all well. I look forward to getting to know some of you and learning what I can while I'm here.

I included pics. Hope they're helpful.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...ddc5b1a5f6.jpg
The day I brought it home.



https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...543b182af2.jpg
racetrack molding has been taken off, holes welded up.



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e72458b3b9.jpg
Holes on this side still need to be patched up. Trim molding needs to be replaced.



https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...95b95f87da.jpg
Missin the D!



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https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...a1dcf0df41.jpg




https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...637cbab83e.jpg




https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...012ce40af8.jpg




https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1cb6e941fc.jpg




https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...89660a7737.jpg
Does that really say 52,000? Am I reading it wrong?




https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...649d6d971b.jpg
Behind the seat.

Your odometer numbers don't line up which means it's turned over 99,999. Your truck could have 152,000miles, 252,000miles, etc.... nice truck tho and welcome to FTE! Lots of great guys here to help.

Looks like a good solid truck that should keep you entertained for a long time................. Welcome.

Great intro:-X22 Nice truck. Keep us posted with all your truck projects and we all ask silly questions. Welcome to FTE:-bigparty

Very nice truck!

When I read that you removed the racetrack, I figured you were just removing the lower portion. If you want to keep the upper portion, which I would, you should get non-racetrack ends for the rear of the bedside moldings. I too prefer the '73-'76 non-racetrack version. Dunno if it was still available that way in '78 and '79.

And I like the bumper sticker on your rear bumper. It sure as heck is telling the truth.

And I agree on the odometer having rolled over (or perhaps been messed with). At 52413 miles, the 5 and the 2 should be perfectly lined up. The 2 shouuld stay aligned with the 5 until the 2 is very close to rolling over to 3.

Race Track mouldings installed on 1977/79 Ranger XLT & 1978/79 Lariat.

The upper fender, door and cab corner mouldings with the black vinyl insert are the same with or without Race Track mouldings.

The Race Track quarter panel (bedside) mouldings are different, because they have a curved end where the vertical mouldings attach that connect the upper mouldings to the lower mouldings.

1973/76 Ranger XLT's came standard equipment with the upper mouldings with the black vinyl insert.

These upper only mouldings could also be found on 1977/79 Ranger XLT's and 1978/79 Lariats if the customer did not want the Race Track mouldings.

You rarely see this, because the truck would have been special ordered to get only the upper black vinyl insert mouldings.

I prefer the Race Tracks, because it sets off the tu-tone paint.

I bought a new 1979 F150 Lariat Stupor Cab tu-toned red and white, loved the Race Tracks, did not love the 'fish mouth' grille or the 400. 460 not available in 1979 F150's sold new in CA :(

When introduced, people went to Ford parts counters, bought a complete set of Race Tracks to install on their 1973/76's and 1977/79's that didn't come with them.

The list price for the complete set of Race Track mouldings with 8' bed was $350.00 + tax.

Pic: Example of Race Track bed mouldings. Circled letters in lower pic are codes for the specific clips.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...a2254ee853.jpg

Did you have to meet DEQ? How did that go? I live in Salem, OR. so I'm lucky I'm outside the DEQ zone! so I didn't have to worry about any missing emissions stuff :) I bought my truck from a seller in Albany OR, if you drive through Albany's side streets there are a ton of old Ford trucks still hopping around

Welcome to FTE, nice truck story, make sure to link up with your state chapter folks. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum188/

Yes is looks like a short bed, yes that is an old school after market front axle truss bolted on there.

More places than LMC to shop and better quality repo parts available. Have you been here yet? https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post14955940 scroll down to the part 2 Parts Vendors & Resources list and shop around.

Hood F-O-R-D Letters | Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts https://www.blueovaltruckparts.com/f...ter-34d34.html

https://cgfordparts.com/ufolder/ford...r=DOTZ-16606-K https://www.dearbornclassics.com/ext...nd-decals.html

If I was at the house I would just give you a D for the hood.

Thanks fordguy2100. That makes a lot more sense that this truck only having 52,000 miles on it.

The DEQ was a breeze, but funny story...When I brought the truck home it didn't have a catalytic converter. before taking the truck to DEQ my buddy says to me he thinks it'll need to have one put on to meet DEQ standards, but I should look it up. I did some light research, what I read was that it did need to have a cat to get through DEQ, so I go to a shop and have it done. I go to DEQ and the guy doin the test tells me no, the light duty trucks from this year, like mine, don't need the cat but the medium and heavy duty trucks do. So I go back home to double check what I read and he was right, I just misread the info. Felt like a real tool. So now it has a cat, oh well. Me = :-newbie

Howdy NumberDummy. Thanks for the info :)
Is the 'fish mouth' grill what the grill on my truck is referred to? Or are you talking about a different grill? What about the 400 engine didn't you like?

I hear you about how the race track molding sets off the tu-tone paint job. I find myself liking it on certain trucks in certain colors. For my truck I really just want one solid color, so I feel like just the one stripe molding is the way to go.
I'm assuming all the 73-76 rear quarter panel non racetrack trim molding for a short bed will fit my bed, yes?

No I hadn't been to that page yet with all the vendors. Thanks man! That'll be a big help. And nice work spotting the truss. I didn't know any better. I did a little search and it looks like your right.
Regarding the missing letter, I ended up finding a used set on ebay, got em just after the holidays. Now I just need to find the little clips that keep the letters in. Looks like Bronco Graveyard has some.

Ha my truck from Texas has 1 cat and 1 O2 sensor welded in... don't know why as I'm pretty sure it's exempt from that stuff. lol maybe someone needed to pass a visual inspection with inspector who didn't know better... or maybe the PO did the same thing and thought he needed it :confused:

Welcome to Warshington State!
I'm on the other side of the lake and down south in Des Moines so it's unlikely we'll see each others trucks but I'll keep an eye out. :-X0A6

Michael

Howdy Michael :-wink
Thanks man. Lovin it up here!