A new daily driver F 150 '78 4x4 for the rest of the time.
Welding, bending and cutting sheet metal. But then it was finished.
The welding work on the loading area is finished. Yay! Now everything just needs to be treated with rust protection and then it can dry until Monday.
After that, I took care of the trailer hitch mounts. The parts were cut to size and had to be welded in the right place.
Reattach the bumper and brackets, then take the brackets to the metal workshop on Monday. The gusset plate for stability needs to be cut out and adjusted.
Then there is a loose cable on the steering wheel. So attach the steering wheel.
I've removed the nut on the steering wheel, but I need to build a puller for the steering wheel itself. But not until Monday.
What else can I do? The servomotor for the cruise control. Take out the old one and put in the new one.
It wasn't that easy. The plug had never been removed before, and the rubber in the bulkhead was difficult to take out and put back in. But I managed it.
I'll be back on Monday.
Best regards, Bernd 61 HD
The steering wheel was also removed. The entire mechanism is visible.
I can't identify which cable has been torn off. Using a mirror, I was able to see from below where the cable connects. Since I didn't want to take the steering column apart any further, I removed the steering column again.
The torn cable belongs to the lamp that illuminates the gear indicator.
So, put everything back together and soldered the cable.
Then everything was reinstalled and the cables were connected to the plugs. The steering wheel was also reinstalled and completed.
Then it's time for the wiring harness that runs from the engine compartment to the rear.
Next to the old wiring harness, I started laying the new cables. I also added a few extra cables for safety's sake.
Then pull the cables into the sleeves. That looks good for now.
That's enough for today. Next, I'll solder the connectors from the old wiring harness to the new wiring harness.
Best regards, Bernd 61 HD
Last edited by bernd61hd; Feb 9, 2026 at 01:52 PM.
Then installed right away.
In the afternoon, the weather improved and I was able to coat the loading area from below, and of course all the cavities with the cannula, with Brandox 3 in 1. I still had a large bucket in the warehouse. In scientific terms, the color doesn't matter for now. It will be painted beige later. But the coating is on for now. Now it can dry.
On Friday, I'll paint it beige. Then I'll take care of the exterior surfaces. Sanding and sealing with Owatrol.
Best regards, Bernd 61 HD
Good evening, I actually wanted to be further along, but we have visitors this week. My grandson *****, 3½ years old, is visiting and keeping Grandma and Grandpa busy. That's why I only had a few hours in the workshop. Today, I took another look at the loading area. The holes for the screws are only roughly cut into the sheet metal. So I welded on some washers.
Then holes were drilled at the end of the loading area. In the recesses. The loading area was rusted from top to bottom. This was because the water couldn't drain away. It was the same with my Chevy truck.
Then I noticed the two corners. I had almost forgotten about them.
So I cut out the rusted areas.
What was under the sheet metal was actual black rust. Remove everything, clean it up, and insert the first sheet metal. Then put a sheet metal on top.
After that, I started sanding the weld seams on the loading area. But then I had to stop because I need to buy more sanding discs first.
Greetings Bernd 61 HD
All individual parts thoroughly cleaned and greased. The lock reinstalled and the trim strips remounted. All clips are new. I had to bend the trim strips correctly so that they would hold again.
Then I cleaned and greased the lock and put everything back together.
Then I also started to glue the rubber on.
In the afternoon, I was alone and could continue working on the loading area. I sanded down the weld seams with a coarse grinding wheel and then finished them off with a fine grinding wheel. After that, I vacuumed everything and wiped it clean with silicone remover. Then I primed it with rust protection using a roller.
That's it for today. Now everything can dry out again.
We'll continue on Monday.
Best regards, Bernd 61 HD
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Then move on to the loading area. Sand everything down dry with sandpaper from the outside, clean with silicone remover, and seal with Owatrol for the first time.
Then to the truck. I have a helper this week.
The older grandson is here now. He's already getting along well. But not always; even a ten-year-old has to set priorities.
But that's what vacations are for.
Then I started putting the front end together. First, I mounted the radiator frame. It's from an '85 truck. So I built a suitable bracket.
First, the inner fenders and the front panel.
Not bad. The rubber seals are missing from the inner fenders. So, back outside again.
Assembled and back in. Then the radiator. Installed and realized that the frame needs to be one centimeter higher. So out again.
The frame has been modified and reassembled. The fan wheel now has sufficient space.
Then the new radiator hoses. The lower one is a little too tight on the V-belt for my liking.
But nothing is really tight yet. If I push the front end back a little, there is enough space.
More today.
Regards, Bernd 61 HD
The front end and battery holder are together. I installed and connected the radiator for the air conditioning system.
I also wanted to connect the power supply for the oil cooler, but unfortunately, once again, I had the wrong connections.
Then I took care of the trailer hitch bracket. The metal sheet is back from bending. I also hooked it up and it's ready for welding.
After work, I lit a fire in the garden with my grandson.
See you tomorrow. Best regards, Bernd 61 HD
Then back to the front end. The cables. I need to slowly familiarize myself with that.
But that won't really be possible until Monday. Yesterday, my grandson decided he needed to build a sled and dragged a pallet home from somewhere. So we spent some time sawing, drilling, and screwing. I then started working on other things. The doors still need their decorative moldings.
The threaded pieces for the mirrors were also installed.
I will buy the mirrors for the truck myself.
Then the speedometer was cleaned. First, I started and let it dry. That's the next thing that will be finished. The dashboard.
Starting tomorrow, I'll have peace and quiet in the workshop again. The goal is to get the electrical system ready so that the basic equipment is in order and the truck can be started.
Best regards, Bernd 61 HD
Then I finished the second door. Decorative moldings and threaded pieces.
Then I cleaned the speedometer and put it back together again. Before that, I gave the workbench a good clean. I had taken the speedometer completely apart. It was easy to unscrew, clean, and put back together again. I love this simple technology.
Then the radio. The cover is broken off at the tabs.
However, I was able to reattach the cover by placing large washers under the screws. The cover is now secure. Then try to assemble the parts.
However, the installation will have to wait, as there are still too many cables in the dashboard that I need to sort out.
Then the trailer hitch bracket came back from welding.
The brackets can now be further processed.
Best regards, Bernd 61 HD
Fits even after welding. Has not warped. Just the bracket for the electrical socket and then the part can be blasted and primed.
Then I worked on the electronics a little more.
I was able to reassign some of the cables. On Monday, I will continue working on the cables. I am also considering converting the cooling system to an electric fan. I would save myself the fan wheel and the frame would also be eliminated.
Regards, Bernd 61 HD








