Hey all,
Found this truck for my wife on FB in Montana a little while back. Well it’s finally a done deal and is getting shipped to me on Monday.
My wife and I have been married 24yrs this month. She doesn’t want for much of anything other than little things.
About 2 months ago she showed me a picture of a 77 green and white 2tone f-150 and said I wanna truck like that!!
Expected it to be a long process of finding one, I was shocked when I found one right away. Truck is mostly redone but needs the final push and paint to make it look amazing again!!

I’m probably gonna have a bunch of questions along the way.

First question is about replacement grille. Do I want aluminum or steel grille? Any difference between DC and LMC?

I attached the marti report if anyone else finds them interesting.
Appreciate all the help!

 

Yes big difference, the 1st one you mention (IMO) fits and is very nice, and it is chromed steel/ PERIOD. And as far as the 2nd one does NOT fit/ is not/ and prutty sure will not fit without a lot of cussing, pulling, prying, re drilling, moving hdwr tabs and then cry a little bit for paying so much and have it fit so bad.

DC one cost $$$$ for a reason. https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/tru...CvqSn_LiwkU-xw

Inserts https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/tru...CvqSn_LiwkU-xw

Letters https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/tru...CvqSn_LiwkU-xw

Yes LMC has options of a steel or aluminium one, neither that I would personally pick. https://www.lmctruck.com/grilles/sto...and-components

 

Good morning,

I happened to install my new steel chrome grille from DC just yesterday.
It is solid and the chrome finish is looking good. No scratches or other bad spots. But I personally thought it would fit even a little better. Especially the shape to the fenders. Other than that, it's pretty good. The mounting tabs have to be bent here and there though, but that's ok.

Maybe you could bend and hammer it on some points to get a better fitting, but I don't want to crack the chrome finish an risk rust. And the steel is hard to bend in that spots you would to work on to make it fit.
Also I am not sure if it would really help to bend it on single spots. In my case it's touching the fender where the "dent" is and down where the curve starts. I am not sure if it would really close the long straight gap between then, cause the grille itself seems not so be as straight as it should be. Kinda slightly concave so to say. By tightening the srews it only bends the tabs further to the fender.

Maybe I was just too high on expectations and that IS good fitting for aftermarket parts and others are worse.
But in my case you definitely see the difference compared to the original. Not sure yet if I try to get a better result somehow or if things getting worse then. Verschlimmbessern as we say in german. (Something getting worse as a result of putting too much effort in it to get it a little better)

Others sure may work out better as not all fenders are the same , etc... but that's my experience so far.

 

The in-cab fuel tank is an interesting detail. Probably one of the last few trucks ever so equipped. Cool find, we need pics.

 

Shipper picked it up last night in MT. So it’s currently taking in some western fresh air on route 90 I would guess.

Can’t wait to lay eyes on it for the first time!! This whole deal was done long distance.

Truck also has a trailer special emblem on the tailgate but don’t see any reference on the marti report. I’m guessing the options makes it a trailer special?

 

I HATE my in-cab gas tank.
What in the hell were they thinking??
Definitely a bean counters decision.

 

I'll have to see if I can find the Marti report for my 77 F150 4x SB, it also has the in-cab tank and the aft tank.

 

Well, the truck arrived from Montana this afternoon.
First time laying eyes on it. Overall it’s got good bones and just needs to be finished. I got a bunch of questions for ya’ll already but we literally hit the road heading out of town after they dropped it off. So when I get back I’ll start picking your brains on some things.

 

The in cab tank was common for years. it was always a dumb idea but there were lots of dumb ideas, with Ford being the winner. but that's what makes classics cars classic.

 

All right, I’ll ask the first question while im sitting on my hotel balcony.

Prior owner had replaced the engine with a jasper 400.
When I shut it off after they delivered it, it kinda turned off but wanted to keep running for a couple seconds.
Is that a timing issue or possibly something else. Full disclosure I’m very, very far from an expert mechanic. Actually, I know hardly anything lol.
As always, I appreciate and value your insight!

 

Was it hot? if so that's typically dieseling, there are several solutions but it's not a big deal.

If it was cold, you might have an ignition switch or wiring issue.

Whatever it is it's not anything to worry about.

 

Some call it Run On or Dieseling. My 79 did that sometimes but I never thought it was an issue. It wasn't stock....I was running a Carter 625 on an Edelbrock intake with a 1 inch phenolic spacer. Usually stopped after a couple seconds.

 

X2 that is called "dieseling" and is it a stock carborator? Like a Motorcraft 2 or 4 bbl? If so there might be a "anti-dieseling" solenoid that is bad/not hooked up ect. If it has an aftermarket carb, Edelbrock, Holley, it might just need some adjustments. When you shut the truck off and it "diesels", push that gas to see if that stops the dieseling.



#9D856 in the BELOW DIAGRAM.
The 9D856 carburetor solenoid is a Ford Motorcraft idle stop or fuel shut-off solenoid used primarily on 1960s-1980s Ford vehicles to prevent engine run-on (dieseling) by closing the throttle or stopping fuel flow when the ignition is turned off.

 

Got home last night so I’ll play around with it today.
Here’s a pic of the engine bay.

 

You know that having that elec fuel pump, that far from the source, is the worst thing to do to it. Why not just run a mechanical?