When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Been really busy at work and haven't had any time to work on the tear down until today. Didn't get a ton done, but a little bit closer to pulling the cab now.
Next concern is making sure I don't sever any important wires that I'll need run the 7.3 when its time to yank the cab. Hoping to borrow the neighbors tractor for that, but might have to use the removal by Sawzall method instead. Had Logan "helping" me today.
Last edited by Thunderhorn; Sep 20, 2025 at 10:59 PM.
Reason: Add
Still basically no progress since last time, but I'm currently almost done moving out of my house and almost done remodeling the kitchen for my tenants. Once I'm settled in at the property there where the trucks are staged I'll be able to actually get some work done. Hopefully I'll have something to show soon!
Just read through this. Keep it up, man! I am a "starving student" working on my beloved '73 highboy. Everybody tells me to ditch it and get something else, but their words fall on deaf ears. Folks just don't understand, do they?
I am up in Redding, but go past Placerville on occasion.
Wish I could take ya up on the project truck or bronco, but I too am in need of cash for my money pit.
Don't ever sell the highboy
Keep it a FE motor if it is
Find the old article "352 skidoo hello 428"
I bought my Boss 302 in 1979 when I was 19 and was also a starving college student
You'll have money someday to fix it up, just keep it for now and make it run
Still basically no progress since last time, but I'm currently almost done moving out of my house and almost done remodeling the kitchen for my tenants. Once I'm settled in at the property there where the trucks are staged I'll be able to actually get some work done. Hopefully I'll have something to show soon!
You are well on your way, good luck with the move
I just did the same and now have all my hotrods under one roof
Good stuff
Put the carb back together before you forget where all the parts go
I'm all moved into my new "home" for now.
decided to rent.out my house and move to my folks property, should earn me decent chunk of change that ill be reinvesting into my house for a while, and surely siphon some to the Broncos.
The new home sweet home. Dads 24ft TT.
Last edited by Thunderhorn; Dec 4, 2025 at 04:26 PM.
Don't ever sell the highboy
Keep it a FE motor if it is
Find the old article "352 skidoo hello 428"
I bought my Boss 302 in 1979 when I was 19 and was also a starving college student
You'll have money someday to fix it up, just keep it for now and make it run
I think my brother would sooner sell a kidney. He currently has the engine out and is looking at replacement options that will mount to the Clark 5 speed he got for it.
Last edited by Thunderhorn; Dec 4, 2025 at 04:32 PM.
Things have been incredibly busy between work and family stuff, but I have finally made some progress on tearing down the superduty.
got it moved down near power outlets/right next to my trailer, and so far pulled the giant plow bumper off the front, rear bumper, trans cooler, intercooler, radiator, AC condenser, ect... front clip thing, all the cab interior, most of the dash stuff...
Also picked up another sort of project out of necessity a month or so back, that has taken some more time away from this. But it's a neat little ride. Might someday do some unnessesary shenanigans with it aswell, but for now it's a good commuter.
I won't post too much about Lil-Red here on this thread, but I may eventually make a dedicated build page for it down the road.
Its an 86 2wd with the 4 speed auto and 2.3L 4 banger. Very original and unadultered, a little bit of rust in places but quite clean. A nice pair of 86 Fords. (The F150 is my brothers, used to be our dads, very well used truck since as long as I can remember).
Last edited by Thunderhorn; Jan 25, 2026 at 03:14 PM.
Boy oh boy, there has been so much going on lately (luckily, to include some progress on the build)..
Lets see if I can just rattle off some items here.
I'll start with the Superduty stuff:
- Got the Superduty torn all the way down to frame and axles.
- Sorted Superduty stuff into scrap pile, sell pile, and use piles (+ 7.3, and ZF6 removed and stored for later decisions)
- Staged Superduty rolling frame and Bronco rolling frame for pendong axles swaps and bronco frame reinforcement.
Next I'll talk about the Black Bronco and some of the issues I've been having with it:
- Ever since it got stolen I've had worsened issues with it completely dying and not wanting to start after it heats up, aswell as crazy amount of crank case pressure that was blowing oil past the valve covers and dipstick tube. Passed all leak down and compression tests but seeing no other possible cause I figured it must be head gaskets.
- Kept it put together for mostly this entire time to continue using as the "farm truck" around the property.
- Finnaly got around to downing it to pull the heads and fix the perceived issue just within these last few weeks.
Last edited by Thunderhorn; Apr 17, 2026 at 11:31 PM.
I need to get some more pictures of some stuff before I continue the story, but I am very excited to report the next few things that I have done, and the next big things coming..
I guess will go so far as to also reveal that I did get that engine back together and running - seemingly well now - but my headers have pretty much rusted out so I need to get/fab some new ones before I can do any real test driving.
Removed the oil soaked header wraps to find alot of holes and very thin spots. Ended up cutting each individual pipe and mounting each one to the heads to give myself enough exhaust to keep the flames off the engine bay and allow me to drive around the property again, plus a full temp test run (had some issues, more info to come).
Last edited by Thunderhorn; Apr 17, 2026 at 11:46 PM.
