A mixture of modern parts and hard work transforms this stunning F-150 into a show quality build.
New Life
Restoring or rebuilding an old, beat-down, rusty truck isn't a task many people are willing to take on, but in the case of 1970s Ford trucks, quite a few do. And they are eager to tackle this sort of project because the finished product is just that good. Case in point - this amazing 1973 Ford F-150, recently featured over at Ford Daily, which went from what was essentially a basketcase to the show quality build you see before you today.
Photos: Ford Daily
Preparing the Frame
The owner of the truck, Kenny, stripped it down to its bare frame in his quest to make it absolutely perfect. From there, he sealed the frame with Zero Rust and began the process of preparing it to accept a newer 7.3-liter Power Stroke diesel. That involved a little bit of cutting and other tweaks, but the end result would be well worth it.
Photos: Ford Daily
>>Join the conversation about this classic F-150 right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!
Donor Truck
To make this vision a reality, Kenny located and purchased a 1996 F-350 formerly used as a welding truck that was now retired. From that, he removed the engine, transmission, transfer case, and front and rear differentials for use in his classic F-150.
Photos: Ford Daily
>>Join the conversation about this classic F-150 right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!
Fortified Powertrain
The diesel powerplant was then torn down and treated to a host of upgrades, which include a BD turbo, Banks intercooler, bigger injectors, a TS six-position chip, custom ram air intake, and high-volume oil pump, while the transmission received a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing.
Photos: Ford Daily
>>Join the conversation about this classic F-150 right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!
Easy Access
Once the drivetrain was rebuilt, Kenny placed the engine lower in the frame to improve the soon to be lifted truck's center of gravity and driveshaft angles, then fabricated a custom removable transmission tunnel to make it easy to access in the event maintenance is required at some point.
Photos: Ford Daily
>>Join the conversation about this classic F-150 right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!
Sorted Out
Once all of the mechanical stuff was sorted out, Kenny set about making his classic ride look good, and he did a heck of a job in that regard as well. With its timeless red paint, lifted suspension, and meaty wheels and tires, this diesel-powered rig now looks every bit as good as it goes.
Photos: Ford Daily
>>Join the conversation about this classic F-150 right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!
Worth It
Combining a vintage F-150 body with all of the major mechanicals from a newer Super Duty gives Kenny the best of both worlds - classic looks and modern power. And even though it took a ton of work, time, and money to put together, we feel like the end result was well worth it.
Photos: Ford Daily
>>Join the conversation about this classic F-150 right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!
For help with service of your truck, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com
