it was the end of the day and I was just unwinding by checking out the local craigslist. It was a 77 f150 that last week was $1000 and now it was $650. I always get interesed when they get closer to scrap price but I need another project truck like I need a hole in my head. And then from behind me my wife yells out , you should get that to upgrade what youre driving now. I turn around and say are you serious? I can normally count on my better half to keep me grounded but she was serious. Now , my other truck is a piece of junk. paid $500 for it did some metal work on the frame and cab to make it road worthy but as soon as it wants any money from me I plan to part it out and scrap it. So come sunday we drive 1:45 to look at this truck. was kinda hoping it would be a bust and we would go to the casino instead but I just love rusty fords. Shes got a 302 with 68000 miles and I thought was pretty solid. I even drove it home . the only reason its on a trailor now is because I had to take it to the dmv to get the id checked (the red ford is borrowed along with the trailor from someone else)I used to think if I didnt have a truck and trailor I would not bring trucks home. theres always a way. All I have to do is rebuild a spring tower up front , all new exhaust , and a good tune up. I know its not a rat rod but thought you might enjoy the rust.
I know I got problems but now Im worried about my wife
- Thread starter brchopper
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rods Rule:
rustybeercan
Never met a beer he didn't like!
Love it! Nice catch, congrats! [cl
Beercan
Beercan
Willowbilly3
A *real* tin magnet
I'd rather have the one on the other end of the trailer.
Old Iron
Well-known member
Good snag, interior doesn't look too bad.
The trailer's almost too short for the truck.
Jim
The trailer's almost too short for the truck.
Jim
Torch
Extremely dangerous with a torch!!!
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2008
- Messages
- 1,627
What can happen in a weekend
My green and white ford looks pretty solid and for the most part it was except you cant see the drivers door hinges had rusted off the cowl and you cant see where a pallet of shingles pushed the back of the cab in 6 inches...
still trying to get this together got the figguring and recombobulating done and rolled it into the garage. brought it out recently and getting geared up to tear it down for fit and finish.
just an example of far you can go to make one good old ford out of 3 or 4
hope it can inspire you. save everything you never know...
BTW... the red truck is a 76 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive that had a 390 and c6 and the green one is a 77 f150 full time 4x4 with a 460 and a c6...it's getting lockouts, gear drive transfercase and a 4 speed when i tear it down for paint.
the way I cut the frame horns out of the 4x4 allowed the crossmember to slip inside of the 2 wheel drive rails and box them behind the splice. Notice the splice is foreward of the spring perches. the only aftermarket parts are the 460 motor swap mounts.
if you ever have any questions about these I've researched them extensively.
My green and white ford looks pretty solid and for the most part it was except you cant see the drivers door hinges had rusted off the cowl and you cant see where a pallet of shingles pushed the back of the cab in 6 inches...
still trying to get this together got the figguring and recombobulating done and rolled it into the garage. brought it out recently and getting geared up to tear it down for fit and finish.
just an example of far you can go to make one good old ford out of 3 or 4
hope it can inspire you. save everything you never know...
BTW... the red truck is a 76 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive that had a 390 and c6 and the green one is a 77 f150 full time 4x4 with a 460 and a c6...it's getting lockouts, gear drive transfercase and a 4 speed when i tear it down for paint.
the way I cut the frame horns out of the 4x4 allowed the crossmember to slip inside of the 2 wheel drive rails and box them behind the splice. Notice the splice is foreward of the spring perches. the only aftermarket parts are the 460 motor swap mounts.
if you ever have any questions about these I've researched them extensively.
Last edited:
the roof I dont want to think about because im not sure how to handle it. I want a quick fix right now because I dont want to get to involved in this truck right now and have it turn into a torn apart to rebuild project. I hope to get it on the road soon and use it so I can get back to my rat rod, but that roof does need some attension. The late 80s has a 302 with a 4 speed. runs great burns a little oil, heater and brakes are great but the bed and rear of the frame are shot. I think they use to use this truck to haul salt around. plus the back half of the cab is rusted off the floor so the door is very frustrating to shut. if I didnt use the truck to haul around stuff Id keep it longer but to many times I want to put 1000lbs in the back
My green and white ford looks pretty solid and for the most part it was except you cant see the drivers door hinges had rusted off the cowl and you cant see where a pallet of shingles pushed the back of the cab in 6 inches...
still trying to get this together got the figguring and recombobulating done and rolled it into the garage. brought it out recently and getting geared up to tear it down for fit and finish.
just an example of far you can go to make one good old ford out of 3 or 4
hope it can inspire you. save everything you never know...
BTW... the red truck is a 76 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive that had a 390 and c6 and the green one is a 77 f150 full time 4x4 with a 460 and a c6...it's getting lockouts, gear drive transfercase and a 4 speed when i tear it down for paint.
the way I cut the frame horns out of the 4x4 allowed the crossmember to slip inside of the 2 wheel drive rails and box them behind the splice. Notice the splice is foreward of the spring perches. the only aftermarket parts are the 460 motor swap mounts.
if you ever have any questions about these I've researched them extensively.
tourchmann, I want to see your pictures but when I click on the x nothing happens
I agree but you never know what you get when you borrow a truck. the orange one drove better. once I had the truck on the trailor the red one hardly had the power to stop and I only drove through town and the auto trans had a mind of its own. still the red is cooler and I was greatful to my friend for the loner.
Torch
Extremely dangerous with a torch!!!
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2008
- Messages
- 1,627
I've done alot of bodywork...good and bad...there isn't any "right way" to do anythign without specifying the goal you wish to achieve.
If all you want to do is keep the weather out of the hole and make it shiney....
fill it with spray foam, grind back the sheetmetal, and repair the hole with kitty hair.
it'll last a few ears that way...
...ps you can also paint it with some of that $20 a gallon tractor enamel or rustoleum...with a brush if you don;t care.
I had a 63 gmc had the rockers and cab supports rusting out. All I wanted to do was keep the water out so i cleaned the metal up around the holes with a wire brush, duct taped over the holes...filled the rockers and cab supports with spray foam (the sticky yellow kind) and after it set up worked it out flat with a pistol grinder and kitty haired over it.
It lasted 5 more years and stopped the rust from advancing...all I wanted out of it...
If all you want to do is keep the weather out of the hole and make it shiney....
fill it with spray foam, grind back the sheetmetal, and repair the hole with kitty hair.
it'll last a few ears that way...
...ps you can also paint it with some of that $20 a gallon tractor enamel or rustoleum...with a brush if you don;t care.
I had a 63 gmc had the rockers and cab supports rusting out. All I wanted to do was keep the water out so i cleaned the metal up around the holes with a wire brush, duct taped over the holes...filled the rockers and cab supports with spray foam (the sticky yellow kind) and after it set up worked it out flat with a pistol grinder and kitty haired over it.
It lasted 5 more years and stopped the rust from advancing...all I wanted out of it...
Willowbilly3
A *real* tin magnet
I'll guarantee the whole roof line is rotted out. Those are a bear to dig into, even just a couple pinholes means there is no metal left. Best to find a whole roof and whack it off. Or do a quick and dirty that will last a year or two. Kill the rust the best you can with chemicals or what ever and fix the hole with fiberglass and bondo.
gassersgarage
The California Kid
Wives are funny. I had a perfectly good '72 Chevy Custom Cab 2500. BBC, auto, a/c, tilt, power disc brakes, etc......My wife says to buy a new Dodge Ram. I ask why, I have everything the new truck has. My wife says, "Don't be so cheap, I like the look of the new Dodge!". Sold the Chevy and bought the Dodge.
I left out one of the funny parts
lately my wife has been getting tired of me working on stuff and not spending time with her(lately its been house stuff that has to get done). So Im looking at this truck and thinking I want it but should not get it because I dont feel I have the time to work on it. I go to the car and tell my wife I want to show her the truck and tell her what work it needs, thinking she will see me out in the shop and not with her and tell me I shouldnt get it. I was excited about the truck and said, Look its got an eight track player. My wife says, oh cool, you got to get it. So I got it. I really did not expect her to approve and for sure did not think the deciding factor would be an eight track player.
lately my wife has been getting tired of me working on stuff and not spending time with her(lately its been house stuff that has to get done). So Im looking at this truck and thinking I want it but should not get it because I dont feel I have the time to work on it. I go to the car and tell my wife I want to show her the truck and tell her what work it needs, thinking she will see me out in the shop and not with her and tell me I shouldnt get it. I was excited about the truck and said, Look its got an eight track player. My wife says, oh cool, you got to get it. So I got it. I really did not expect her to approve and for sure did not think the deciding factor would be an eight track player.
