Author Topic: Yet another project - 1978 F250 - Pics inside (Read 4470 times)

Hope · « **on:** March 03, 2009, 08:00:14 AM »

Hi all,

I know my visits here have been sparse as of late. I've been working on my 97 Taurus that I affectionately call the Blue Bull, and I am at my wits end on my 99 Nissan Frontier. I am finally saying 'to hell' with the Nissan. I'm slapping a for sale sign on it, and forging forward with a REAL truck. That's right fellas, I hit the 'buy it now' button on ebay and drove 12 hours one way for this bad boy:

cleveland · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2009, 08:42:47 AM »

Wow, that's pretty clean, but you know what pics we REALLY want to see. Pop the hood and show us what she looks like.

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2009, 10:22:14 AM »

My Grandpa still has his 73 F250 farm truck with the 4 spd manual. It's a total POS after years of hard use but I absolutely love it. Holes all over the place, "custom" wood bedliner, rusted beyond repair. The special starting procedure involves pumping the gas pedal exactly 15 times.

I drove it to high school a couple times to show off to my friends.

mattcb350f · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2009, 03:11:04 PM »

WOW

that is a clean truck Hope!

I'm curious too as to what mill is under the hood.

You'll be very happy with that truck for sure. those I beam fords are iron tough.

If you need parts, I recommend these guys: http://broncograveyard.com/

I've got a few parts for my 94' 150 such as rear springs, front hubs etc. and the prices couldn't be beat...even with the tax across border into Canada with the shipping.

..and hey, Ted Nugent does some promo work for them so you know they're good

Matt.

mark · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2009, 09:05:03 PM »

Quote from: cleveland on March 03, 2009, 08:42:47 AM

Wow, that's pretty clean, but you know what pics we REALLY want to see. Pop the hood and show us what she looks like.

+1 Looks good!

Having the Nissan mashed into a little cube and then hauling it around in the Ford for awhile would probably be good therapy for all three of you.

There's a bunch of good stuff here - mostly about the '67-'72 rigs but the machinery is the same.

They seem to allow girls too.

Happy trails.

74cb750 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2009, 07:18:43 AM »

Does it have low milage or high?

When I sold my 1995 F150 it had 225,000miles on it with almost no rust.

rbmgf7 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2009, 01:54:32 PM »

there's a real truck

drove a 96 f150 that had about 210000. just got a midsize because i was needing something more fuel friendly. 15mpg on the highway wasn't cutting it, lol

Hope · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2009, 09:51:36 AM »

Quote from: mattcb350f on March 03, 2009, 03:11:04 PM

WOW that is a clean truck Hope!

I'm curious too as to what mill is under the hood.

You'll be very happy with that truck for sure. those I beam fords are iron tough.

If you need parts, I recommend these guys: http://broncograveyard.com/

I've got a few parts for my 94' 150 such as rear springs, front hubs etc. and the prices couldn't be beat...even with the tax across border into Canada with the shipping.

..and hey, Ted Nugent does some promo work for them so you know they're good

Matt.

Under hood pics to come. The manufacturer's air cleaner is sure to disappoint ya'll. Hopefully I'll get a chrome air cleaner and valve covers in there soon.

Thanks for the Bronco link. I ordered a catalog.

Here's to being able to work on your own vehicle

J.Webster Designs · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2009, 03:38:31 PM »

I have a 79 and am a part of

http://7879blueovalbronco.com/forums/index.php

It's a branch off of the guys from

http://projectbronco.com/

ANY and ALL information that you will ever need to know about these old trucks can be found at those two sites. most of the guys on projectbronco.com are making the switch over to 7879blueovalbronco.com because the projectbronco site owner has completely left the site hanging in disrepair and wont sell it off to anyone... so 7879blueovalbronco is a new site. but between the two you will find anything you will ever need. crazy bunch of guys too....

DarkRider · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2009, 07:28:17 PM »

Nice truck Hope.

LMAO!! @ your new avatar midnight

J.Webster Designs · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2009, 08:34:08 PM »

lol... i though it was fitting.

Hope · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2009, 07:14:25 AM »

Here's your money shots:

Better quality pics to come. I want to put chrome valve covers and a chrome air cleaner on it soon.

351 cleaveland modified 400.

J.Webster Designs · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2009, 08:20:59 AM »

so is it a 351M? or a 400? they are different motors.

Hope · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:19:47 AM »

It rolled out of the Ford factory as a 400M

mystic_1 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:24:00 AM »

Quote from: mark on March 03, 2009, 09:05:03 PM

Having the Nissan mashed into a little cube and then hauling it around in the Ford for awhile would probably be good therapy for all three of you.

Ahhahahahahah!! Thanks for the laugh. I totally second this suggestion!

Nice truck Hope, the underhood shots show just how clean it is. Looks like a good solid platform for just about anything you'd like to do to it.

mystic_1

Hope · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2009, 12:20:19 PM »

Quote from: mystic_1 on March 07, 2009, 07:24:00 AM

Nice truck Hope, the underhood shots show just how clean it is. Looks like a good solid platform for just about anything you'd like to do to it.

mystic_1

I am so tickled to have this truck home. It reminds me so much of my Dad's old 77 F100 with his 351W, 750 Holley carbs, slap shift, racing gears... Yup, that's what I learned to drive on! However, this truck is really no where close to what he did.... but it reminds me of it.

I loved that truck.

Hope · « **Reply #16 on:** June 17, 2009, 08:37:12 PM »

Here's a video I made last month when I was supposed to be studying for finals.

[youtube=425,350]2aO5A86Mufk[/youtube]

bucky katt · « **Reply #17 on:** June 17, 2009, 09:09:43 PM »

that 400m is a good, torquey motor. uses the same distributor as the 429/460 also has the same bellhousing pattern.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2009, 09:11:50 PM »

Nice old truck you got there girl

Sam.

Caaveman82 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2009, 11:58:31 AM »

Hope,

That paint job is rad. Are you going to keep it? If you ever want to redo the wheels shoot me a PM I could do them at cost for you. Could customize them too if you want.

Hope · « **Reply #20 on:** June 18, 2009, 08:55:24 PM »

I just got the wheels, so I doubt I do anything with them anytime soon. I am going back to the original style paint job for the Explorer. It will look like this when I am done:

bucky katt · « **Reply #21 on:** June 18, 2009, 09:06:34 PM »

this thread makes me want something with 8 cylinders again................time to find something really cheap for the 408 windsor motor i have in the garage

Hope · « **Reply #22 on:** June 18, 2009, 09:33:58 PM »

New video of the truck.....

[youtube=425,350]Pg1o3ptEKE[/youtube]

Hope · « **Reply #23 on:** June 18, 2009, 10:10:14 PM »

Ever since I put this truck on the road, I've been looking at the Torninos a lot. My mom used to have a Grand Torino Elite and then before that she had a Torino Sport. Both of them had rockin V8s and they both were lookers.

When people get them right, they go for a pretty penny. You can't find one cheap unless you are going to fix it up yourself.

bucky katt · « **Reply #24 on:** June 19, 2009, 08:09:53 AM »

Quote from: texaninseattle on June 18, 2009, 09:53:24 PM

Quote from: bucky katt on June 18, 2009, 09:06:34 PM
this thread makes me want something with 8 cylinders again................time to find something really cheap for the 408 windsor motor i have in the garage

How about a Fairmont?

i've actually thought about one of those mid 80's ,mid sized mercury marquis' they share underpinnings with the mustang/capri/fairmont/t-bird. a 4 door one with the stock steel wheels and hubcaps. maybe painted something like a #$%* brown or tan. a real sleeper.

Hope · « **Reply #25 on:** March 03, 2010, 06:34:36 PM »

Update on the truck....

At the end of last summer, we tore down the bottom end of the motor and changed the rod bearings, main bearings, transmission fluid and filter, oil pump, and oil pump. We also cleaned the valve body. Because I have been busy with school, I currently have the dash apart. I am putting working gauges in it. The old speedometer doesn't work, so I pulled one from an 80s model van (fits perfect) and put it in my cluster. I just have to put the cluster back in the dash.

I got a new windshield and sliding back glass. I got a bed mat. My gf got a new dash cover that I haven't put in yet.

The truck is still a work in progress. I got Ford to send me a copy of everything that came original in the truck, and I am trying to do it back to original specs with very few mods:

Sliding back glass:

She's a looker:

Check out what we found when we dropped the transmission pan to change the fluid and filter.

Who can identify this part below:

bucky katt · « **Reply #26 on:** March 03, 2010, 06:43:26 PM »

thats ugly Hope, is it a C-6 or an FMX trans? (fmx is iron case with aluminum bell housing, C-6 is aluminum one piece) brown fluid and chunks mean rebuild time, or get a rebuilt unit from B+M or TCI for around 600 or so. dont forget to either flush the torque converter really thoroughly or (best idea) replace, stock torque converter wont set you back much.

Hope · « **Reply #27 on:** March 03, 2010, 07:25:53 PM »

It's a C6.

bucky katt · « **Reply #28 on:** March 03, 2010, 07:35:13 PM »

excellent, a much MUCH better transmission.

mark · « **Reply #29 on:** March 03, 2010, 07:59:31 PM »

The mystery part is a plug used during assembly - so they can install the dipstick tube with the trans. already filled with fluid. Its presence merely indicates that the pan has never been off... or that someone just tossed it back in for whatever reason.

You will want a torque wrench calibrated in inch pounds to put the valve body together and back on.

It wouldn't hurt to put in a basic shift kit like one from Transgo. http://www.txchange.com/transgo.htm Save the B&M kit for the track. Avoid anything TCI like plague rats.

I wouldn't panic over a few flakes in the pan of a 32 year old trans. Looks like a bit of thrust washer material. If it slips rebuild it, if not run it. If the owner's manual or stampings on the dipstick say to use TYPE F fluid use it do not substitute Dexron.

The trans is a C6. The parts to completely rebuild, including torque converter, should be in the $350-400 range. Complete instructions in any Chilton shop manual of the period. The Haynes Ford transmission book isn't bad. Replacement friction material is compatible with Dexron fluid.

bucky katt · « **Reply #30 on:** March 03, 2010, 08:03:00 PM »

too bad youre in LA and i'm here. i have a C-6 with the big block bellhousing pattern that was behind a 400 in a Galaxie, has about 5000 miles on it and the heavy duty torque converter.

Hope · « **Reply #31 on:** March 04, 2010, 05:18:03 PM »

Mark,

You are correct about the mystery part. Notice how I circled the "Ford" stamp on the transmission filter? Know what that means? ONLY the original FORD transmission filter was stamped FORD. Replacement filters were not stamped FORD.

Fellas, I found myself a virgin truck.

When we dropped the pan and folks saw 30 years worth of yuck, they said the transmission would never work again. Wrong. We cleaned the valve body, replaced the filter, and put fluid back in it, and she rolls again.

Yep, I kept the original filter. Do you blame me?

Stev-o · « **Reply #32 on:** March 04, 2010, 06:29:52 PM »

Nice truck! Reminds me of my '78 F150 4x4 that I had years ago, it had a 400 also.
How many miles?

bucky katt · « **Reply #33 on:** March 04, 2010, 06:33:13 PM »

those 400m motors really respond nicely to a really mild cam, you get just stupid amounts of torque with a small-ish RV cam. dont even change to a 4 barrel carb, keep the 2. way more mileage and torque, stock torque converter too.

Hope · « **Reply #34 on:** March 05, 2010, 03:25:49 PM »

74,000 miles.

Here are some current pics:

News:

Author Topic: Yet another project - 1978 F250 - Pics inside (Read 4470 times)