So I posted up about wanting another Gal after selling the 65' a few months back.

I always loved the old Ford trucks, and have a pair of late 70's rigs here that I wanted to build into two. Now after selling the Gal, and wanting another, I'm at a mild crossroads.

I had the cool old moredoor, miss it greatly, want another. On the other hand, I got the trucks and think it would be a neat project to bump around town in.

I don't think at this present time it would be in my best interest to pick up another car until I can unload the trucks (if this route is taken), so I can pad the account more as the economy is really slow here. But if I sold the trucks, I could get a pretty nice car.........

The trucks in question, the donor is a 79' F150 4x4 longbed, 460 powered, rust bucket. Lots of new parts. Runs and drives but falling apart, tranny needs a rebuild.

The project is a 78'ish F150, on a F250 frame and axles, shortbed, in really pretty good shape with minor body work needed. I think it would be sharp with the right set of rims and oversized tires, cleaned up and running.

So what would you do if you had a love of older Fords, trucks and cars alike, and were in my shoes?

Let me show you some pics: donor then the project rig

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Got an 86 my grandson and I are going to tinker on. Have to grab a pic tomorrow.

1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.

If you cant make up your mind, just send them to me (you pay the shipping) and your worries will be over.
Seriously, you know the true condition of both of the trucks,if either one has a decent frame, I would redo one of them into a nice driver

hey i love big trucks.. to bad mine is a 79 f-250 LB 2wd.. factory BB truck with a swaped in homemade motor mount havein 351w.. but i think it would make a bad street machine.. looks like the first pic tho.. box is rerally rough.. but the rest is in remarkably good condition..

O BTW i always thought the 78 model trucks/bronco's had round headlights.. and the 79's had square?

but either way if yea got the stuff.. why not put em together and make a nice ride.. it will be cheaper than buyin a new ride.. and if yea wanna you could get the truck fixed up and trade it or sell it for what yea want?

just my 2 scents

Nothing wrong with truck projects....especially Ford truck projects. Go for it!!!!

Blair, dump the 460 truck on craigslist after you've transferred all the good usable but not easily obtained parts to the Highboy Short Box. That shorty is waaaay nicer

Sell that junky long box, keep the other one

Thanks for the input fellas.

I almost have my Jeep CJ back to the trails, so the Ford would take precedence in the garage.

I think between the two, I have all the parts to make one complete truck, although some things could stand replaced I sure.

It would be a low buck deal for the most part, time consuming (aren't they all), but should be pretty straight forward.

The only cost should be if the spare handshaker is not good enough for the swap in, then I'd have to rebuild one of the two.

You know I put that 460 in there back in 01' with nothing but a couple gaskets, a waterpump, timing chain/gears, and a bigger carb?

The effer still runs solid. Leaks like a sieve, but runs good. Only problem I have with it is when it sits, it will crank like a bitch and not light off. I guess the gas bleeds out of the carb when it sits.

The longbed has a new rad, gas tank with sending unit, ignition system, alt, blah, blah, blah. Lots of good stuff.
Guess this could be a sort of replacement for the Gal for now huh?

Chuck, the frame under the shorty is a shortened frame, has been fishplated, painted, more or less redone. The axles are also painted and cleaned up.

Jon, yea, I was told it's a 78' with 79's lights and what not. I dunno. I have no title for it, I'll transfer the stuff from the 79' big block truck.

Have to mull it over.
Thanks again for the input and encouragement!!!!!

The shortie (be it a modded long frame or not) is far more popular than the long bed...

It's simply the best truck for your buck. Plus, all the parts (including the new radiator) will fit in the short truck...

That's cool. I was wondering what may not cross over when the time comes sooner than later.

The steering is not hooked up on the shortie, it looks much different then the typical draglink on the longbed.

The draglink looks like it's maybe a foot or so long. Did that tie into the driverside knuckle on the F250/F350 rigs?

I wish the 96' didn't need some work, I'd drag this around front pronto........the CJ is going trail riding in two weeks!

Will the motor mounts be useable on the shortie? I can't even remember where I got them from.....

Later,

BLT

I have a 1978 truck dealer brochure that shows rectangular headlights in most photos and round headlights only on the base model trucks (Custom, with no added chrome doo-dads). The text also states that the Ranger package automatically includes rectangular headlights, that would probably include the Ranger XLT and Ranger Lariat.



So, probably most fleet trucks and work trucks came with round headlights and campers and personal use trucks came with rectangular lights.

I think that in 1979 rectangular lights were statdard across the board.

Ed's right, I saw the rectangular become standard right about 1979.