My dad had a silver on red 1983 stepside 2WD with the 300 I6 and an automatic when I was really young. We loved that truck... well, most of the time. Three distinct memories I have are being there when he bought it (I brought some Hot Wheels to "test drive" myself), being there when it broke down once (my mom and I had to walk a couple miles in the pouring rain to my grandmother's because the fuel pump quit), and the noise of the malfunctioning speed warning in the speedo (I called it the "bumble bee" because it buzzed furiously above 40mph").
He also later had a 1992 Flareside, this time a 4x4 with the rare Nite appearance package. I drove that truck for a time in college as my daily. I found working on it was a PITA, but I liked it. It was a great looking truck, too. He ditched it about 6-7 years ago after the rear spring mounts rotted and the cab corners/fenders started to rot out. Part of me wishes I kept it.
All that said, I want one BAD. Make mine 2WD with the 80-86 front end and a nice, scrappy 5.0. This thread is not helping.
Besides a cool shop truck that'd be a great sleeper. Brain fart, and I had a '77 2WD. Twin I-Beam rode well. They can be lowered but never compare to double A-arm type for adjustability/ cornering.
Meh, get the saws and MIG welder out.
I'm about 1.5 from Bedford. That's Southern IN good ol boy meth country.
Crown Vic front end swap?
JThw8
UltimaDork
2/6/16 10:27 a.m.
BoostedBrandon wrote:
Crown Vic front end swap?
swap is a loose term but yes its a well documented conversion and not very difficult.
JThw8
UltimaDork
2/6/16 10:28 a.m.
And Woody is right the original truck here has the wrong bed. In that photo its not very noticeable but I
ve seen dozens done this way up here in rust country and it looks wrong, none of the body lines match up. If you want a beater truck, fine, if you want something more, its overpriced for what it is.
So now that that's covered, somebody buy that '79 already.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1172345-lowering-my-78-f150-and-crown-vic-suspension-swap.html
Lotta pitchers
BlueInGreen44 wrote:
I would probably have already sent an email if it were closer to me... but I might be murdered if I brought that home right now.
Although I'll be in Winona Lake (halfway between home and Indy) in a couple weeks... Hmm.
it says Bedford ... but not where Bedford is .... that's probably a good thing LOL ...
plus it's a good thing that there's zero room for another vehicle at casalawb
IndyJoe wrote:
That's sweet looking too, but I like the square headlights better.
but LED's are available in round ... not in square yet ... much less plug in's
wbjones wrote:
BlueInGreen44 wrote:
I would probably have already sent an email if it were closer to me... but I might be murdered if I brought that home right now.
Although I'll be in Winona Lake (halfway between home and Indy) in a couple weeks... Hmm.
it says Bedford ... but not where Bedford is .... that's probably a good thing LOL ...
Bedford is about an hour and half south of Indy, down hwy 37. The owner's name is Ray and his phone number is (812) 583-4373. I talked to him the other day. He's a nice guy and is currently driving the truck.
JThw8
UltimaDork
2/6/16 12:32 p.m.
IndyJoe, all due respect its about a $1200 truck at best based on what it needs and all. Make him an offer in the $1000 range or maybe even $800. I'm guessing based on what is known is needed, there's even more hiding to be found in the not good way.
I had a 79 F150, truck was awesome.
I have a set of the round fenders on a home made short bed box my dad picked up for almost nothing. Fenders or bed could certainly go down the road with one of you for not a lot.
Been spending waay too much time thinkin' about a truck like this.
If this truck would end up w/ you or as a project in your garage what would you do/ build?
Been havin' crazy thoughts meself.
In reply to fasted58:
Crown vic front end conversion, ford 8.8 rear, a decent SBF with some sort of manual trans. Basically a muscle truck that turns corners, better than stock anyway.
Cooter
Reader
2/7/16 10:18 a.m.
I would swap all the Crown Vic things under it.
Or run a 460 with the Vic front and rear.
This posting has been deleted by its author. Yea, it's gone.
That did gimme some crazy idears tho.
Woody
MegaDork
2/14/16 9:01 p.m.
Here's another in Maine:
http://maine.craigslist.org/cto/5406946305.html
1980 Ford f100 stepside - $3200 (Kennebunk)
1980 Ford f-100 step-side 2wd automatic with 300/6.
Body and frame are in very good condition, paint is good but not perfect.
Mechanically was driven regularly until two years ago when I decided to pull the head and rod it up a little with a clifford 4 barrel intake. Well, one thing led to another and I dove into it a bit more than I wanted to. All parts are there to put it back including newly rebuilt head, clifford intake, carb, new radiator, shift linkage, split manifolds, serpentine belt pulley system to convert multibelt to single, rare set of factory aluminum slot mag wheels, (Factory option only available for a couple years), spare set of fiberglass bedsides,, new split exhaust walker downpipe, and more. Probably have about $1200 in replacement parts. Asking 3,200 or trade for good condition jeep cj-7, wrangler, j-10, mustang fox body convertible. Would add cash for the right trade. Sold with Bill of Sale only
I have been tossing around an F150 as a Chump truck. Haven't really seen that other than the backward one. But if you swapped in a T5 and stripped some weight out you would have big brakes, bullet proof drivetrain, cheap to buy, and lots of torque. Oh, also maybe shorten the frame to get the weight back farther. You could loose most of the box and just leave the sides. Probably loose 1000 pounds without too much trouble.
Cooter
Reader
2/15/16 2:21 a.m.
You said "bullet proof drivetrain" in the same breath as T5.
Woody
MegaDork
2/25/16 3:56 p.m.
Let's keep this thing going...
1978 150 - $400
http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/5462650119.html
1978 f150 6cy for rebuild 3spd trans for rebuild 9inch rear as is 203 238 1660 leave message thank you 400
If you guys ever end up building one of these I have the complete efi system and accessory drive from an 1989 5.8 if you want to modernize the engine. Could be had for real cheap.
been searching south/ southwest CL ads for F-150 SWB step sides as a, uh winter hobby. Then Crown Vic front end swap, big brakes, lowered, 4-link 8.8, Coyote drive line... wait, a twin turbo 4.8 jy build would be the tits.
see what y'all did
Cooter
Reader
2/27/16 8:57 a.m.
Leave the patina and do this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdtV-kRY4dM
keep the steelies too