78 Ford F150 4x4 build (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 8/27/2025 8:36:07 PM EDT
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I have a 1978 F150 that I've been working on for about 4 years give or take. It's complicated and sentimental as to the why, how, and when of this whole project. But I first rode in it when I was 4yrs old. I grew up in the truck. I learned how to drive in this truck. I got my license at 15yrs old in the truck. I turned this truck up on it's side when I was about 17yrs old. A huge oak tree fell on it and crushed it not long after that. It has been re-bodied 2 or 3 times and this is the final form that myself and my father are working on. Way too much to talk about. Every nut and bolt has been touched. Literally everything is new, rebuilt, changed, and/or different than it's ever been before. I have a ton of money and time dedicated to it. It's still not done. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
| Too bad you're not closer, I'd give you some dana 44 axle shafts, lock out hubs and a NP 205 T case for it. |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
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Originally Posted By fxntime: Too bad you're not closer, I'd give you some dana 44 axle shafts, lock out hubs and a NP 205 T case for it. I very much appreciate the sentiment and stopping by the thread. This project has expanded way beyond it's original intent. It has a freshly built front end, 4:10, trac lok, chromoly axles, Spicer "blue's joints, Toms 4x4 driveshafts, etc. Everything has been done. Twice. Lol |
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: Late 70's Ford trucks are my favorite. A man of taste and culture I see. (Twin Stick in this bad sonvabitch) Attached File |
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468 cubic inch. Should be 525-550hp. Would be more if I went with more aggressive cam. Should have lots of torques. I was actually driving it last year. But it got torn down last fall and the whole package has changed. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By foursixty: I very much appreciate the sentiment and stopping by the thread. This project has expanded way beyond it's original intent. It has a freshly built front end, 4:10, trac lok, chromoly axles, Spicer "blue's joints, Toms 4x4 driveshafts, etc. Everything has been done. Twice. Lol Originally Posted By foursixty: Originally Posted By fxntime: Too bad you're not closer, I'd give you some dana 44 axle shafts, lock out hubs and a NP 205 T case for it. I very much appreciate the sentiment and stopping by the thread. This project has expanded way beyond it's original intent. It has a freshly built front end, 4:10, trac lok, chromoly axles, Spicer "blue's joints, Toms 4x4 driveshafts, etc. Everything has been done. Twice. Lol Great trucks with quality drivetrains [other then smogged engines]. I had a 79' Bronco, 400m [built mildly] c6, NP205 44, and 9 inch rear. 4' lift/35's. Loved gas stations but wheeled quite well. |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
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Originally Posted By fxntime: Great trucks with quality drivetrains [other then smogged engines]. I had a 79' Bronco, 400m [built mildly] c6, NP205 44, and 9 inch rear. 4' lift/35's. Loved gas stations but wheeled quite well. You're right. They really were great trucks. I know I look back through rose-tinted glasses at times, but in their era especially, they were great. The 351 and 400 both got a bad rap. But they were good truck engines. Coil* spring front. All gear driven NP205, stout 9" rear,...they were/are great platforms. |
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Donor truck. Lariat. Racetrack chrome. Square headlights. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By foursixty: You're right. They really were great trucks. I know I look back through rose-tinted glasses at times, but in their era especially, they were great. The 351 and 400 both got a bad rap. But they were good truck engines. Coil* spring front. All gear driven NP205, stout 9" rear,...they were/are great platforms. Originally Posted By foursixty: Originally Posted By fxntime: Great trucks with quality drivetrains [other then smogged engines]. I had a 79' Bronco, 400m [built mildly] c6, NP205 44, and 9 inch rear. 4' lift/35's. Loved gas stations but wheeled quite well. You're right. They really were great trucks. I know I look back through rose-tinted glasses at times, but in their era especially, they were great. The 351 and 400 both got a bad rap. But they were good truck engines. Coil* spring front. All gear driven NP205, stout 9" rear,...they were/are great platforms. Far FAR better drive trains and suspension then the chevy blazer and 1/2 ton pick ups. You could get some equal quality if you specced them right but the 10 inch was weak and the C6 and NP205 9 inch combo was damn stout and I'll take a 9 inch Ford axle over any 10 inch and being a 3rd member type just means double frosting on the cake. So much easier to set up on a bench rather then under a vehicle. |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
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I have an older brother to your donor truck, 77 Attached File |
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Originally Posted By chase237: I have an older brother to your donor truck, 77 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/261558/IMG_0897_jpg-3615252.JPG Lol. You sure do. Very close. I'm hoping to have it altogether this winter. It will likely take me some time to find some of the chrome and things. Getting harder and harder to find parts, and even harder to find good quality parts. |
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Originally Posted By chase237: I have an older brother to your donor truck, 77 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/261558/IMG_0897_jpg-3615252.JPG That one has a color scheme that's dangerously close to my first truck... 
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Originally Posted By Dangus: That one has a color scheme that's dangerously close to my first truck... https://i.imgur.com/YYR1LI6.jpeg Originally Posted By Dangus: Originally Posted By chase237: I have an older brother to your donor truck, 77 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/261558/IMG_0897_jpg-3615252.JPG That one has a color scheme that's dangerously close to my first truck... https://i.imgur.com/YYR1LI6.jpeg Ford was really into those colors around that time. My 79' Bronco was brown with a big tan/orange/cream [yellow] stripe set up down the side of it, on the hood, and over the top of it. |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
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Originally Posted By fxntime: Ford was really into those colors around that time. My 79' Bronco was brown with a big tan/orange/cream [yellow] stripe set up down the side of it, on the hood, and over the top of it. Was it perhaps a freewheeling model? ETA: They had lots of unique color ways and trims back then. Lots of regional/area/dealer options as well. I'm still learning of some I haven't heard of. Pretty cool. I'm a truck guy, but I like the old broncos as well. With good tires they were goats from the factory. I have 2.5 trucks I guess you'd say. Many years ago when I was a little kid this was a daily driver/weekend mud truck. It had a hard life and has seen some things. If I get this one finished and can ever recover financially, and preferably before I'm dead,....I intend to build my other one. As a mud/trail truck. I have frame, body, axles, etc. But that's a long ways off. It's so expensive to do anything these days. And I have champagne taste and a beer budget, so I've been told. But you start one thing, and if your picky and want to do the job right, it winds up snowballing. One thing turns into ten. Next thing you know you have a highly modified full restoration. In the poor house 
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Slight update. Although the cab I'm using is a lariat with all the options I've decided to nix the racetrack chrome. Originally, as the truck was growing up, it was a Ranger XLT and had the upper chrome and not the lower racetrack. After many searches for the missing pieces I decided to call it off. I'm going to utilize the chrome it originally had instead of the racetrack. I don't want to ride around for years with holes in my fenders while I source the chrome. So....I'm changing to another (worse as far as body work is concerned) set of OEM fenders without the holes for the chrome. Pro-tip. I'm not a body man. But I've learned when patch so many holes like that in sheet metal, you wind up creating worse problem due to the shrinkage in the metal. It's very difficult to weld up these little holes without warping the panel. So. I'm changing fenders and exterior chrome. The hood that I painted looked really nice (it's definitely not perfect), but unfortunately I had a lot of trash in the clear. I was cutting most of the trash out when I realized I didn't get good coverage on the bottom lip of the hood. This wound up being me sanding the hood back down to color coat. I then sprayed one coat of fresh color on top of what I had, then sprayed 3 coats of high solids clear on top of that A lot of work but other than about 3 bugs, there isn't much trash in it. I'm spraying outside in an Amazon spray booth. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By 03screwlariat: Bump. Lol. Thanks. It's been slowed down a little on my end. We are finally starting to get some cooler temps. It's been so hot I've been putting off my body and paint projects. Trying to decide on what kind of seats I want. Did get a new little upgrade. Haven't installed it yet. Holley 850HP. Supposed to be good. I have lots of pics of the build but I've decided most probably aren't that interesting. I will upload a video walk-around of the truck once it's back together for people that might be interested. |
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A long time ago, in a not too far off place, when I was driving this truck (actually, just this frame) to school it was a very simple old truck that would go about anywhere reliably. It had a basic Burbank 4" lift w/rear blocks a Q78 tires. It now has a 6.5" set of coils in the front with BDS 6" springs in the back. When I went up this tall I had to have an adjustable trac bar to re-center the front axle. It has BDS radius arm brackets. One of the best things I've done to the suspension is add the traction bars. The shock brackets on the bottom of the axle housing were cut off and moved inward about 1.5" on both sides. This allowed me to mount the traction bar mounts in the old shock locations. It sounds like a pain in the ass because it was a little more work to do it this way, but the bars work great and look well thought out in my opinion. The big tall lift springs and the big-block were giving me weird vibrations, oscillations, and axle wrap. After installing these bars with the heim joint ends I didn't lose any articulation. But the truck is much more planted. It even shifts smoother. It's wild what a difference it made in this truck. I realize my posts and pics are out of order as I did this last year before the body swap. Anyway, the bars are awesome. Top 3 modification for sure. Attached File Attached File When the cab and front clip came off for the swap, the bed did as well. It's being replaced with another one. I don't have it painted yet, but 98% of the body work is done. The entire frame, as well as the entire bottom side of the bed and cab were painted with POR15Attached File Attached File |
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I worked on cutting little rivets and welding up holes in the lower part of the door(s) over the weekend. I've been lazy. Ain't gonna lie. Been hot here all summer and my day job isn't behind a desk. That said, it's turned out well so far. I held a brass punch on the back side of the holes so I could make a little "bridge" with my weld. It sounds difficult because it is. It's so easy to blow through sheet metal or warp it and screw it up. Anyway, it went well. The outer holes that won't be utilized were welded on front and rear of door. After that I ground it down and daubbed POR15 on the bare metal with an artists brush. Let it cure a bit. Then skimmed it with fiber filler. After that ready to prime and block. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Well guys, bear with me. Damn it's like two steps forward and one back it seems. I'm trying. Been working on the doors. One is ready to paint. One is in the process of being painted. I'd love to hang it a certain way and do both sides. But it doesn't matter. I mixed my paint a little thin and got some runs in the color. I'll let it cure overnight then scuff it and clear it. Truck got moved out of the shop under its own power earlier last week. Trans shifts all the gears. Motor sounds strong. No leaks as of right now. New hydro-boost brakes installed. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Arfcom truck Gents.... I appreciate the kind words and encouragement. I will continue to update as we go as long as people like and/or interested in it. I may be a smartass at times in GD, but I'm the most self doubting person you will find. My day job is grease monkey/flunky. Definitely not a pro. But trying hard. And if I can help guide or steer someone along the way, I'm happy for it. That's why I started this thread. Lord knows I've taken 2 steps forward and 1 back on every little detail. I know a lot of what works and what you have to "make work". Damn I wish I was better. So bear that in mind. I'm not a "pro" any damn thing. For instance..... I have roughly 20hrs invested in the doors so far. Keep in mind these are what I consider A+ tier OEM used, doors. The little dings, dents, sand scratches, etc eat your time alive. And then after you run out of talent, patience, and time,....you decide you have to get it done. At this point your "canvas" isn't perfect, but it's better than 99% of 50yr old door. Now you are spraying outside in a makeshift tent. Now in-between coats you got bugs tap dancing and backstroking through your last coat. So, you are disgruntled, and you are laying the coats on fast and heavy. (Less chance for bugs to practice their Artistic Swimming). But now you've created an underlying problem. Now since you are impatient and not waiting long enough to flash properly you get solvent pops. So...... That should tell you how it's going. Overall, pretty good!  Thanks for the interest and support guys. Attached File Attached File Attached File **ETA: I've decided the only way to fix my panels is to scuff and respray. At least the clear. The bugs and solvent pops win this round. But I have a paint booth upgrade coming tomorrow. |
| Looks great, OP. I'm not a grease monkey or a body guy, but I've spent a fair amount of time assisting friends that were. Getting doors to fit right on old pickups is a mofo. At some point, good enough just has to be good enough. |
"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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Originally Posted By Buckshot4U: Looks great, OP. I'm not a grease monkey or a body guy, but I've spent a fair amount of time assisting friends that were. Getting doors to fit right on old pickups is a mofo. At some point, good enough just has to be good enough. You're right. The fit will be good. They have never been off. Well....I'm the first to take them off. They will line up good. But you are very correct. My problem is I'm kinda sorta nervous twitch ocd perfectionist type person. My wife helped me move one door back in my sanding shed/body shop emporium after removing it from my weathered Amazon tent. As we were setting it on my sawhorses/sanding stand she was saying "it looks great, what's next..." ....while I'm simultaneously grabbing my sanding block Stay tuned. Gonna be good. I appreciate it very much!  
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I'm probably being stubborn and anal, but I've re-re-done my previous work and I've hit the wall. Body man I ain't. I got doors resprayed. During the drying of color coat my booth decided to collapse. I rushed in and used my arms outstretched like an albatross to hold it up off of my doors. Then it decided to fix itself and air back up. That was the 2nd major hiccup, and there were several along the way. So....it's as good as my talent allows. Maybe I can do better on the fenders. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By foursixty: During the drying of color coat my booth decided to collapse. I rushed in and used my arms outstretched like an albatross to hold it up off of my doors. Then it decided to fix itself and air back up. That would have been an asshole puckering profanity inducing event... On the other hand, maybe it's a sign from The Almighty to get the rest of the panels painted, get the truck back together, quit sweating the small stuff and just enjoy driving your kick ass pickup. |
"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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Originally Posted By Buckshot4U: That would have been an asshole puckering profanity inducing event... On the other hand, maybe it's a sign from The Almighty to get the rest of the panels painted, get the truck back together, quit sweating the small stuff and just enjoy driving your kick ass pickup. Originally Posted By Buckshot4U: Originally Posted By foursixty: During the drying of color coat my booth decided to collapse. I rushed in and used my arms outstretched like an albatross to hold it up off of my doors. Then it decided to fix itself and air back up. That would have been an asshole puckering profanity inducing event... On the other hand, maybe it's a sign from The Almighty to get the rest of the panels painted, get the truck back together, quit sweating the small stuff and just enjoy driving your kick ass pickup. Funny you say that.... I've decided since my "new" booth is bigger and the truck will fit, I'm going to put it back together and paint what's left altogether. The bed, and I want to touch a few spots on cab. I'm running out of good weather for the year. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
| That already looks damned fine. |
"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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Originally Posted By LeadBreakfast: Looking tough! Get that ole girl all buttoned up and spit shined to go cruise as soon as the sand is off the roads this spring! ETA had to go back to check OPs location...nevermind on the sand Lol. Thank goodness for that. No, generally we have mild winters. Seems like it rains every weekend. I'm going to get truck painted before winter one way or another. Then I can take my time this winter getting stuff like new grille and chrome. Thanks for stopping by the thread! A little door panel teaser... Attached File |
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Looking really good. Attached File |
Not a day passes over the earth, but men and women of no note do great deeds, speak great words, and suffer noble sorrows. Charles Reade
