Sac79 Posted June 29, 2019 Share Posted June 29, 2019 Hi everyone, This is my 'tinker' thread which snowballed into a rebuild... Instead of telling the whole story over, I'll just post some pics(everyone likes pictures) and then essentially start the project thread with building the truck back up, which I would appreciate everyone's help with. When I took the truck apart I was not planning on leaving it that way for 3 years... Still running... Going down the rabbit hole... I'll have to paint this again since the painter got blue on it! Replaced the springs with the leveling ones. Then it went to the paintshop like this the first time... Then some months later it came back to me, minus the bed and other panels with the cab painted. And I proceeded to go further down the hole... Did the control arms this time too. An idea of the painters workmanship... The frame 'painted'. Finally got everything back a long time later... I still have to clean this windshield. Isn't taping off glass like painting 101? Getting ready for the move to Alabama. Panels went in the bed. Tinted windows and new weatherstripping installed. For some reason I can't find a picture of the truck on the uHaul trailer, but it only just fit. And here's where we are now. The bed is heavier and the cab lighter than expected, when thought of as a two-man lift. Anyway, that is where we are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac79 Posted June 29, 2019 Author Share Posted June 29, 2019 I'm removing the engine and taking it to a shop to be 'cleaned'. They'll vat & clean the block, install new cam bearings & freeze plugs, hone the cylinders, mic & polish the crank and rework the head for around $600. I hate to rely on someone again, but I really don't have the facilities to do this at my house. I also don't really have the capabilities... The transmission is just getting new seals and gaskets. And maybe paint. I found a kit on Bronco Graveyard for $20. The transfer case will remain untouched(maybe just paint), it wasn't leaking and I don't plan on doing any serious off-road driving. Thoughts, suggestions, advice? Once I get the engine back I'll paint it. While it's away I'll be painting the frame and hopefully get to the axles too, but that's for another post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpin Posted June 29, 2019 Share Posted June 29, 2019 I'm removing the engine and taking it to a shop to be 'cleaned'. They'll vat & clean the block, install new cam bearings & freeze plugs, hone the cylinders, mic & polish the crank and rework the head for around $600. I hate to rely on someone again, but I really don't have the facilities to do this at my house. I also don't really have the capabilities... The transmission is just getting new seals and gaskets. And maybe paint. I found a kit on Bronco Graveyard for $20. The transfer case will remain untouched(maybe just paint), it wasn't leaking and I don't plan on doing any serious off-road driving. Thoughts, suggestions, advice? Once I get the engine back I'll paint it. While it's away I'll be painting the frame and hopefully get to the axles too, but that's for another post. Wow! Looks like you got a little carried away! It’ll be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salans7 Posted June 29, 2019 Share Posted June 29, 2019 Wow! Looks like you got a little carried away! It’ll be great! You'll find a lot of us have also gotten carried away. Gary, who created this little home for us, is REALLY good at getting carried away. But in the end you're gonna have a like new truck and all the hard work will be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted June 29, 2019 Share Posted June 29, 2019 Gary, who created this little home for us, is REALLY good at getting carried away. Guilty as charged. Let me count the times........ Anyway, that is quite the project! Three years isn't too long. In fact, that's about right. But you are getting things done now. And, the price on the engine is really good. Obviously you'll have a rebuild kit to buy, but the other work is cheap. Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 Gary, who created this little home for us, is REALLY good at getting carried away. Guilty as charged. Let me count the times........ Anyway, that is quite the project! Three years isn't too long. In fact, that's about right. But you are getting things done now. And, the price on the engine is really good. Obviously you'll have a rebuild kit to buy, but the other work is cheap. Where in Alabama, Rob? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 You'll find a lot of us have also gotten carried away. Gary, who created this little home for us, is REALLY good at getting carried away. But in the end you're gonna have a like new truck and all the hard work will be worth it. I am also guilty of getting carried away. Buy a cheap truck for trash runs that needed some work and do a body off frame rebuild. I am also on the "over" the 3 year plan! Yours is looking good like the rest of us a little bit at a time and before you know it it will be done. Dave ---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac79 Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 Where in Alabama, Rob? David, we live just outside Bham, in St Clair county. We really like it so far. So I've made some progress on the truck. After removing the engine and getting it over to the shop, the frame got cleaned and prepped for paint. Removing the u bolts was a real pain, but after that all went smoothly. I had to spread out my paint sessions over a couple of weeks, just doing a little at a time to avoid having the entire house smell of chassis saver. Not that the smell was terrible, but the fumes are pretty bad. One bad thing about working in a basement garage, but at least it's cool. I've moved on to the front-end now. Got that all disassembled after a hard fight with the ball joints... Cleaning and painting that, before reassembly. I've also picked up my engine again, ended up being closer to a rebuild than a cleaned engine. But I believe it will be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 David, we live just outside Bham, in St Clair county. We really like it so far. So I've made some progress on the truck. After removing the engine and getting it over to the shop, the frame got cleaned and prepped for paint. Removing the u bolts was a real pain, but after that all went smoothly. I had to spread out my paint sessions over a couple of weeks, just doing a little at a time to avoid having the entire house smell of chassis saver. Not that the smell was terrible, but the fumes are pretty bad. One bad thing about working in a basement garage, but at least it's cool. I've moved on to the front-end now. Got that all disassembled after a hard fight with the ball joints... Cleaning and painting that, before reassembly. I've also picked up my engine again, ended up being closer to a rebuild than a cleaned engine. But I believe it will be worth it. Welcome Back, Kotter! Yes, I understand about the smell of Chassis Saver. I had a stall in the garage at another house and that smell caused problems. Now I have my own shop building and I paint one day and enjoy the smell the next day. Anyway, it is looking good! I certainly understand "a million pieces". That's what it seems both my trucks are in. But, in the end it'll all be worth it. Keep on truckin'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 I love this truck! As much as I like the Lariats and XLT's, etc, I like the plain trucks even better! I don't know if it is nostalgia since a lot of the trucks around here were like that when I was growing up, or if its just that I like the simplicity of them. Nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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