the neices drivabeater

so I got my niece her first truck. she's about to turn 15, which in the state of north Carolina means she can get her learners permit. my brother specified something full framed, that we could work on, and damn near free.

well, I found a 77 f150 regular cab, long bed, 300 six, 3 on the tree, with a freshish interior for 600 bucks. I threw a battery and gas jug in it in the sellers yard, and took my niece for a spin in it. she fell in love immediately. my brother grunted something to the effect of "thick frame. not free. buy it anyway."

here's pics the day we drug it home on the trailer. I thought about driving it the 100 miles home, but it seemed like a recipe for a really bad day. tires are dry rotted, and the whole truck is a big flaming pile of unknown.

[URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/001_zps0b6a2a3b.jpg.html][/URL]

the first requirement I had was the my niece has to help on this thing almost every step of the way. I figure if shes going to drive it, she needs to know how its put together and how to fix it. my brothers first requirement was to spend no money that absolutely didn't have to be spent.

bree and I sat down and made a list that we broke down into three categories: safe, reliable, cool. in that order. cant drive it if it isn't safe, cant drive it much if it isn't reliable, and it don't matter if its cool if its not the other two.

the first order of business was to get the filthy pig cleaned up and cleaned out. as with any old truck, the bed was full of trash, the cab was full of crap, and the thing was covered in about 1/2 inch of environmental fallout. so I taught her about degreaser and a pressure washer, as well as why you always use rubber gloves when cleaning out other peoples refuse from a truck.

heres a picture of her pressure washing it, and the results of a thorough cleaning. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/021_zps6102764a.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/041_zps0d811f87.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/042_zpsaeb76ccc.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/043_zps12351c83.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/046_zps580330fd.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/047_zps048a484f.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/048_zpsdac466c4.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/049_zpsd6f4d98b.jpg.html][/URL]

so, thr rundown of what we discovered I bought: new seat, door panels, instrument cluster. recent reman carb. new starter, belts, and hoses in recent history. new wires, cap, rotor, fuel pump. broken rear glass. manual steering, power disc brakes. new radiator (all this "new stuff is probably from 2003, the last inspection sticker on the truck. but still has stickers/shine/new on them). no battery. seller said fuel tank was bad. was running great and smoking a little, then dropped to five cylenders and started somking a lot. needs tires and radius arm bushings.

really a pretty good deal for 600 bucks, I think. rusty floor pans, a little in the hood, a very slight pinholing of the bedsides, and an absolutely rotten tailgate that doesn't open. pretty good truck.

we started by doing the battery reconditioning cycle on a battery my dad found for a core. turned a "bad battery into one that is now reliably starting the truck and holding a charge for a week at a time at least.

also, we started diagnosing the fuel tank. we saw no external leaks, and suspected it was empty. someone had run a rubber line up through the bed floor, and you stuck it into a portable gas can to feed it.

my dad and I (bree was with her other grandparents today) dropped the tank out, filled it with about 10psi of air, and started squirting sopay water at it. we found no pinholes or leaks in the tank. what we did find was that someone had replaced the filler hose fairly recently, and could not locate the correct moulded hose. instead they used what appears to be a radiator hose, and kinked it completely in half. they also used heater hose for the vent. we have not checked the pickup or sock filter yet to see if there are any other problems there. but we've found a few. and drained 4 gallons of incredibly stale gas out of it. im not even sure its good enough for weed killer....

well, that's it for now. we will keep you posted as we get further along.

Michael

Neat old truck

Nice. Even though I prefer a short bed, I am so jelly right now.

Nice truck!

Is it just me, or does it need lowered about three inches all the way around?

Dusterbd13 wrote: Is it just me, or does it need lowered about three inches all the way around?

At least! IIRC those twin I-beam front ends do funky stuff when you lover them without the proper parts. At least that was true on the 80s Rangers.

Nice, I've been hunting for a truck like that and I couldn't touch something like that for $600 in my area. Great first car, will build character and teach skills!

Dusterbd13 wrote: Is it just me, or does it need lowered about three inches all the way around?

it's just you. that thing needs a minimum 4/6 drop.

Not as rusty as I had expected. Nice old girl.

Nice truck! Certainly is nicer than my truck, but then I would hope so given that I bought mine for a dollar.

How cool would one of these wheels look in there?

I completely agree with both the 4/6 and mustang wheel. Unfortunately they both fall in the money that doesn't need spent category. Now, if I can scrounge used parts for dang near free...

Lowering a twin I-beam truck is a pain in the neck to do properly and not cheap. I'd leave it at stock height, lowered long beds don't look right anyway.

It's a nice vehicle for her to learn on. That 300 six is stone age simple.

There are a number of suppliers of reproduction parts for those trucks; Dennis Carpenter is probably the best one, plus they're in North Carolina so they're close by for you.

Dusterbd13 wrote: I completely agree with both the 4/6 and mustang wheel. Unfortunately they both fall in the money that doesn't need spent category. Now, if I can scrounge used parts for dang near free...

You should be able to find a standard Mustang wheel for next to nothing. Fill any cracks with JB Weld and hit it with some vinyl dye.

No way I'd lower that, it's perfect. Stellar way to start her off right. Good job.

That's a "rust free, $5000" truck in NW Ohio.

As a veteran of many 10 years sitter projects I approve! Always fun getting a project where repairs are handled with what is on hand rather than the correct or upgraded part.

really a pretty good deal for 600 bucks, I think.

Uhhh... you THINK?

I would have bought that, and i have NO use for it. Just because it's a great deal on a neat truck.

Nice truck... Check the rag joint for the steering...

Don't lower it! 15 year olds need to sit higher and see the traffic ahead.

My $0.02

Nice truck though. The Mustang bolt ons are a great idea.

little more work went on this past sunday, and a little more discovery of what we bought.

first up, though, a major thank you to josh from the ford truck enthusiast website. he gave my neice a rear window for her truck, just to help her out. I went down there on Saturday to pick it up, and had a real nice visit with him. incredibly cool guy. heres a public thanks for him again.

when bree and I got together sunday after churh, our plan had been to explore the fuel tank some more. that escalated wuickly, but we found the other issue: sending unit/pickup is full of pinholes, so its just sucking air when the tank isn't full. so, we need to order one. wish I had known about that when I ordered the fill hose from bronco graveyard so we could have sdaved on shipping....

so with us stuck there, we went on to work on getting it running right again. bree learned about vacuum, carbs, and ratchets. she pulled the mighty 1bbl from the old girl. its a reman unit that's still externally clean, but the accelerator pump doesn't work, and the needle and seat are sticking open. also, the electric shoke is either inoperable or misadjusted. so for the cost of a 20 dollar carb kit, we should be in business. she had no interest in the innards of a carb at this point in her career, and to be honest at the stage she s at, neither did I. so my dad and I will rebuild it for her, but she will reinstall and tune. figure its a fair trade. also, since we only really have sundays, we don't want to waste the whole day waiting on carb parts to soak.

she then went on to change out the plugs that were completely wrong for this truck. she learned how to gap them, install and number plug wires, what never seize is for and how to use it properly, what dialectic grease is and its use, etc. she did the plugs with only us offering suggestions and education. much the same as the carb removal. and pressure washing. and...

anyway, it was a pleasant day. my dad, myself, and her left the truck under the trees and went to work on it in the shade. [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/026_zps454e6c68.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/029_zps3193604a.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/77%20f150/035_zps424ad018.jpg.html][/URL]

this sunday were hoping to get the cap and rotor cleaned up, the tank installed without the sending unit in it, the rebuilt carb installed, and it up and running again. maybe even long enough to get it warmed up and change the oil.

Michael

Something to be said for an engine compartment you can sit inside.

Nice project, and what a great opportunity for her to learn how to take apart and put back together her vehicle.

I think I like her … how old did you say she is ?

oh.. wait a min. … I'm really old .. forget I asked

looks like a great project for y'all

This is a great thread. Like my Build-A-Daewoo-Racecar-With-Middle-Schoolers project except for run by responsible adults. Keep it up!