My new Project

[fatherdoug]

I've got it all done (body work that is). I'll get some pics of the tail gate, but for now here is the front. I had a different grill surround that was a little better and also the grill inserts. I had to redrill the holes for the XLT emblem on the grill.

Looks very nice, Buck. You had also asked about an evaporator. I am no air conditioning expert, but if the evaporator was left exposed, as in opened up, there could be a problem with the inside of the evaporator, such as rust, pitting, etc. If the a/c system was still sealed, then the evaporator might still be in good shape.

 

[Austin]

Lookin good! I'm really diggin the color choice.

 

[bucks77ford]

Thanks guys. Doug, the ac system was sealed up so I think the evaporator should be good, but the PO thought it would be a great idea to cut it open to get to the heater core so right now its all siliconed up. I'm gonna out a new dryer and Sanden compressor on.

 

[bucks77ford]

Picked these up at the local salvage yard today.




Needs cleaned and a seat cover to match the interior, but no rips or tears and is not worn out.



Figured I couldn't go wrong for $150 for both. I had a $$$$$ of a time getting a rusted out rounded off bolt out of the seat. I eventually said screw it and luckily it was a front drivers one and bent the seat forward to get at the seat track bolts and just unbolted it from the track.

The topper handle is locked or froze and I did find a handle, but now to just get the old one off. Corrosion has set in and not sure I'll be able to.

 

[Ranger429]

That's a nice looking old supercab.

 

[bucks77ford]

thanks Scott.

What a world a newer seat makes and the wife likes it. Now time to get a seat cover.

 

[slmann]

looks like it's coming along nicely.

do you still have the other truck? any side by side pics?

 

[bucks77ford]

looks like it's coming along nicely.

do you still have the other truck? any side by side pics?

Ya, I still have the 77. Right now she's in Nebraska at my brothers shop (sort of in storage). I didn't have the space to have both of them up here while working on the supercab. So, I don't have any side by sides quite yet. I'd like to trailer the 77 up here in September with the 75, but since i don't drive the 77 during winter up here, I may just leave it down there in storage. I miss it though that's for sure, but the 75 has kept me busy and still keeping me busy. My brother does a good job starting it up and driving it a bit when it's nice. He also takes the liberty of washing it too. He's a nice truck keeper that's for sure and he's very picky when it comes to his vehicles being clean and perfect so he treats mine the same. It's sure gonna be a site when I do trailer the 77 with 75 going down the interstate.

 

[bucks77ford]

Drained the rear rear axle yesterday, cleaned up the inside. Must have been years since it was changed. Today, I managed to sandblast the rear axle cover and get it powder coated. Why not yellow?



Drain plug was a hex head and since I didn't have a tool for it, a same size bolt head and vice grip did the trick.

Just a recent pic of the truck. I really wish I had the right length of running board on it.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Looks good, did you do the powder yourself?

 

[bucks77ford]

Ya, I have a harbor freight gun and a regular kitchen oven in the garage. Actually works pretty good. It's nice to have for small things.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Cool, I thought so when I saw the grate

 

[m78]

So the HF gun works OK ? I've thought about getting set up with that and an oven.

 

[bucks77ford]

So the HF gun works OK ? I've thought about getting set up with that and an oven.

Works just fine. I wanted to get the Eastwood kit but I have a HF locally and figured why not. If needing a higher voltage for say more than 1 or 2 coats or doing thick metal, than there are others out there but for quite a bit more cash. There are some tricks that I have read and learned about but for little money it works pretty good. The other drawback is the powder. The HF gun powder container is different than the Eastwood powder I get so I just bought a couple more HFpowders to have the containers to swap powder.

 

[slmann]

nice work, looks good.

 

[Big Jim F150]

Buck nice truck, another classic dent side saved, especially the Ranger XLT and a Super Cab with a 460 and a C6 to boot, nice find!

 

[bucks77ford]

Thanks Jim.

I forgot that back on page 7, there are some other parts that I powder coated with the HF gun. I also made a tool to separate the hood hinge springs and I powder coated them. I don't have a pic right now. Here are a couple others from my 77, the TFI coil bracket and master cylinder cap.

I coated the alternator bracket

Power steering bracket

AC bracket

Anything I can fit into a household oven. I wish I had the setup when I started my 77. Didn't get involved in til I was almost done.

When I get my 77 back up here, I am gonna start coating things that paint has come off that's for sure.

I have $100 in the oven, 59.99 on sale HF powder gun and a few bucks in wiring and 220 oven outlet for the garage. Also, you don't need that high of amperage like you would have in your home. I never use the burners and only the oven part so that cuts down on amps..so I can have the heat and air compressor going as well. I want a larger service to my garage, but for now it works.

 

[fatherdoug]

Looks nice, Buck. Did you try the severe duty clutch on your fan?

 

[bucks77ford]

Looks nice, Buck. Did you try the severe duty clutch on your fan?

I now have an electric fan setup on my 77, but I do have the severe duty one on my 75. I might try and switching back to original to see how it compares. My 75 runs about 195 even during this cold weather and 205-210 during the summer. I have new radiator and 180 thermostat. Just seems high. Not sure if it's the fan clutch or what or maybe that's normal for the motor.

 

[m78]

billet pulleys,,,,