DNFXDLI's 79 F150 Build Part1

[DNFXDLI]

Another couple of questions....as a sidenote, I am sorely disappointed with the Ford shop manuals...what procedure have you guys used for bed/cab/front clip removal?

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Bed is easy its just bolts I cant remember on them if theres 6 or 8 that go through the top of the bed. On my 72 theres six that go through the top and two that go through a couple little plates underneath the bed. Remember to disconnect the wires for the tail lights and the filler necks. Rear bumper needs to come off for this. You can undo the harness either from underneath the truck and leave the lights on or pull the tail lights out and undo everything from the sockets and fish it down through the hole at the bottom.

The cab will be the hardest cause of all the wires and stuff. I think theres just four bolts and mounts for that but im not sure. The colum needs to get unbolted from the box but I think it can be left in the truck if ya want theres probly a ground strap of some sort on there and the linkage for the shifter needs to get undone.

The front clip comes off easy theres the six bolts on the top of the inner fender by the cab (3 on each side 9/16) then theres the two core support bolts, theres a bolt on each side of the inner fenders underneath that holds a little chunk of rubber to the cab, then theres a 5/8 bolt ont the bottom of the outter fender where it holds it to the cab, Theres also another one inside each door about halfway up that has to come out Its not that hard to get if ya have a wobbly socket. Alos unplug your harness at the firewall and mark em so ya get em matched up right when ya go to put it back together. the front bumper also needs to come off to get the front clip off and theres a few ground straps on the body. I think that should be it but there might be more that I cant remember right now.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Thanks Dan...I have a feeling this project is gonna morph into a lot more work than I had planned on.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Yep no problem Duncan. From what ya told us its definitly soundin like a frame off restoration. I hope ya got some deep pockets cause itll get expensive quick.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Yep no problem Duncan. From what ya told us its definitly soundin like a frame off restoration. I hope ya got some deep pockets cause itll get expensive quick.

It might take a while to do....I figure if I pick up a small enclosed sandblaster I can do a lot of the work myself and the neighbor I was talking to had his 66 GTO frame powder coated for about $800. Painting it will be the big thing.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Yeah a sandblaster would definitly make it easier. That aint bad for powder coat.

 

[m78]

Duncan, Por-15 claims it needs a rough surface to stick to. Which I found out to be true when I was able to easily peel dried por-15 from the plastic container I used to set my brush in. How rough is a good question.

The dried material had a bit of elasticity to it which is probably good.
Por-15 also suggests using they're prep system, and it has no UV protection additive,,if I remember right.
All in all seems like a good product to me.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Well after much deliberation and many phone calls, I'm going to go the powdercoat route. The more items I can bring in at once to do in the same color the less the cost is...so much for having the truck up and running by the spring.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Well if ya hurry and dont move at a snails pace then youll get it done before spring.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Maybe..but unlikely...I guess we will see how it goes...already having thoughts about what color to do inner fenders etc....talked to March Belts today and the conversion kit they offer reverses the AC and alternator locations and uses GM power steering...gotta think about it....and it generally takes me ages to think about things.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Id just paint the stock stuff a nice black or blue and replace what needs to be fixed. I painted the inner fenders on the 76 black and they looked really good.

 

[DNFXDLI]

I want to do this only once Dan...and I have no intention of getting rid of the truck....I figure the extra mile I go now will pay off down the road.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Your truck do what ya want.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Your truck do what ya want.

Hehehe...too funny...that's what the OL said!

 

[LEB Paul]

Do it once, do it right. If I had a dollar for every time dad told me that... and every time I didn't listen and had to do the same thing more than once. That's what I get for being hard headed and not listening though.

 

[DNFXDLI]

That's just it Paul...I want this thing to look good still in 20 years...at least that is my hope anyway!

 

[LEB Paul]

Yep, spending a little more now will save you a whole lot more in the long run.. both monetarily and mentally!

 

[DNFXDLI]

Outta curiosity...what color would you guys do the inner fenders etc?...I am gonna keep the truck color what it is and do the frame in black...but I'm wondering what doing the engine compartment in the same color as the body would look like...providing of course that I can get a match with the powdercoating.

 

[LEB Paul]

inner fenders on the inside or inner fenders on the outside? What color is the body going to be? On the outside I would probably keep it black, but maybe match the truck paint, or pick something to accent the paint for the inside. (can you powder coat different colors on the same piece, different sides?)

 

[DNFXDLI]

inner fenders on the inside or inner fenders on the outside? What color is the body going to be? On the outside I would probably keep it black, but maybe match the truck paint, or pick something to accent the paint for the inside. (can you powder coat different colors on the same piece, different sides?)

I was referring to the inner fenders on the engine compartment side...and I don't know if you can do two different colors on one piece...I'm guessing it is possible but probably just more money. I've pretty much made up my mind that the two colors are going to be the metallic blue it came with and black...the engine I would get powdercoated in corporate blue...so I suppose that is really 3 colors.