Farm Truck Resurrection
07-25-2013, 02:48 PM
#1
Farm Truck Resurrection
Hey guys. A few of you know me from the 97-03 Group on Facebook. I joined here and decided to post my progress here on my Project truck.
My dad bought this F150 back in 99 as his daily driver on the farm. He drove this truck everyday till Aug. 2010 when the motor developed a knocking noise. The odometer reads 208K miles but that went out back in 2008. He guesses there is about 330K miles on it. It has sat beside the barns in the grass since then.
So a few weeks ago I decided that I was tired of seeing it sitting and I worked out a deal with my Dad where if I fixed it I could have it. So I started looking around Salvage yards and Craigslist looking for a motor and other parts I would need (interior was shot). Most of the motors were around $800-$1200. Then I got lucky enough to stumble across a Craigslist ad for a Complete truck that was wrecked in the front with a rebuilt motor w/ 15K miles on it for $1000. So I borrowed my buddies 25' gooseneck and my dad's F250 (my 250 doesn't have a gooseneck hitch yet) and made the trip down to get it.
She drove right on the trailer (even though the trans cooler was puking fluid from being punctured) and then a few short hours later she was back in the driveway.
I decided to start disassembling the mangled front end to make it easier to get to the engine bay. It took one demo blade and 3 18v batteries but I got the brush guard off then the grille and lights came off easy.
I haven't done anything else major other than removing the air intake off the motor and taking the toolbox out of the bed. I'll be going tomorrow to bring my 150 up to the house so I can start pulling the interior and old motor out of it. I'll keep this post updated as I progress.
My dad bought this F150 back in 99 as his daily driver on the farm. He drove this truck everyday till Aug. 2010 when the motor developed a knocking noise. The odometer reads 208K miles but that went out back in 2008. He guesses there is about 330K miles on it. It has sat beside the barns in the grass since then.
So a few weeks ago I decided that I was tired of seeing it sitting and I worked out a deal with my Dad where if I fixed it I could have it. So I started looking around Salvage yards and Craigslist looking for a motor and other parts I would need (interior was shot). Most of the motors were around $800-$1200. Then I got lucky enough to stumble across a Craigslist ad for a Complete truck that was wrecked in the front with a rebuilt motor w/ 15K miles on it for $1000. So I borrowed my buddies 25' gooseneck and my dad's F250 (my 250 doesn't have a gooseneck hitch yet) and made the trip down to get it.
She drove right on the trailer (even though the trans cooler was puking fluid from being punctured) and then a few short hours later she was back in the driveway.
I decided to start disassembling the mangled front end to make it easier to get to the engine bay. It took one demo blade and 3 18v batteries but I got the brush guard off then the grille and lights came off easy.
I haven't done anything else major other than removing the air intake off the motor and taking the toolbox out of the bed. I'll be going tomorrow to bring my 150 up to the house so I can start pulling the interior and old motor out of it. I'll keep this post updated as I progress.
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BiggestFordFan23 (09-22-2013)
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Brightleaf_Auto (07-25-2013)
07-25-2013, 03:14 PM
#3
Me too, I'd rather put the time and money (as long as it's not to expensive) to take something neglected and put it back on the road. I noticed I left some info off both vehicles. The project vehicle is a 97 XLT w/ the 4.6L Windsor and the donor is also a 97 w/ the 4.6L Windsor but it is a Lariat. The seats in the Lariat are ok for the most part, just a bunch of tears being held by duct tape 
. But it's defiantly better than the seats in the XLT. The foam is gone and springs are broke from years of abuse. My buddy recommended a guy in town that done the front seats in his 250 for a good price. Might check him out and see what he can do. He thinks he can get me out cheaper than a set of nice seat covers.
. But it's defiantly better than the seats in the XLT. The foam is gone and springs are broke from years of abuse. My buddy recommended a guy in town that done the front seats in his 250 for a good price. Might check him out and see what he can do. He thinks he can get me out cheaper than a set of nice seat covers.
07-25-2013, 03:19 PM
#5
Super Moderator
I have a couple suggestions...
An upholstery shop should be able to do it. We've got a guy down here who does an amazing job. Puts the factory style leather back on for $1k.
A cheaper alternative is looking at the yards. I know people say you can use the expy seats also, so it gives more of a variety. Its hit and miss on the condition of leather, but you do get lucky sometimes. Guy took a full set of leather seats out of an expy that looked near new condition.
Either way, good luck with it. I'll be waiting to see how it turns out!
An upholstery shop should be able to do it. We've got a guy down here who does an amazing job. Puts the factory style leather back on for $1k.
A cheaper alternative is looking at the yards. I know people say you can use the expy seats also, so it gives more of a variety. Its hit and miss on the condition of leather, but you do get lucky sometimes. Guy took a full set of leather seats out of an expy that looked near new condition.
Either way, good luck with it. I'll be waiting to see how it turns out!
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1977f150 (07-28-2013)
07-25-2013, 03:56 PM
#7
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
That would be such a waste to leave that truck out in the cold like that. Great find on the parts truck too.
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07-25-2013, 05:22 PM
#8
Looks like the parts truck is a 4x4 and yours is a 2wd? 4x4 swap next?? Never mind. Looking closer yours seems to be a 4x4
07-25-2013, 06:31 PM
#9
Thanks everyone. Yeah I would have been stupid to pass on the parts truck.
This guy will be able to do it well under $1K. He done my buddies front seats in factory leather for a couple hundred. I may keep an eye out for cheap Expy seats though. I would like to put a center console in this truck.
Ford had two plants make the 4.6L Triton. The Windsor Plant and the Romeo plant. While similar these two engines are different. Both of these trucks had their engines built in the Windsor Plant.
I have a couple suggestions...
An upholstery shop should be able to do it. We've got a guy down here who does an amazing job. Puts the factory style leather back on for $1k.
A cheaper alternative is looking at the yards. I know people say you can use the expy seats also, so it gives more of a variety. Its hit and miss on the condition of leather, but you do get lucky sometimes. Guy took a full set of leather seats out of an expy that looked near new condition.
Either way, good luck with it. I'll be waiting to see how it turns out!
An upholstery shop should be able to do it. We've got a guy down here who does an amazing job. Puts the factory style leather back on for $1k.
A cheaper alternative is looking at the yards. I know people say you can use the expy seats also, so it gives more of a variety. Its hit and miss on the condition of leather, but you do get lucky sometimes. Guy took a full set of leather seats out of an expy that looked near new condition.
Either way, good luck with it. I'll be waiting to see how it turns out!
Ford had two plants make the 4.6L Triton. The Windsor Plant and the Romeo plant. While similar these two engines are different. Both of these trucks had their engines built in the Windsor Plant.
