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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 3
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From: Dublin, OH
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hello everyone. just purchased a 1979 F150 flareside. pretty good body and frame w/ min rust. can't wait to tear into it. interior and bed are rough.
I've built a factory five roadster and have done some restoration work on a 1985 Mercedes 350SL, so I'm comfortable around cars but hope to learn some new skills.
I've built a factory five roadster and have done some restoration work on a 1985 Mercedes 350SL, so I'm comfortable around cars but hope to learn some new skills.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Dublin, OH
Truck is hopefully going to be delivered on Thurs. Starting to create a punch list of things that need/could be done. Hoping to get some ideas from this forum as well. I've seen a IFS conversion, but not sure if I'm that committed to this restoration. Hard to say if I want a period correct restoration or a restomod, including an engine swap. It gets out of hand budget-wise very quickly.
after my test drive, a steering update is mandatory. It felt like driving a boat there was so much slop in the steering system. I'm guessing I'll need to upgrade the suspension bushings as well, but will take a look.
Rear brake lights are not working, so I'l need to figure that out. May consider rewiring the entire car. I've used Russ Thompson wiring harness before, but also looking at a Painless system. Anyone have experience with the latter? These trucks don't have too much to wire up.
Stock gauges seem to work. I'll look into it. Might be nice to get some modern gauges w/ GPS speedo.
Interior is a complete mess. I'll need carpet, new seats, dash pad and dash, and door cards. Still determining if I'm going to do a custom interior or stick with a stock bench vs buckets w/ center console. I'll consider scouring a junk yard for some buckets as new ones can be up to $4k.
Bed is a complete loss as well. Wood is rotten and will replace with new stuff. Truck is being sold w/ some new SS inserts from the prior owner.
Also contemplating rear disk conversion. Seller is giving me some new drums that he bought but the idea of disks seems safer.
Some hesitation as well w/ acceleration as well as stalling at times. I suspect a vacuum leak that I'll need to find.
That's all for now. Plan on tearing the back of the truck apart first to get the rotten boards out first. In my mind, it's starting to become a frame-off resto. That would lead to possibly powder coating or POR'ing the frame.
starting to add up already!
any comments appreciated
after my test drive, a steering update is mandatory. It felt like driving a boat there was so much slop in the steering system. I'm guessing I'll need to upgrade the suspension bushings as well, but will take a look.
Rear brake lights are not working, so I'l need to figure that out. May consider rewiring the entire car. I've used Russ Thompson wiring harness before, but also looking at a Painless system. Anyone have experience with the latter? These trucks don't have too much to wire up.
Stock gauges seem to work. I'll look into it. Might be nice to get some modern gauges w/ GPS speedo.
Interior is a complete mess. I'll need carpet, new seats, dash pad and dash, and door cards. Still determining if I'm going to do a custom interior or stick with a stock bench vs buckets w/ center console. I'll consider scouring a junk yard for some buckets as new ones can be up to $4k.
Bed is a complete loss as well. Wood is rotten and will replace with new stuff. Truck is being sold w/ some new SS inserts from the prior owner.
Also contemplating rear disk conversion. Seller is giving me some new drums that he bought but the idea of disks seems safer.
Some hesitation as well w/ acceleration as well as stalling at times. I suspect a vacuum leak that I'll need to find.
That's all for now. Plan on tearing the back of the truck apart first to get the rotten boards out first. In my mind, it's starting to become a frame-off resto. That would lead to possibly powder coating or POR'ing the frame.
starting to add up already!
any comments appreciated
Last edited by egchewy; Mar 20, 2022 at 03:18 PM.