CasterTroy
Faster'N You
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2005
- Location
- Wallburg
First off.....This is a stupid hobby!!!
So a few weeks ago @doc posted a 78 F250 Long bed 2wd Freebie.
Always wanted a 78/79 long bed 4x4. Never been a priority, but if I ever ran across one.....
well...you can't get better than FREE.
So I trailered up Shaq and headed south. Once I arrived at his place, I saw the 78 and was pretty excited. It was in nearly rust-free condition. Straight, and everything looked good. Of course Doc had swapped in an older grille, but we will soon remedy that.
We chatted for a bit, and he was telling me about some of his projects. Then I spotted the grille of an 85/86 F150 4x4. For some reason I've always liked those too. I was curious what his plans were for it....and he said "It's for sale"
That he got it from @guffey24 and he just has too many projects. And wants to focus on the important ones. I figured since he was smart enough to stat becoming more focused, I mind as well be dumb and jump right into the position he's wanting to get out of 
I mean, What could go wrong?
Problem is, I really need to check my pickle jar buried in the back yard and see what I'm able to do.
So after the most dangerous/reckless loading attempt ever made outside of a Jack-ass video I strapped down the 78 and headed home. Stopped at the sac-o-suds to tighten any loose straps and grasp the reality of how we actually loaded this non-running tank onto my trailer and no bus full of nuns got killed.... And...take a pic of course
I arrived home and unloaded the 78. And contemplated where I'm now going to keep all these "trucks" should the pickle jar prove there's fundage available. I have room...but do I really want another project?
I mean, I still have another project at @amcjeepman place
Grabbed the shovel, and started digging for my jar. To my surprise I had enough to make the trip back down to Docs. This was good AND bad at the same time.
The following monday I trailered up Shaq and repeated the mission once again. Only this time I was able to drive the 86 on the trailer withOUT using Doc as a bumper to protect Shaq from 2 tons of parts barreling down his steep driveway toward him silently with no backup plan.
I strapped the 86 down and paid the man, and I was on my way once again.
This time I was quite a bit more excited. And.....I really wasn't sure why. I mean I've WANTED a 78/79 for so long....but, only really "Liked" the 85/86. Never really having any intentions of OWNING one. But for some reason..this one really SPOKE to me.
Usually when a vehicle "speaks" to me....I give it a name. The 78 is cool. But it's been a very quiet vehicle. Hasn't said anything. The whole ride home...it just looked like it was pouting.
When I parked it, again...didn't really say anything other than giving me a look of "OK so I'll sit HERE now
"
The 86 on the otherhand...the whole ride home looked like a goofy Labrador puppy I was bringing home from a breeder.
I fired it up and pulled it off the trailer and immediately washed it. You really get to know a vehicle by washing it. It was during this bath that it spoke up and named itself:
"Buttercup"
No idea where that came from...but here's Buttercup as I got it.
Nice set of 33" mud tars, on 92-96 fool size rims.
After a good bath I pulled it around back...to try and minimize the "hoarders vehicle edition"
The wife and I went to dinner and when we came back I pulled around back to show her where I was parking it, and she started humming the theme to Sanford and Son
Anyway...one of the bonuses to this purchase was the fact that it came with a "brand new in a box" 2.5" lift
So the following weekend I pulled it in the middle bay for some deconstruction
I removed the front wheels to discover a SMIDGE of rust
I had to regroup and head to Advance to buy a case of PB blaster. Also went to the office and nabbed all the cardboard I could get my hands on to make cleanup easier.
Finally got the old stuff off
It took all weekend to JUST get the front done. I had forgotten how much I hated lifting TTB fronts. What a pain in the ass.
Anyway...the rear was super simple. But in the process of impacting so many old bolts buttercup shed nearly 2 mason jars of rust onto the floor.
She looks a WHOLE lot better with an attitude....er altitude adjustment!
So good I moved her up to the front
The interior cleaned up pretty well too
I'm very happy with it. I really could just drive this truck and be happy...and that MAY be what I do for a while. But...I can't leave anything alone. It may be down the road, but.....
Plans include:
Clearcote the paint AS-IS (typically I hate green with a passion..this one is different)
Motor work
Headers
Duals
Potentially tons
Potentially 38's
So a few weeks ago @doc posted a 78 F250 Long bed 2wd Freebie.
Always wanted a 78/79 long bed 4x4. Never been a priority, but if I ever ran across one.....
well...you can't get better than FREE.
So I trailered up Shaq and headed south. Once I arrived at his place, I saw the 78 and was pretty excited. It was in nearly rust-free condition. Straight, and everything looked good. Of course Doc had swapped in an older grille, but we will soon remedy that.
We chatted for a bit, and he was telling me about some of his projects. Then I spotted the grille of an 85/86 F150 4x4. For some reason I've always liked those too. I was curious what his plans were for it....and he said "It's for sale"
That he got it from @guffey24 and he just has too many projects. And wants to focus on the important ones. I figured since he was smart enough to stat becoming more focused, I mind as well be dumb and jump right into the position he's wanting to get out of I mean, What could go wrong?Problem is, I really need to check my pickle jar buried in the back yard and see what I'm able to do.
So after the most dangerous/reckless loading attempt ever made outside of a Jack-ass video I strapped down the 78 and headed home. Stopped at the sac-o-suds to tighten any loose straps and grasp the reality of how we actually loaded this non-running tank onto my trailer and no bus full of nuns got killed.... And...take a pic of course
I arrived home and unloaded the 78. And contemplated where I'm now going to keep all these "trucks" should the pickle jar prove there's fundage available. I have room...but do I really want another project?
I mean, I still have another project at @amcjeepman place
Grabbed the shovel, and started digging for my jar. To my surprise I had enough to make the trip back down to Docs. This was good AND bad at the same time.
The following monday I trailered up Shaq and repeated the mission once again. Only this time I was able to drive the 86 on the trailer withOUT using Doc as a bumper to protect Shaq from 2 tons of parts barreling down his steep driveway toward him silently with no backup plan.
I strapped the 86 down and paid the man, and I was on my way once again.
This time I was quite a bit more excited. And.....I really wasn't sure why. I mean I've WANTED a 78/79 for so long....but, only really "Liked" the 85/86. Never really having any intentions of OWNING one. But for some reason..this one really SPOKE to me.
Usually when a vehicle "speaks" to me....I give it a name. The 78 is cool. But it's been a very quiet vehicle. Hasn't said anything. The whole ride home...it just looked like it was pouting.
When I parked it, again...didn't really say anything other than giving me a look of "OK so I'll sit HERE now
"The 86 on the otherhand...the whole ride home looked like a goofy Labrador puppy I was bringing home from a breeder.
I fired it up and pulled it off the trailer and immediately washed it. You really get to know a vehicle by washing it. It was during this bath that it spoke up and named itself:
"Buttercup"
No idea where that came from...but here's Buttercup as I got it.
Nice set of 33" mud tars, on 92-96 fool size rims.
After a good bath I pulled it around back...to try and minimize the "hoarders vehicle edition"
The wife and I went to dinner and when we came back I pulled around back to show her where I was parking it, and she started humming the theme to Sanford and Son
Anyway...one of the bonuses to this purchase was the fact that it came with a "brand new in a box" 2.5" lift
So the following weekend I pulled it in the middle bay for some deconstruction
I removed the front wheels to discover a SMIDGE of rust
I had to regroup and head to Advance to buy a case of PB blaster. Also went to the office and nabbed all the cardboard I could get my hands on to make cleanup easier.
Finally got the old stuff off
It took all weekend to JUST get the front done. I had forgotten how much I hated lifting TTB fronts. What a pain in the ass.
Anyway...the rear was super simple. But in the process of impacting so many old bolts buttercup shed nearly 2 mason jars of rust onto the floor.
She looks a WHOLE lot better with an attitude....er altitude adjustment!
So good I moved her up to the front
The interior cleaned up pretty well too
I'm very happy with it. I really could just drive this truck and be happy...and that MAY be what I do for a while. But...I can't leave anything alone. It may be down the road, but.....
Plans include:
Clearcote the paint AS-IS (typically I hate green with a passion..this one is different)
Motor work
Headers
Duals
Potentially tons
Potentially 38's
and it runs out in about 10ft. It's defiantly a "granny gear" trans
