Well after much poking and prodding from some of you I have decided to start a build thread on the '79. I have had it for a few years now and have taken quite a few pics along the way.

I initially bought the truck as i thought it would be a cheap to get it back up and running and use it during winter time and be able to park the GTO i was driving at the time-I gave up drinking and snorting cocaine shortly thereafter.

Day I picked her up:





Got her home and no sooner did she develop a flat



At first I thought she was a plain jane 79 but after I looked closer at the body tag I was able to determine she is in fact a 79 pace truck



Yeah I know, she is far from her former glory. From a distance the body looks good but upon further inspection there are huge gaps from the cab having been rolled at some point, the front frame horns are bent, and the box has a lovely rust tone bubbling up through the Walmart Krylon limited edition paint but having my heart set on the truck I still bought it. I now take someone along to slap me when I start to make a stupid vehicle purchase.

Later that summer I decided to do a cam swap to pep the ole girl up. Pulled the cam and low and behold half the cam lobes were wiped along with the cam bearings missing a few chunk out of them thus explaining the rough running condition I was pulling my hair out trying to find.

With the engine needing new cam bearings I decided to pull the engine which was fun. Being new to the dentside scene I was unaware of the front end coming off in one piece and had to jack the hell out of the hoist to get it up high enough.



Upon pulling the pan I found that the low oil pressure was due to the original FOMOCO main bearings being worn completely through so I figured what the hay, might as well freshen her up so I disassembled everything outside to get her ready for the machine shop



That was some of the nastiest oil I have ever huffed, er smelled, in my life. Pretty sure a couple birds flying overhead dropped dead in their tracks.

So I saved up my pennies for awhile and was able to take the block to the machine shop for a hot tank and while I was at it had the 2V heads for my 351C assembled so I could use them on the truck. Luckily I didn't have to overbore anything so I just slapped some new rings on the OE pistons



Box-o-Parts



Had a chance to huff some paint and get some new Ford Blue on the block:



Brought to you by Sobe Citrus

Seeing as how I have a small door and assembled the short block in my room, I had to install it sans heads:



In hindsight I should've painted the water pump because it completely rusted out a year later, ugggh! Gave me an excuse to intall a Flowkooler pump though

Got the truck back together just in time for the snow to fly and for the transfer case to go out. I got pissed and ended up selling my GTO for a 2007 F150 that winter which in hindsight I take to be divine intervention as my dad starting talking to me again shortly thereafter. He's not a fan of GM products so there was a period of time I was disowned

The saga will continue once I have time to post up some more pics

 

Not sure what I am liking more, the sweet pics or the fantastic back story. Great start to the build thread. I am subscribed

 

Thanks for the compliments!

 

About time Corey!!!!

 

Says the guy who hasn't updated his build thread since last year....

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - 79 F-150 Build Thread!!!! bye bye camo paint

 

At least I've had mine up before your build thread

 

sweet project, brother.

 

Poke, poke, poike.....Nice job man!!