77 F150 4x4 SWB Budget build?

Quick half assed check with a 2 foot smart level outside of the tire bulge without pulling tires, etc.
Confirms what I’m seeing rears are within a few tenths
IMG_0912.jpeg


Passenger^^
Driver|||
IMG_0913.jpeg
 
Always work in progress.

Keep in mind, I bought this pile in pieces, with a bunch of them missing. Stealing parts from another front clip out in the yard is pain.

Every dentside I've ever had, I pull the front clip in one piece for motor work, good reminder why, this is ****in stupid.
 
Yes, agree. More or less 8 bolts once the hood is off. Piecing mine together was a charm with 5 million 5/16 bolts.
 
I imagine similar, but not sure?

Dent is 14 bolts

3 bolts on each side of cowl, mark this with sharpie for line-up later.
bolt at bottom rear of each fender
bolt inside rear of fender, accessed by keeping door open thru hinge area, ratcheting wrench is blessing here.
Bolt to rubber strip under each inner fender inside wheel well.
two main core support/frame mount bolts.

Obviously any inner fender mounted wiring and rad hoses etc..
 
Picked best of three hoods and slapped on it


lining all these front end parts up from scratch is pain in my ass
Need to replace one hood hing and keep working the adjustments but its there
IMG_1331.jpeg
IMG_1327.jpeg


Did a little 1/3-1/2 throttle launch from a roll
I was happy
IMG_1332.jpeg
 
Had a little time Sunday afternoon.

Got the all of the body parts tightened down and hood tweaked about as good as it is going to get for now.
Took a 73-77? bumper ive had around about 25 years and torched the black rubber bumpers off and mounted it, still need to tweak it a bit and clean it up.

Dropped from a 72 to 71 on primary jet. Still need to get this thing tuned. It runs great though with no stumbles or hesitation. Might be a little on the rich side still but haven't touched idle mix since jet change.
Put on the 4" 6.2 chevy air filter

Went ahead and tacked together an exhaust and took the kids for a ride.
IMG_1802.jpg
IMG_1813.jpg
IMG_1805.jpg
IMG_1803.jpg
IMG_1806.jpg

Wife was recording, she did not know i was about to blow the tires off and stopped the video early.
 
Last edited:
Cobbled together mess is starting to look like a truck.

Bumper bolts on the way, and I can tweak the ugly ass front bumper straighter. Those holes are from the rubber bumpers I had to torch off. Couple new parking light lenses on the way. I have a plan to make the 400 fan shroud work and finally get her filled with coolant.

I've got some front light wiring harnesses I've got to dig out and get installed now that I have both headlights..

IMG_1866.jpg
 
Anyone have any ideas to cover the slotted holes on bumper? Besides alabama chrome?
 
Levigarrett76 said:
Anyone have any ideas to cover the slotted holes on bumper? Besides alabama chrome?
Click to expand...
Don’t know what Alabama chrome is but when I removed the tailgate trim I put in stainless bolts to fill the holes. I think it looks alright. early Broncos have chrome rounded bolt heads for the bumpers that would look better
 
Last edited:
holdmypocket said:
Don’t know what Alabama chrome is but when I removed the tailgate trim I put in stainless bolts to fill the holes. I think it looks alright. early Broncos have chrome rounded bolt heads for the bumpers that would look better
Click to expand...
Thanks

Its the slotted holes on both ends outside of the frame. 6 on each side
Ive got a proper set of matching bolts coming for the 4 bumper bolts to clean that up.
IMG_1867.jpeg

Alabama chrome is duct tape :flipoff2:
 
Last weekend, got her filled with coolant, re-drilled crappy china radiator for correct mounting height and now have the original 400 fiberglass fan shroud in place. Took it for a good long ride and performed great.

Tidied up some of the under hood wiring and installed new Battery tray and hold down.

Rad fits like crap to core support, hard to get 4th bolt in, oem fan shroud a 1/4" too big small also, so had to break out the fender washers.
IMG_2002.jpg
IMG_2004.jpg
 
Last edited:
3 core, cheapest of cheap rock auto junk. Haven't really run it hard, long enough to put it to the test but based on prior experience I think it will be fine.

Knock on wood cam doing great, oil clean, no metal in filters. Really happy the route i went.

Might drop to a 70 on the primary jets.

Still so much I want to get done right ****in now, install the tach, install the aftermarket gauges correctly, install the Wide band AFR gauge, light wiring, new tranny lines, speedo cable, 4x4 shifter, rebuild rear axle etc etc.

I have a full spool in my parts truck i installed 15 yrs ago...tempting to put that in because the one wheel sucks, but a detroit sure would be nice on street.

Also have some single rod style traction bars that came off my 76 back in the day I plan to install at some point once the lift goes on..and a nice clean tailgate with a working handle ive been sitting on for about 25 yrs.

One thing at a time.
 
Ha! My list is a mile long too. It’s a friggin addiction….oooh I want to do this next, make this better, finish that

Eventually I’ll Detroit the rear but for now I’m glad I have the front Torq locker otherwise this truck wouldn’t climb anything.
 
Vacuum advance was frozen

Understandable since was never hooked up on propane gen..

Got that freed up and converted the 18L to a 10L while apart . Was running the 13L before. Left the 925D mr gasket spring in place for now.
Now have 36 total with 16 initial
She likes it. Sitting about 17" of Vacuum.

More fine tuning later

Right now only 10* of vac advance, Hooked to manifold. Going to play with 12*.

Took for a rip around property and down the road, part throttle is much much much better. And even more torque.

IMG_2104.jpeg
IMG_2108.jpeg
IMG_2110.jpeg
IMG_2112.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Better photo, you can see the factory plastic bushing I put back in.
IMG_2111.jpg
Anyone know what the G4, and G3 mean on the advance weights?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Back Refresh