Folks south of the mason dixon...

[rusty ol ranger]

Got a question...

Here around mid summer im hoping to start a resto project on my 77 F250.

Id like to sand/paint the frame, get oil/trans fluid to stay inside their pans, etc.

The cab and front clip are more then saveable, but ill need doors, (which im not to worried bout findin up here in MI).

But i will need a box. Mine is prolly saveable if need be, but the skins are rusty and have had bondo/patch work done before, and the floor has quite a few pinholes....

So my question is, how common are 73-79 fords in the junkyards around down, say, kentucky, carolinas, tn, ga, basically SE.

I dont really wanna go west of the mississippi unless i have to. I know up here they are kinda scarce. So i was thinking of roadtrippin down this summer to find one.

Any input is much apperciated.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Well, if you went west of the Mississippi:

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/d/1978-ford-f150-parts-truck/6540260538.html

 

[bobbywalter]

south west.....only way to go.


you can drive to south carolina and start hitting junkyards.....i was almost in tears as they were driving old 70's fords to their final resting places last time i was out there....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have seen some nice trucks out west.

Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana... a lot of the rural trucks done see much salt.

I have found some beds for mine in Florida... a bit of a drive though.

 

[Curious Hound]

I don't normally look for that generation. But I see them all the time on Craigslist and in the junkyards.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Damn jim, thatd be perfect, but right now i dont have the time to drive an hr to owosso to pick up a A/C compressor for rusty 2.0...

that bed alone would bring close to 1k around here

I guess maybe ill bite the bullet and head to the desert, kinda always wanted to see that part of the country anyways.

 

[rangerenthiusiast]

Damn jim, thatd be perfect, but right now i dont have the time to drive an hr to owosso to pick up a A/C compressor for rusty 2.0...

that bed alone would bring close to 1k around here

I guess maybe ill bite the bullet and head to the desert, kinda always wanted to see that part of the country anyways.

I always liked Texas when driving through on the way to or from the West Coast. Never thought I would, but it’s such a big state that it really does have something for just about everyone. So is Rusty taking a road trip?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I always liked Texas when driving through on the way to or from the West Coast. Never thought I would, but it’s such a big state that it really does have something for just about everyone. So is Rusty taking a road trip?

I dont know if rusty will be roadtrippin, or my wifes escape with a trailer will be roadtrippin, or remortage my house and drive the 460...

But one way or another ill be on the prowl

That being said though, i have considered going the LMC route, but i question the quality of those panels over a factory box. Has anyone used them? The other thing prohibiting me a bit on that is my lack of welding skills.

This would be my first foray into body restoration. But its something ive wanted to try for a while and my F250 isnt that bad....

 

[91stranger]

You don't have to go too far to find beds that aren't rusted out. Tennessee is pretty clean and not too far from MI. I'm from central Ohio and have the same issue. Everything 10 years old around here has rust unless it wasn't drove in winter. You may get lucky and find a few beds that are 90 percent rust free. If I were you I would call some larger junk yards and see if they can send pictures of what you are looking for. I know Milliron near me has a LARGE selection of vehicles and they sometimes have pictures f the vehicles.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Theres a few places around 2 hours from me that specialize in southern truck parts, but ive checked non stop for a wgile now and other then the occasional door or fender they never have any 73-79 stuff, which is partially why i was wondering if the supply was starting to dry up.

Kinda wish i had an 80-86, hell theres body parts every where for those.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Could just flatbed it.

Dad snagged one with a gooseneck ball in it for a couple hundred bucks for his '96.

The southern truck bed places don't seem to care much about Rangers I have noticed.

I think my grandpa has a pickup box trailer made from a late 70's Ford truck. Might keep an eye out for one of those, usually they don't see much salt and it would be pretty easy for an Edge to pull home (I would think)

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I didnt think about looking for a trailer one. My wifes got a 2.5 L escape, i doubt its ability to pull anything more then maybe a 2 wheeled log splitter.

I thought about a flatbed, but eh i dont know. Then id have to dually it. Well, not have to, but i think a SRW flatbed dont look right

 

[fastpakr]

The whole bed shouldn't weigh more than ~400 pounds. The Escape is rated to tow 1500, I believe. If you can find a small trailer that could hold it comfortably, you should be fine.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The whole bed shouldn't weigh more than ~400 pounds. The Escape is rated to tow 1500, I believe. If you can find a small trailer that could hold it comfortably, you should be fine.

Yeah i got a 6x10 single axle that weighs bout 8, maybe 900lbs i use for hauling mowers and junk on that would fit it about perfect.

I know the escape would do it, i was just being a smart ass

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I didnt think about looking for a trailer one. My wifes got a 2.5 L escape, i doubt its ability to pull anything more then maybe a 2 wheeled log splitter.

It surely has a roof rack?