If you had a 1978 f150

[swynx]

What would you do with it? Been seeing the price on these sky rocket lately. Assuming that's because there getting pretty rare, from people yarding out the axles.

My dad gave me a 78 shortbox with the i6 and 4 speed 4x4. Also hardly see any short boxes. Far as I know it's all original, starts and drives fine. I just gotta get a title, which means a temp title for awhile, and the owner can claim the vehicle. But rumor has it he's dead.

Trying to get an idea of what I wanna do with it. Kind of thinking about just restoring it, modernize it a bit, make a daily driver/light tow rig deal.

Figure in another 10 years hardly any of these will be around with axles in them.

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[rusty ol ranger]

Buy it, LEAVE IT ORIGINAL, and drive the hell out of it.

73-79 Fords are the best ones ford ever built. Modernizing them only ruins them. That particular combo (espicially the shortbox) is among the most endangered. The 300 usually promptly gets yanked for a V8.

 

[bobbywalter]

buy it and put a modern powertrain in it.


the worst part of those trucks was the junk under the hoods.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

buy it and put a modern powertrain in it.


the worst part of those trucks was the junk under the hoods.

Junk? Hardly. Yes they wernt super powerhouses but the 300 is pretty well known for its durabilty. The 302 was totally nutless, but still would run forever.

The 351M/400 are very easy to wake up with a few simple mods and, IMO, were the best V8s ford ever built for reliabilty.

That 300 backed by the T18 (or NP435) 4 speed/creeper low is going to do anything youll ever need, and you can whoop on them like a rented mule and they'll just come back for more.

The only issue i can see you having with that drivetrain is the shitty little carter 1bbl.

 

[swynx]

Had no idea the i6 had a 1 barrel. That being said there is some power to be had there, and I would make it fuel Inejection.

I thought the 351m was the least desirable of the 351s. However for this as it'll be a daily/light tow rig, fuel mileage is a slight concern. I don't wanna get 10 in a daily, so I think all the 351s would be out. Not really sure how the i6 and 302 compare, besides the i6 has more low end torque.

I do have a small block zf5 I was gonna use in the Mazda, but I'm considering swapping it into this for the fuel mileage and using the np435 in the Mazda for the lower 1st, as i plan on building a crawler hauler next year.

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[rusty ol ranger]

Truthfully, youll get better mileage from the carburated 300 then the EFI one, i dont know why, but its been my experence.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Mileage will probably be hard to get without overdrive.

I was mildy impressed my Ranger got 11mpg on the highway. Cruising at 2700rpm it sounded like it would get worse.

I would rather have a 351W than a 351M and I think it would bolt to your current trans too.

The tcase I am putting in my Ranger is out of a '77

 

[swynx]

I assume the reason for better mileage from a carb is either that it's a 1 barrel or it's tuned for less fuel. Either way I hate carbs.

I as well think the zf5s overdrive would help a shit ton. The truck has 4.10s, and 33s and it still wound up pretty good at 65. Plus I don't need the super low that the np435 has, except in a crawler that doesn't see the highway.

My buddy has a 383 with a very small cam from comp cams that uses 1.52 ratio rockers. He gets about 16 in town with a nv4500, 5.13s and 40s on a 5500 lbs k5 blazer. In fact be gets better mileage per trip to the woods than all the 4 and 6 bangers, even geared trucks with stock v8s

The same should be doable with a builtish 302 or 351. We assume it's just the torque and not having to lay into the pedal to get around. But he also gained 2 mpg with the Holley sniper.

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[Curious Hound]

Sounds like a pretty great truck the way it is. Best thing to do is drive it, work out the bugs and take your time making decisions about mod's. Personally, i would probably convert to fuel injection simply because I don't have any experience with carbs and don't want an issue with it cutting off with fuel sloshing around in the bowl when off-road. That, and a modern radio with bluetooth, usb and aux in for my satellite radio.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If your intersted, head over to www.fordsix.com...

You can build that 300 to run pretty damn hard, and would return somewhat better mileage then a V8, the O/D trans will net you more MPG then EFI will.

 

[planeflyer21]

/\/\/\/\ I was just going to say that. Keep the truck basically stock but tweak that I-6 and have a really cool sleeper.

In another 10 years, restore it and send it to Jackson Barrett or some such.

 

[swynx]

I have seen that site and a few others. These engines make a lot of torque when you boost them. Idk that I would go that far but it sure would be cool.

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[adsm08]

Diesel.

 

[swynx]

Next year I plan on buying a box truck with a 7.3 for a crawler hauler camper deal

Diesel.

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[Curious Hound]

Diesel.

I like that idea. My first choice would be an early 90's 7.3l powerstroke. Also find a manual transmission with PTO to run a real winch. Convert the t-case to twin stick and you'd end up with enough shift levers to keep a dozen monkeys busy.

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