The 79 F150

[Drew Pojedinec]

I initially wrote a little about this on the FE forum.  Of course due to the nature of the Fe Forum with moving topics to the top (or lack thereof) figured I'd document the work on this project here.

The back story:
I was in NYC and headed by boat to Haiti then to Mobile AL, so I was going to be without cell service for a solid 21 days or so.
When I got to Mobile I saw that my son had bought himself an F150 with a 302.  Now to fully understand my surprise you have to understand that my son is 12 years old.

He saw the truck on the side of the road and wanted to check it out.  He arranged a time to meet the owner and he brought back my "old retire guy crew" to inspect it with him.  I've got some older retired neighbors that are hanging around my shop and always interested in what projects I may work on.  They are cool fellas, and the three of us have an "open shop" policy (ie if any of us need a bolt or washer or tool, we check the others person shop before the hardware store).

Anyhow the asking price for the truck was $2,000 and I'm assuming his cuteness talked the owner down to $1750.  He needed one of the retired fellas to drive the truck home for him.  When I talked to him this views were of sound logic.  I own one of this series of trucks so I have spare parts on hand, they are cheap and easy to fix, and unlike a Honda Civic, this truck would appreciate in value.

So when I got into cell range I saw these pictures:





Now I love a project, so I was excited to get home and get to work on it.
I finally arrived at home, and checked out the truck.  Was pretty decent.  Right away despite the lack of trivial things like license plates, we decided to see how she ran.  Fired right up, we pulled out of the driveway and went around the block.  I pulled the truck into the shop to inspect it when the wife said "Hey, take me for a ride."  So she jumped in and we went around the block again, but didn't make it too far before the truck died.  Of course this is when they said "Oh yeah, the truck doesn't run at all once it is hot."  I sprayed some starter fluid and cranked the engine, but it was obvious there was zero spark.
So, I left them with the truck and ran the half mile or so back to the house and got my truck and a tow strap.
Got them hitched up and back to the house we went.
Within 30 seconds my dear wife (bless her heart) drove over the tow strap and promptly broke the brake line off.

So, two missions now.... brake hoses and hot start ignition.

I ordered brake hoses, and went to finding the ignition issues.
Of course, before tearing into it, I felt some ignition system theory, and how to was to be taught:



Ended up finding the problem was the ignition pickup in the duraspark distributor.  I found it view checking resistance.  This led into a long discussion of how and why to use a multimeter.  We spent a good hour checking various things in the shop.  Anyhow, I happened to have a spare pickup, we tossed it in and the engine ran very well for 30 minutes, tho was obviously off a little.
The wife caught us taking a break.... ok I was showing him how to work an AM/FM radio and how to program channels with the push buttons.  We were listening to some obnoxious Mexican music when the wife spotted us and took this picture:



Now some random pictures:

The kid likes metal working, I need to get him doing some welding:



Bed rusted, so someone rivets a plate to it, easy fix should we care to do it:



Engine and truck amazingly original:








Interior is decent:



The clearcoat peeling:



The worst troublesome rust, luckily I have a parts cab to cut on:



Engine sounded rough so we found all the vacuum leaks, reset the idle screws, reset the valves, and set the timing to 10 degrees initial.  We were told the engine was rebuilt in recent history.  Normally I ignore such claims, but it is pretty clean under the valve covers, so that is a good sign.



Engine still not *perfect*  I checked the timing chain and it is crazy loose.  So that and brakes are the next projects.

video: http://vid68.photobucket.com/albums/i6/DeepRootsNursery/Ronins%20F150/MVI_1382_zpspi6ysbmz.mp4


I'll post more as we get into the truck further.  Progress will be somewhat slow as my son is the one who bought this truck and he is paying for the repairs..... 

[jayb]

What a great father-son project!  Kudos to your son for taking the initiative and buying the truck; he must be a motorhead at heart.

Now, to start collecting those FE parts...

[fastback 427]

That's a cool story, and nice truck. Looks like the kid got a good deal on it. Most kids would have bought themselves a nintendo or x box. It seems you got a pretty good kid there, good luck with both!

[thatdarncat]

Sweet project and a lucky kid. I would have loved to have something like that to work on at that age, but I had to settle for model cars lol.

[machoneman]

Engine still not *perfect*  I checked the timing chain and it is crazy loose.  So that and brakes are the next projects.

Bet is has the OEM nylon coated teeth cam gear! Get only the all cast iron replacement gear.

Quite a steal there. 

[turbohunter]

I'll never forget working on cars and trucks with my dad and brothers.
It's the best.
Obviously great kid and a nice truck.
Congratulations.

[Drew Pojedinec]

Bet is has the OEM nylon coated teeth cam gear! Get only the all cast iron replacement gear.
Quite a steal there.

Hard to say.  The engine was *rebuilt* and I suspect timing chain was changed.  I don't know if the aftermarket sold timing gears with the nylon teeth or now....  I will not really know until I pull the water pump and timing chain cover.  I test a timing chain by rocking the engine back and forth while watching the Rotor.  If it looks bad, I pull the fuel pump and push on the chain to check slack.

Timing chain r&r will be soon as the illustrious Doctor Lykins is sending us a new timing set and gasket.
Sadly I ordered the wrong front brake hoses, so won't be able to get to that for a few more days as well.
Power steering pump leaks (a lot), I'll be hunting down a new o-ring for that, if I cannot find one I've got a spare power steering pump I can toss on.

I pulled the truck out of the shop for the time being, as my Galaxie is somewhat pampered by her dry inner dwellings.  (yes you can drive a truck just fine with no brakes).

[BruceS]

Edit
Drew, nice truck and great kid!  Looks like you're teaching him right, too.  No matter what he ends up doing in his career, etc. he will have those skills you're teaching him to put to good use.   

I remember when I was about 12 or 13 using some of the "fortune" earned from my paper route (if anyone needs an explanation of what a paper route is, let me know). 

I found and bought an old Vespa motor scooter; it was painted beige and looked like the paint job was done with a big brush.  I was so proud though!  I'm sure that's how your son is feeling now. 

Bruce

[Drew Pojedinec]

Yeah, I was ten and got annoyed with my lack of "things" that other kids had so I went and worked at a farm, $2 and hour during the day, and working the evenings at a lawn mower repair place for the same pay.
would do 5-6 hours a day all year and 15-16 hours a day all summer when I didn't have the bother of school.  Did that for many years.

I still remember at about 12 my big purchase was a stereo system that could play my bob dylan records AND the new fangled cd's.  Was a big deal.  Wish I could have afforded a better car, my dad knew nothing nor cared anything for cars, so I kinda had to figure it all out myself.  My figuring is if nothing else I want my kids to leave the house with a work ethic, the ability to teach themselves things as needed, and with a basic understanding of machines/cars.
Figure that is all you *really* need.

[Bolted to Floor]

My figuring is if nothing else I want my kids to leave the house with a work ethic, the ability to teach themselves things as needed, and with a basic understanding of machines/cars.
Figure that is all you *really* need.

Drew, I think you are on to something there and it looks like your boy is off to a good start.

It's great to spend time with the kids wrench on the cars. My boy wasn't real interested in cars until he got his Exploder. I have had the pleasure of spending some hours with him wrenching on it to keep it going. Valve cover and intake gaskets, heater core, brakes, and a radiator to name a few parts.

He has a decent understanding of how the engine works and he is gaining confidence in his own abilities to tackle stuff.

[Drew Pojedinec]

I'd asked the illustrious Mr Lykins what cheap timing chain he preferred for a 302, and he just went ahead and sent them to us.  Early Xmas gift for the kiddo.

yeah, my kids are as weird as me.....

[shady]

that would look great gold plated. I see you have a cat. figured you for a dog guy.

[57 lima bean]

Timing Bling....

[turbohunter]

Mr. Lykins is a cool cat. He did me right recently also.
Your kid is cool too.

[Drew Pojedinec]

Correction, the WIFE has two cats.  I have a dog....