My 54 Ford Project truck - Part 3

[Fordman75]

Well I finally got a good donor chassis for my 54 F100 body. I had to rent a trailer and go on a 380 mile road trip ( Round trip not each way ) . But it's home and I'm happy!

It's a 78 F250 4x4, 400 V8/NP435 4spd/NP205 transfercase, D44HD front diff, Dana 60 rear diff with 4.10 gears and limited slip. The body and interior are rough but I don't need them anyways! The chassis is in good shape but does need some brake work ( a blown rear wheel cylinder and bad mastercylinder ) .

It's got a bright Ford blue rattle can paint job. For some reason all the pictures I take come out looking baby blue to gray. Well here it is!



It has a massive custom built front bumper. I really like the bumper except for the stupid grille guard. I'm going to break out the sawzall and remove the guard! Eventually I'm going to mount a big winch behind the bumper.






And here's proof that I didn't lie about the interior being crap!! But it does have an aftermarket cd player in it.



Now when it warms up I get get working on the 54 and get it done.

[Nathan in MI]

Those old Ford trucks are so cool looking! I'll be watching this project with great interest.

[Fordman75]

Those old Ford trucks are so cool looking! I'll be watching this project with great interest.

I really like the looks of the 78-79 Ford trucks/Broncos. But I like the looks of the 54 even better.

I got it for $600 so I'm happy. It even has current registration. Sounds good too with no muffler.

[nitroracer]

How many ford pickups have you owned?!


Can't wait to see the 54' Cab sittin up there.

[Fordman75]

How many ford pickups have you owned?!


Can't wait to see the 54' Cab sittin up there.

I lost count after the first 30 or 40. I've had many many Ford trucks the oldest was a 1947 to the newest which was a 1995.

I can't wait either! But it's going to take some sheetmetal work first. I'm going to chop the trany tunnel area of the floor and the firewall out of the 78 and weld it into the 54 cab.

[Fordman75]

Here's a couple pics of the 400. This thing runs good! It needs a couple gaskets but supposedly it was rebuilt a few years ago ( Don't they always say that ) . This engine starts like a fuel injected engine. You hit the key and it's running, you don't even need to touch the gas. It's a blast to drive! Unless you want to turn sharp or stop fast! I'm thinking about converting it to a hydroboost brake booster and rear disc brakes since the rear brakes need to be rebuilt anyways.

[Nathan in MI]

Is that Duraspark ignition?

[Fordman75]

Is that Duraspark ignition?

Yep it's a DSII ignition system.

[88Vic]

So is that motor gonna be used in the 54 or you still gonna go with a 300? If it isn't, then what are you gonna do with it?

[Fordman75]

So is that motor gonna be used in the 54 or you still gonna go with a 300? If it isn't, then what are you gonna do with it?

I'm going to use the whole 78 F250 4x4 chassis/drivetrain just the way it is. The only parts I'm going to swap out are the ones that need to be replaced.

The motor is in good shape I just need to replace the valvecover gaskets, clean it up and repaint it.

Otherwise the only other parts I'm replacing are the steering box and PS pump, mastercylinder/booster assembly and the rear brakes.

Since I need to rebuild the rear brakes I'm considering swapping out the drum brakes for some disc brakes off a 99 E350 van. And I'm going to swap out the stock mastercylinder and booster for one out of a 2000 F350 superduty truck with a diesel engine. The brake booster in the Superduty is a hydraulic booster which will greatly improve my brakes.

[Fordman75]

Well I located a disc brake rear diff and will hopefully be going to pick it up sometime next week! So I'll have the complete rear disc brake set up for the truck!! The truck should have no problem stopping. It'll have huge dual piston calipers front and back.

And I found a place that sells the Superduty mastercylinder and hydro-booster for a decent price. So now I just need to come up with some more cash for the rest of the parts and I need spring to arrive early so I can start working on this!!

[sxcpotatoes]

Hey, um, what are you doing with that bench seat...?

My brother needs one for his '79 F-250 4x4.

I'm from Ohio, how much would you want for it? I'm not above getting it reupholstered maybe...

[Fordman75]

Hey, um, what are you doing with that bench seat...?

My brother needs one for his '79 F-250 4x4.

I'm from Ohio, how much would you want for it? I'm not above getting it reupholstered maybe...

Most likely I'm going to scrap them.

I've got two of those bench seats both in 78 F250's $5.00 and you can have eiter one. But I'm not shipping them! Way too much hassle. And I can't really see someone driving from Ohio to pick one up.

There has to be one of these seats a lot closer to you then mine.

[packman]

What engine family does that 400 belong in? Too bad this wasn't four years ago; I would have bought that body off of you and dropped it on the '73 F-350 frame that we had. The body needed a lot of work, but the engine and the rest of the truck ran fine. That 390FE was deafening with open headers though, and it was stock. I wonder what the 390FE will be like when I build it up for my '53.


Packman

[Freshmeat]

Engine is a 351M/400 block. The 400 has a 4" stroke and a 4" bore, giving it the "square block" name.
Shares bellhousing pattern with a 460.