Rebuild the old vs. Replace with newer

[turkeyfeather]

I have ran into a dilemma that I can't seem to decide what to do. I have a 1978 F 150 supercab 4x4. This was the fully loaded lariat with all the options at the time (so it's not tht common of a truck). Iabsolutely love the truck that my family affectionately calls "the beast". Here's my issue....we have recently decided that we want to purchase a travel trailer (not a huge one, 22-24 ft), and I have three boys. I am not sure if I should spend 5k-7k to fix up the old girl or just look at a newer truck. I know newer I would get much better mpgs, and 4 doors. However there is something about keeping an old Ford on the road that I take some pride in. What to do?

[jackelope]

Reliability, mpg's, room for the family for road trips, etc. I'm not sure what your budget is for a new truck. The beast will run you through a couple hundred bucks in gas towing a trailer a few hours round trip.

[jackelope]

It's a cool truck though.

[b23]

I would vote to preserve/rebuild the one you have.  When I was a kid my folks bought a brand new 1979 F350 Lariat 4x4 supercab.  In high school I had a short bed F150 4x4.  Both had the 400 motor with AT trans.  The one I had was used when I bought it in 1986 and I'm not sure if I was 2nd or 3rd owner but the ONLY thing I ever had to replace in the 6yrs that I owned it was the radiator, battery, and the pos. battery cable.  My dad owned his from new till 1996 and never had to replace a single thing.  He did put the Edelbrock Performer cam, manifold, and 4 barrel on his which made a pretty significant improvement in power, especially pulling power, and didn't change gas mileage.  Not sure what motor yours has but any of the 400's I've ever been around were 10-12mpg and it didn't seem to matter a great deal if they were loaded, towing or empty.  Reliable? Absolutely! Great gas mileage getter?  Not so much.  But, one of the things I really miss about those older trucks is there wasn't anything I couldn't fix, replace, or work on myself.  And, there is just something about the square headlight 78 and 79 Ford trucks I've always really liked and I really miss the ability to work on my own stuff. 

Creature comforts of the new or newer trucks is certainly nice and I don't think I'd want my old 79 with its 6in. lift and 38 Super Swampers as my current daily driver but if I already had one and it was our 3rd vehicle, I would have no problem spending a few thousand dollars fixing it up to be my tow rig or camping vehicle.  And, for what it's worth, unless you have a diesel, none of the new or newer gas trucks get very good mpg when they are towing.

[aaronoto]

Buy something newer but keep this truck and repair it as time/money allows.

My grandpa bought a 1971 Ford F250 Camper Special new that's still in the family, "old green" as it's affectionately called.  I've had many fond memories as a kid hauling the trailer over to Moses Lake in that thing.  I helped my dad rebuild the engine, it's been stolen and was later recovered, we blew a head gasket in it coming back from a camping trip, and I can remember as a teenager hating to drive that thing because it could be so finicky to start!  Lots of good memories….. My dad bought a newer F150 several years back now, but still keeps "old green" around for quick trips around town.  When I get the space at my place I'd like to do some body work and repaint it.  I'll pass it down my son when he's old enough and we'll keep it in the family until we can't get parts for it anymore or it gets wrecked.

[Alchase]

I would keep your 78 and make it a project truck

If you have the funds, there really would be no comparing the drivability of the new over the 78.

But that 78 would be an awesome project to completely upgrade the running gear and motor, brakes, deck out the interior, but leave the outside just as it is, just throw a few coats of clear coat on it and call it good, lol

[turkeyfeather]

It does have the 400 in it. I could only wish to get 10-12. I currently get about 8 mpgs. It is the camper special as well so it has the factory dana front and rear ends and tranny cooler. If I do keep it I plan on redoing all the running gear, interior and beefing up the brakes. I actually wanted to get a nice paint job and new race track trim, but my wife said no. She said if I keep it, it has to stay camo. Was thinking of maybe replacing my wifes 17 year old Caravan (198,000 miles  ) with a newer truck and have both. 

[HillSlick]

I vote you rebuild the old, just because I doubt you'll find very much in the way of newer for 7k or less, Ford Rangers go for about that, and while they're great they have a little 4.0 lol

Or As has been mentioned find somethin and keep that beauty for a project,


"WAIT! Looks dangerous...you first"

[huntnphool]

Why do you have to choose, why not do both?

[sled]

It's a cool truck though.

[raydog]

If your are only looking to spend 5-7 for a rebuild or a new truck, I vote for the rebuild. The truck might pay it's self off by getting more valuable as she gets older. A fresh 400 with a few upgrades will tow the trailer. Have you looked at the self tuning Efi systems. They are very spendy but they should pay for themselves by getting you more power and better MPG . I always thought they were neat but have no experience with one.http://www.edelbrock.com/media/news/2012/automotive/103012.html
I think tis is the one I saw on powerblock. But they are VERY EXPENSIVE!!!!!

[Special T]

YOU HAVE 3 BOYS! What a great opportunity to teach your kids about vehicles and their Maintenance, How they work etc. If you want a newer truck buy one, but  get your boys "helping" so that they have a rig when they can drive.

[raydog]

YOU HAVE 3 BOYS! What a great opportunity to teach your kids about vehicles and their Maintenance, How they work etc. If you want a newer truck buy one, but  get your boys "helping" so that they have a rig when they can drive.

[TommyH]

For 5k to 7k you could
Do a lot to your current truck. You could drop a Cummings motor/tranny in it for less than that.


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[ballpark]

Spend the money on a new engine, the money you will save in gas will pay for your brake upgrade.  A new engine will at least double your MPG.  Besides you already know everything about this truck and its payed for.  Just my 2 cents. 

[baldopepper]

3-4 times a month I make the drive from Tacoma to my home in Stevens county (approx. 300 miles) I can't tell you how many older trucks pulling trailers or boats I see on the side of the road broken down.  I stop and offer assistance quite often and have gotten used to hearing "geeze-I just put $3,000 work into this baby"-I hate it when I see the kids and wife sitting in the cab knowing their vacation or long weekend has ended so miserably.  Tow bills out in that area run over 300.00 just to get you to the nearest small town, where parts are usually 2-3 days out for repair. Engines are'nt the only problem with those older trucks-seems more often than not it's bearings, transmission, fuel pumps, water pumps etc..  All I would say is whatever you decide to do, make sure it's  reliable before you hook a trailer up and take off.

[Special T]

Since you are already buying a new truck this is what i would do... I would go on the hunt for a 12 valve cummins with a stick. I would put it on an engine stand and tear that thing down bare and do all the up grades to it. THIS is a great way to get your boys involved because you can have them do a bunch of the work/help them and its REALLY easy to see all the moving parts. Plus you can still drive the beast for a while. I would take each piece of the running gear and start the rebuild. If you have the time, you could start with any piece of the puzzle that you have cash for... You could start with the rear ends since they would likely cost less to start off with... 

[Stein]

A 24' trailer is quite a load, over 6,000 pounds plus you are pulling a square block through the air at 60 mph.  If you plan on towing it more than once a year it is going to destroy an F-150.  Although the motor may to an ok job at it, the transmission, suspension, driveline and everything simply will not last pulling that kind of load.

Craigslist is full of adds for 1/2 ton vehicles with rebuilt transmissions at half or a third of the expected life.

I would pick up a diesel and keep that as the running around, having fun truck.

[Alchase]

Keep the new truck for "towing", and your old truck for "toying"
You could drop a stroker in that bad boy!

408ci CHP INJECTED VENOM GT Crate Motor - Dish Top, 10.00 : 1, 425 HP, 420 ftp torque.

http://www.coasthigh.com/product-p/p4082f-gt-f408-v.htm

Put Crown Vic suspension, and new 4-way disc brakes.

[turkeyfeather]

A 24' trailer is quite a load, over 6,000 pounds plus you are pulling a square block through the air at 60 mph.  If you plan on towing it more than once a year it is going to destroy an F-150.  Although the motor may to an ok job at it, the transmission, suspension, driveline and everything simply will not last pulling that kind of load.

Craigslist is full of adds for 1/2 ton vehicles with rebuilt transmissions at half or a third of the expected life.

I would pick up a diesel and keep that as the running around, having fun truck.

This is what I have thought alot about, the only thing that hangs me up it that this is the "trailer special" that was built for the additional strain. I just don't know how much additional strain as I can't seem to find very much info.

To all those that say have both....I just don't know if I can pull off a truck payment and the money to fix up the beast. Unless, the newer truck becomes the "family" car that replaces my wifes aging Grand Caravan.

Do any of you all use a truck as the family car?

[ballpark]

A 24' trailer is quite a load, over 6,000 pounds plus you are pulling a square block through the air at 60 mph.  If you plan on towing it more than once a year it is going to destroy an F-150.  Although the motor may to an ok job at it, the transmission, suspension, driveline and everything simply will not last pulling that kind of load.

Craigslist is full of adds for 1/2 ton vehicles with rebuilt transmissions at half or a third of the expected life.

I would pick up a diesel and keep that as the running around, having fun truck.

This is what I have thought alot about, the only thing that hangs me up it that this is the "trailer special" that was built for the additional strain. I just don't know how much additional strain as I can't seem to find very much info.

To all those that say have both....I just don't know if I can pull off a truck payment and the money to fix up the beast. Unless, the newer truck becomes the "family" car that replaces my wifes aging Grand Caravan.

Do any of you all use a truck as the family car?

Heavy duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 6,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty alternator,heavy duty battery, HD rear shocks, bigger radiator, rear sway bar, swing out recreational mirrors, amp meter, oil pressure gauge, HD front springs, external oil cooler and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.

[turkeyfeather]

A 24' trailer is quite a load, over 6,000 pounds plus you are pulling a square block through the air at 60 mph.  If you plan on towing it more than once a year it is going to destroy an F-150.  Although the motor may to an ok job at it, the transmission, suspension, driveline and everything simply will not last pulling that kind of load.

Craigslist is full of adds for 1/2 ton vehicles with rebuilt transmissions at half or a third of the expected life.

I would pick up a diesel and keep that as the running around, having fun truck.

This is what I have thought alot about, the only thing that hangs me up it that this is the "trailer special" that was built for the additional strain. I just don't know how much additional strain as I can't seem to find very much info.

To all those that say have both....I just don't know if I can pull off a truck payment and the money to fix up the beast. Unless, the newer truck becomes the "family" car that replaces my wifes aging Grand Caravan.

Do any of you all use a truck as the family car?

Heavy duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 6,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty alternator,heavy duty battery, HD rear shocks, bigger radiator, rear sway bar, swing out recreational mirrors, amp meter, oil pressure gauge, HD front springs, external oil cooler and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.

Yup, that's it. So I would be better off with even a newer F-150 for a camp trailer. I believe the newerones have around a 9-10000 rating.

[b23]

As for the drivetrain of your old truck.  The motor and trans. will be the exact same whether it's a f150, f250, or f350.  All the 400's were the same and if it has an auto trans. it's a C6, regardless the size of the truck. 

The F150's typically have a Ford 9in. and I'm not sure if they used something different for the "trailer special" or not.  My guess is it's a Ford 9in. in the rear and Dana 44 in the front.  From your pics, it looks to be the standard Ford F150 bolt pattern of 5x5.  Which would indicate a Ford 9in rear end and that would be plenty strong for towing your trailer.  Maybe not the strongest axle to have if you were carrying a significant amount of weight but towing is a bit different.

For a stock motor the stock cooling system is fine but if you start pumping up the hp and towing, I'd highly recommend going with a bigger then stock radiator and trans. cooler.  I'm not 100% sure on this but I'm pretty sure the brakes are smaller on the F150's vs the 250's and 350's so that is an area you would want to make sure and address as well.

[turkeyfeather]

I appreciate everyone's input. In fact it inspired me to do some research. Day off and back was killing me so I hit the internet to find out more about it. I decoded the vin and then started looking up info from Ford's production numbers. After what I have found I think I will be keeping it and looking for a more HD truck as well. Turns out the "Beast" is a bit on the rarer side. It is vin'd and titled as a 1978. But was built in 7/78 using some '79 parts. It is also badged as a F150, however the vin indicates in 2 places that it is a F100 supercab 4x4. The F100 was discontinued with the '78 being the last year and was not offered in 4x4 as a production model. The vin indicates that it was a special order to a dealer in Seattle. Additionally, the research has concluded that this truck would have been maxed out towing the trailer we were looking at. The owners manual I found online states a max of 6,000 lbs. Thanks all for the input. I think we are gonna keep it and fix it up to let the boys drive when they come to that age.

[Mudman]

Good choice.  Half ton like that isnt safe for towing big loads.  Cool truck.  Tran cooling gear ratios brakes all deficient.  ABS?  Fuel too.  People think if I have the power in the engine its all good.  Nope.  Stay away from 6.0 fords. 

[HillSlick]

I appreciate everyone's input. In fact it inspired me to do some research. Day off and back was killing me so I hit the internet to find out more about it. I decoded the vin and then started looking up info from Ford's production numbers. After what I have found I think I will be keeping it and looking for a more HD truck as well. Turns out the "Beast" is a bit on the rarer side. It is vin'd and titled as a 1978. But was built in 7/78 using some '79 parts. It is also badged as a F150, however the vin indicates in 2 places that it is a F100 supercab 4x4. The F100 was discontinued with the '78 being the last year and was not offered in 4x4 as a production model. The vin indicates that it was a special order to a dealer in Seattle. Additionally, the research has concluded that this truck would have been maxed out towing the trailer we were looking at. The owners manual I found online states a max of 6,000 lbs. Thanks all for the input. I think we are gonna keep it and fix it up to let the boys drive when they come to that age.

Check out the new F150's for a family truck, I'm 6'8" and I can ride comfortably in the back seat with the front seat all the way back. Very comfortable and plenty of HP and  Torque, I love em. Good luck in your search!


"WAIT! Looks dangerous...you first" - Young Dr Frankenstein