New Member 1986 F150 351W 2WD restoration project

[Royal Rock]

Hey! It has been great reading through the posts so far and I can't wait to join in on the fun. I am just getting started on my first big project truck! I am in my 2nd semester of an automotive program that is four semesters and loving it! Thought I would share my progress so far, and plan on taking my time to bring it down to bolts and back to working order, at least that is the idea :)

[ArdWrknTrk]

Glad you have found us!  

I don't know that resurrecting a carbureted truck would be germane to your studies but if you're looking for help or advice we're here.

[Royal Rock]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Glad you have found us!  

I don't know that resurrecting a carbureted truck would be germane to your studies but if you're looking for help or advice we're here.

Oh, I am in the class to learn for sure, but my dream has always been to restore classic cars and trucks. I have plans for a shop in the works for this spring, and I have a 1969 C10 to work on next, but this 86' is to cut my teeth on first. To be clear the Ford is mine, and the Chevy is my fiancé's. =D

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, welcome!  Glad you joined. We look forward to following your journey.

[ArdWrknTrk]

We have a member (Mat) who has a restoration shop.
Perhaps he can offer some advice, without divulging secrets.
Yeah, you better get it right with your own ride before 'practicing' on her's.  🙄

[Royal Rock]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

We have a member (Mat) who has a restoration shop.
Perhaps he can offer some advice, without divulging secrets.
Yeah, you better get it right with your ride before 'practicing' on her's.  🙄

Thanks! It would be great to get some advice on the shop, it will probably just be a hobby unless it turns out to make decent money. I have a decent setup because of class for tools but have not yet come up with how I am going to set up the shop beyond a few scribbles done on napkins. I want a lift, and I have done my research on what the garage/cement requirements are, but I have yet to find out exactly what lift/compressor or other in-shop details will be. I look forward to working that out soon though!

Hahaha Yes, and that is what I told her, I wanted to have some more experience before I work on the truck that she has had since high school, it has been sitting for a few years, but I checked, and the engine still turns.

[ArdWrknTrk]

If it's not a commercial enterprise I'm sure many of us might offer advice (of course Gary has the Garagemahal!)
But we can't all be neck deep in Rotunda equipment or factory documentation....  

[Gary Lewis]

Who has a lift?  And a little bit of documentation?  

Working on TJ’s Lil Blue this week in a driveway made me SOOO happy I have the lift!  It makes things so much easier, for sure.

As for the documentation, I’m glad I have quite a bit of it online. Makes looking up stuff easy, and I’ve been doing a lot of that this week.

[Royal Rock]

Gary Lewis wrote

Who has a lift?  And a little bit of documentation?  

Working on TJ’s Lil Blue this week in a driveway made me SOOO happy I have the lift!  It makes things so much easier, for sure.

As for the documentation, I’m glad I have quite a bit of it online. Makes looking up stuff easy, and I’ve been doing a lot of that this week.

Curious, which lift do you have? I'm looking at a few different ones, but I haven't decided which one yet.

[Gary Lewis]

I have a Chinese 9000 lb 2-post lift. It works very well and I have no complaints. Thought I wanted a 4-post but I’m very glad I went 2-post.

My ceiling is 11’ 10” and that put the lift in a lower-lift setting. Have talked about punching through the ceiling to get the needed 2” to raise it all the way, but have gotten by well so far.

[grumpin]

Welcome!