Actually got this thing started. . .

[Menace Kustoms]

So, my dad has had this truck for a few years. We bought it off of a little old couple that had owned it for a long time. He has been talking about giving it to me for some time. I finally called his bluff, . I dragged it over to the shop I work at and started putting it together. I am a crew member of a off road race team, TSA Motorsports. This is going to be a "fix it when it's broke" truck. The basic plan is a total rewire (the complete harness, nose to tail), a new 390 (I have most of the parts), just the Econolift from Autofab (that's all I can afford! ) and an engine driven compressor to power air tools. There are a lot of other details like shaving holes, the interior and stuff like that, but I gotta start somewhere. Without further ado, here she is:






This is how I got her. She needed some attention, obviously.








This is how she looks now in the shop. Cleaned her up and put some new wheels and tires (much more my style than those chrome ones). I'm working on a custom gauge panel right now, I'll take some pictures today at work.

[Menace Kustoms]

And here is a preview of my color scheme:




I also dropped the Aux tank and dumped out some really varnished fuel. Got it all scrubbed down and undercoated it. I ordered some new rubber hoses, since they were all cracked. I have been doing a LOT of scrubbing and degreasing under the truck, but it will be worth it. Next job to tackle is sound dampening and insulation in the cab.

[cozadlance2]

a fine start to a project you will love and yet never ever finish... well, i will speak for myself... you might get done with yours. Enjoy the journey.

[Menace Kustoms]

Well, here's some more progress:

The interior had some major issues. The truck had a small fire behind the dash that fried the wiring. My dad yanked it out, and got frustrated. That's how I got this thing. This is how I got it.



The first thing I needed was a wiring harness:



And this thing needed to come out:



Since the green board was fried, I needed these:



But, I'm not really a polished billet guy:



So here's the panel now:



And, the seat was, well, umm, disgusting. When you sat in it, you leaned against the driver's door/window, .:





I like it a lot better now. :







The interior is getting there:

[HayHauler]

Nice.

[basketcase0302]

Josh,

Sweet instrument panel!
The trucks looking a lot better. Is that a "Painless" brand harness?

[Menace Kustoms]

No, it's actually from Rebel Wire. They were really cool guys and it only cost me $156! The seat was only $200 and the gauges were $250. This is a budget build!

[cozadlance2]

budget build? nice budget.

[terry1167]

Sweet truck and great progress! I too have a very similar project plan with my 72 F250 (see my plan under my project plan). I just finished this week with degreasing and undercoating w/sound eliminator the undercarriage. Amazing difference already. My dynamat type of sound deadener should arrive tomorrow and my heat shield padding insulation arrived today. I plan to work on sound deadening the interior this weekend. I've also degreased, scrubbed, and painted the engine and compartment. Looking pretty good but tons more to do. I too am on a limted budget so I understand your "pay as you go" pain. Good luck and love the pics!!

[Menace Kustoms]

Yeah, I wish that sound deadening and carpet were in the current budget, but they're not. I'm just going to clean it up as best I can, paint a little here and there, and roll like that for a while. I have almost all the parts to do another engine as well, since this ones tired. I have an Edlebrock intake, headers and a mild RV cam, so it should move a little better after the first of the year. Most of the money I see spending in the future though will be in the interior. My total investment is only around $600 so far since the truck was free.

[1971ford]

TSA eh?

Nice to see a fellow offroad racer
Besides my own truck I help out with Rescue Racing's trophy truck and three class 1's, and a buddy's class 1 all up here in norcal in the VORRA series

[Menace Kustoms]

Yeah, this is our truck:




We are Class 7 open, kind of like TT, but with a 6 cylinder. That's why I need to grab those coils from you.

[FormerMarine1981]

Nice build, I like the color scheme you're going with. Do you have more info on that Wiring harness, or a Part#? I need to get one of those eventually.

[Menace Kustoms]

Well, like I said, the harness is universal. You have to make your own connections and run everything yourself. That being said, if you understand the basics of wiring (soldering, heatshrinking and the like), it's not that hard. Here's their website: http://www.rebel-wire.com/wirekits.shtml and I got the 9+3 Harness. I'm excited to get the truck one color. I want to debut it in April at the Fabulous Fords Forever Show at Knott's berry Farm.

[cozadlance2]

i have spent around $1000 or so and done some swearing and bleeding and haven't gotten as much done. Good work.