Resurgence of a F100

[6speedsd]

This won't be near the full blown project/resto most of you guys showcase here, but figured I'd start a thread instead of constantly clouding up the random pic thread with my garbage.

Recently bought this 1977 F100, as this body style has been a dream truck of mine since I was a kid.

A little info...77 model SWB, converted to one piece grill and square headlights, 302 with auto. The good....fresh body work and paint less than a year ago, can't find a spot of bondo anywhere, lots of new parts, wiring is good, all gauges work, ect. The bad....engine dropped a valve. (And a few cosmetic choices made by the previous owner obviously).

Plans are fairly mild at this point. Get it running, finish up the interior (which is probably 80% done already) then drive it. Will be an ongoing project for years to come I'm sure, and everything I "want" to do won't be done all at once. Couple extra pics just for fun.

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[6speedsd]

Decided to do a little investigation this afternoon. Pulled the plug on the cylinder that lost the valve. It's obviously been hit, but it's not broken. Electrode is just bent over to one side. Dude told me it started missing, so they shut it down, pulled the valve cover and found the issue. Then tried to bump it over thinking it would push valve back up through the head, but it just locked up.

Was looking over the spec sheet for the cam he said he put in it. Comp 31-216-2. He claims he put stock springs back in it because "it didn't need stiffer ones", but on the spec sheet it clearly states in big bold letters "springs required" and even listed the part number for the set. It's also a hydraulic cam, and I'm curious if he even swapped in a set of hydraulic lifters to match.

Decided to work on pulling that head and see just how much damage was done. Got a little ways tonight and will finish tomorrow. I haven't fooled around in the gasser world in years, so this is a welcome change from diesel fumes and soot! I forgot how heavy a cast intake manifold was too.

Apparently he LOVED Permatex. Even had the intake gaskets glued down solid with the stuff. I should have the head off tomorrow, and hoping maybe I'll get lucky and it didn't eff up the cylinder walls. How nice would that be! More pics to follow the deeper I get.


Anyone with experience with that particular cam? It's less than a year old so I see no reason not to use it with my mild build. I'll get the right springs and hyd lifters too. Will be swapping on an aluminum intake and fresh 4 barrel (currently has a 2 barrel), and a set of long tubes. Other than that, it'll be stockish for a while. Is that a good drivable cam?


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[bluedge8]

Make sure the cam hasn't worn wrong and use break in lube on the cam again. I wrecked an engine because it sat too long between assembly and start up and all of the lube must have chine off the lobes

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[6speedsd]

Got pushrods out...one on that cylinder had a slight bend in it which was to be expected. But it really is just a slight bend. Pulled a lifter...at least it's got hydraulic lifters in it already. Only pulled the one, but the tappet end looks practically unused.

Some of the pushrods gave this stamped on the side. I assume it's a brand/part number? Why don't they all have it though is my question....surely he didn't mix/max pushrods. "RP-3167"

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[6speedsd]

Well, so much for getting lucky. Piston is cracked. Explains why it locked up. I'm curious what the cylinder wall looks like though.

Here's all I found of the valve

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[heavydoc]

That's a big bummer. I thought you might have gotten lucky.

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[6speedsd]

Yeah really. Oh well. Bore measured 3.9975 by my mic so looks like it's never been bored before, which is shocking. An original 1977 302.


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[powerstroked08]

Well roll it over and check the cylinder. I had one Waaaaaay worse than that when I was 15 and was able to easily sleeve it. And that motor still runs today

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[powerstroked08]

I'm definitely jealous of that truck by the way! You can just drop it off at my place anytime!

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[6speedsd]

It has a scratch down the cylinder wall that I can catch my finger nail on. I would think that'd be an issue.


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[6speedsd]

Oh and it's a C4 truck, not a C6 like he said. I didn't even think to get under it the other day and look. Not biggie I guess...it still run up and down the highway all the same.

I want to check that cylinder out good though. The more I look at that scratch, the more it seems like a good fresh cross hatch might be plenty. Then again, it is original and I have no idea how many miles are on it, so a freshening up might be in order regardless.

Got everything unbolted and ready to be pulled. I think anyways. Need to get an engine stand, and talk to the engine builder and see when he can work his magic. The I'll get it pulled and taken to him.

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[gwunter]

So envious of that body still!! I hope to start on the 78 in a year or so. Have to get moved and my shop set up first. My 78 looks so bad, I'm not even going to post a pic.....would hate to upset someone's stomach. But the truck is a family gem.

 

[powerstroked08]

It has a scratch down the cylinder wall that I can catch my finger nail on. I would think that'd be an issue.


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Yeah you might better just sell that whole truck to me. ... you would be much better off! Nice thing is 302 stuff is cheap and readily available. And you can throw a 347 stroker kit in it for under 700 bucks.

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[Magnum PD]

Head ok? Missed matched springs for the application that made it drop a valve?

 

[6speedsd]

I "think" the head is ok. I don't know enough about what's "cleanable" and what's not when it comes to this stuff. In the one pic I posted, you can see a small dent/gouge in the valve seat. It's slight, so I'm hoping a valve job will clean that up. If not, it's an excuse to bribe the Mrs. for a set of aluminum heads... LOL.

And yes, I think him running stock springs with that cam was the problem. Although the spring on that cylinder that lost the valve is complete and intact, so who knows.


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[6speedsd]

Yeah you might better just sell that whole truck to me. ... you would be much better off! Nice thing is 302 stuff is cheap and readily available. And you can throw a 347 stroker kit in it for under 700 bucks.

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Sure, I'll sell it to you. Just come on down and bring double what I paid for it. I'll even finish pulling the motor for that price.

And yeah, 302 stuff is all over the local craigslist, so finding anything I need will be easy. If I don't go new anyways.


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[6speedsd]

So envious of that body still!! I hope to start on the 78 in a year or so. Have to get moved and my shop set up first. My 78 looks so bad, I'm not even going to post a pic.....would hate to upset someone's stomach. But the truck is a family gem.

Those are the best kinds. This will be a long time family vehicle, eventually going to one of the boys. That is after I've had all my fun with it!


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[6speedsd]

Anyone with any input on that particular cam?

What about the pushrods? Guess I should just google that number and see what comes up.


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[Golddigger]

NICE! I need to get on my '71, when I finally get back into it I'm selling the whole rolling chassis. 360/auto, going to put the body on a 4x4 7.3 chassis. Whole truck has 91K.

 

[6speedsd]

With that cam, and the heavier springs I plan to install, do I need to look into stronger pushrods, or will stock be sufficient?


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