'78 F-100 restoration

[Bronc76]

I've recently started the restoration process on the '78. Here's a little bit about it: it's been in the family since '79 when it was dads daily driver, he then gave it to me in '95 and in 2001 the tranny started to slip and the motor was wore out, so its been sitting in the garage ever since. The body is in excellent shape and it only needs quarter panels and a little work on the floor pans along each door sill plate. Here are a few pics on what it looks like.

 

[Bronc76]

stripped interior

 

[Bronc76]

Took bed off and started to do a little sanding and playing around with the gun.

 

[Bronc76]

I have the option of picking up a rebuilt stock 5.0 out of an '87 stang GT. (has not been turned over yet)or rebuild the original. I would like to keep the original because it came with the truck and purchase the other. I have a couple of questions that someone may have the answer to; what would I have to do to keep the stock distributor, maybe just change the gear? or is it the same? Is there anything else that I need to be aware of with this swap? I would also like to use the pulleys off of the '78. Is this possible too? It came with factory a/c.

 

[Bronc76]

Dropped fuel tank, cleaned and repainted it. Reinstalled fuel and brake lines, removed rear leafs, installed new bushings, rear shocks and brakes

 

[Bronc76]

Forgot about the rear axle.

 

[Bronc76]

Been working on the front suspension. Pulled out the coils, tie rods, twin I-beams, and R/A brackets. Cleaned and painted everything, installed new bushings throughout, new brakes, hoses, and shocks.

 

[Bronc76]

Sanded on dash and cleaned up the floor pans, not alot of bodywork on passenger side, overall the whole floor is in excellent shape.

 

[Bronc76]

Driver's side pics, have to do a little more work on floor on this side, but its fixable.

 

[Bronc76]

Now its time to start the bodywork. Got rust on the passenger fender, inner fender, and support due to battery acid. Going to cut and weld new metal where as needed, trying to salvage these parts.