1979 Ford LTD, barn find FTW

[87gtVIC]

The black seat belts/buckles are pretty cool.

[gabegt90]

great find mang nice car

[79lincolnlover]

Non-smoker's car?

[flyb0t]

Non-smoker's car?

As far as I know, yes. Not one hundred percent sure.

[Mercracer]

I love manual windows on old cars. Less weight and less bs crap to break/fix.

[flyb0t]

Long time since any update, been going back and forth between summer classes at college and working on the LTD. Got rid of a lot of rust on the passenger side, as well as getting started on the slicktop conversion..haven't redone the body filler on the A, B and C pillars yet, but have got all the metal around it cleared and primered.

Pics:


As for the engine, the '71 302 the guy gave us need a bit of work, and one of the previous owners of this car had the stock motor running without an oil pump... so it would need a complete rebuild. However we may be acquiring a 302 out of a 95 F150 from the local wrecking yard for not too much..thoughts on that?

[mcninetyone]

Have you given any thought to the possibility of using an Explorer or H.O. engine?
Unless that 95 302 is practically free that is!

Now if your open to a rebuild, then the engine choices change drastically!

[1987cp]

Isn't a '95 F-150 engine just a regular 150hp lowpo but with the weird intake and batch-fire injection? Lots to be gained by using something better ... IMO, roller lowpos (provided it's a roller, ought to be but you should make sure) are good only for providing a shortblock to use with better cam, heads, and intake.


Other than that, it looks like a really neat find! Lots of '79s and '80s seem to have come with only one side mirror, so very neat to find an "S" model with two mirrors. I actually still miss my '79 Squire a little, even though it was already rusted beyond saving by the time I got it.

I'm shocked you're bothering to paint it, but I suppose it looks worse in person, and I'm used to junk having rust on it. You're doing a slicktop routine along with the new paint, right?

[flyb0t]

Have you given any thought to the possibility of using an Explorer or H.O. engine?
Unless that 95 302 is practically free that is!

Now if your open to a rebuild, then the engine choices change drastically!

There is an Exploder motor out at a nearby junkyard for $100, whole motor, with manifolds (I think) The 95 motor is $200. I am also considering a rebuild on the stock motor for more power, or, when I get it, that 351 Cleveland motor, but that might be a stretch, monetarily.

Isn't a '95 F-150 engine just a regular 150hp lowpo but with the weird intake and batch-fire injection? Lots to be gained by using something better ... IMO, roller lowpos (provided it's a roller, ought to be but you should make sure) are good only for providing a shortblock to use with better cam, heads, and intake.


Other than that, it looks like a really neat find! Lots of '79s and '80s seem to have come with only one side mirror, so very neat to find an "S" model with two mirrors. I actually still miss my '79 Squire a little, even though it was already rusted beyond saving by the time I got it.

I'm shocked you're bothering to paint it, but I suppose it looks worse in person, and I'm used to junk having rust on it. You're doing a slicktop routine along with the new paint, right?

I wasn't sure about the 95 motor, figured I'd ask first..if it's not going to yield a better amount of hp than the stock motor, I would err towards the Exploder Motor.

I do enjoy the find, as it is, besides a couple of really nasty rust spots, pretty well preserved, And I'd prefer to get the rust off of it now, repaint it, and have it looking really good. I also plan on putting some filler in a couple spots where it was really bad before I used some XO-Rust on it. And yeah, we're priming up the roof and putting new filler it in for a nice slicktop job, along with an entire repaint in the factory color, 2H Metallic Red Poly.

On that subject, I have the LTD markers from the C pillars...granted the posts have been broken off of them, but should I:
A)Get Replacements off of the interbutts and put them in once it's painted?
B)Fix the ones I got and do the same?
C)Fill it in and paint over it for that full slicktop look?

And one last thing (LONG POST OMG), does anyone know where I can find a compatible din-style radio bezel? I have the original AM/FM radio with bezel, and was planning on replacing it, but I don't know what years/makes are compatible with that dash? All of them?

[87gtVIC]

Looking good. I remember peeling my top off and making it all clean. May I suggest removing the window (front and rear) moldings? With the right tool () you can have nice and clean paint edges with now worry of peeling paint.

[zoomie]

if your close enough id be happy to come down and help if youd like

[85crownHPP]

And one last thing (LONG POST OMG), does anyone know where I can find a compatible din-style radio bezel? I have the original AM/FM radio with bezel, and was planning on replacing it, but I don't know what years/makes are compatible with that dash? All of them?

They interchange up to 87, 88-89 may too but those are a little different. Getting one that matches your old one will will be the challenge...!

My 87 5.0 F150 has orange injectors... i thought they all got the "truck cam" but I dunno. If the explorer 5.0 is available, get it!

[1987cp]

If you can get an Exploder motor for half the price, then it's a no-brainer. You get better heads, a decent cam (slightly bigger than a lowpo cam but still very well-behaved), and you can sell the intake setup to someone with an injected Vic when you remove it to install your favorite four-barrel manifold.

As for the C-pillar badges, that's your call. I don't care much about badges myself and would probably fill the holes and call it good. Still, you can always try gluing them, or else watch Fleabay since that style LTD badge does come up on there from time to time.


Does your '79 use the shaft-style stereo? I thought DIN stereos on base model Fords was a later thing (my '79 had the big tall 8-track deck, and my '81 was hacked by a previous owner and an aftermarket DIN bezel glued to the dash).

[85crownHPP]

I thought DIN stereos on base model Fords was a later thing (my '79 had the big tall 8-track deck, and my '81 was hacked by a previous owner and an aftermarket DIN bezel glued to the dash).

Yup, Im sure he wants the DIN dash piece so he can avoid the hack

[flyb0t]

If you can get an Exploder motor for half the price, then it's a no-brainer. You get better heads, a decent cam (slightly bigger than a lowpo cam but still very well-behaved), and you can sell the intake setup to someone with an injected Vic when you remove it to install your favorite four-barrel manifold.

As for the C-pillar badges, that's your call. I don't care much about badges myself and would probably fill the holes and call it good. Still, you can always try gluing them, or else watch Fleabay since that style LTD badge does come up on there from time to time.


Does your '79 use the shaft-style stereo? I thought DIN stereos on base model Fords was a later thing (my '79 had the big tall 8-track deck, and my '81 was hacked by a previous owner and an aftermarket DIN bezel glued to the dash).

Yup, Im sure he wants the DIN dash piece so he can avoid the hack

Yeah, it has the shaft stereo, and I would REALLY like to avoiding hacking up any parts in case I want to make it somewhat original again. As for fleabay, they charge a good deal for those friggin emblems, so I might try some glue.

I'll have to pass the word along on that exploder motor, it's sort of an unknown quantity but it might be good. And I'll make sure to pass the intake along, just in case.

By the way, how many 302s does it take to make a good one? :P we're on 2 now, working on 3.

And zoomie, I'll let you know next time I'm back in the 814, I'm down at college during the week, and this weekend I'm busy, so I'm on a floating schedule.