WILL IT RUN? Parked over 30 years 1979 Ford F100 Explorer Short bed

In this episode, we pull in our 1979 F100 Explorer with straight 6 and 4 speed on the floor. She’s been parked since 1992. Will it run? Stay tuned to find out!

[@seantinsley1411]

I found a similar truck 1978 f100 swb in bahama blue. I want to keep mine original as well. As they say they are only original once. I would recommend one upgrade. I added power brakes. You as me already have front disk brakes you can get a power booster with new master cylinder for about 250 dollars. I am so very glad I did. It made a huge difference in ease of stopping. Congratulations on your new truck. I love mine, love that 300 6 as well. Everything on those trucks are simple and easy to work on.

[@DentsideDepot]

Awesome! Yes I absolutely agree, check out my Junior Mint build series, with that truck we added Battle Born Brakes dual booster. One of the main reasons I do these trucks (besides loving the look) is that they are truly relaxing to work on. More trucks to follow, so stay tuned!

[@silvertrain7945]

Congratulations on your dent side! I’m glad that you are leaving the pickup stock. To be able to find a dent that clean is rare. I have found a 76 parked for about 20 years. The owner lives out of state and will be meeting with him late this month. The closest I have been to the truck is 100 yards away. Keep us up with the progress on the truck. Thank you!

[@DentsideDepot]

Thanks I will and good luck!

[@ty1158]

Yes !!! That's exactly what I want to get, hopefully one day. Shortbed,300, the 4speed is cool but I'll take the AT too if need be, either or. That's a good buy you picked up. Very little rust but nice patina.

[@kellismith4329]

I had a ‘79 as well, custom explorer withthe stripes, hood ornament, carpet and tilting column (signal lever released the tilt) - the ranger explorer was a little fancier yet with lariat ish door carpet and trim. Mine had a 302 C6 auto, I drove it for many years it was a great truck

[@wbreese9903]

Great find! Interesting that it doesn't have power brakes. Pretty cool that it has the overdrive transmission........I've only seen a couple of them.

[@DentsideDepot]

Great point, its pretty cool how bare bones this truck is. I can't wait to drive it and see how the brakes feel.

[@eugenehagen7342]

I have a 78 f 150 with that same transmission. I have only seen 1 other one in a 1980 model. Im from northrrn canada and lots of farm trucks had the other manual transmission with bull low. The 4 speed has a different shape of shifter. I bought mine un idaho but it was a california truck and it is rustfree.

[@jasonthejawman5442]

Nice Classic truck

[@chriscolwell2691]

Very cool truck. I am just starting on my recent buy...78 f250 4x4 with the 300. Not quite as straight as yours but rust free and another Oregon truck. It is interesting as I start watching these dentside videos how many are Oregon trucks...no wonder it is hard to find them in Oregon lol.

[@MattsRageFitGarage]

Interesting that truck even has a DSO number on the marti report. Ford produced a lot of random vehicles not ordered by customer or dealership and those vehicles usually won't even have a DSO number on the door tag. Standard DSO codes were 2 digits (74, Seattle, 71, Southern CA, etc) and anything more than 2 digits were customer special orders.

[@DentsideDepot]

Matt, I never even considered that point. This is my first truck with a "Basic" order type.

[@Thingswithwheels1]

Neat truck and I like your plan to restore but not modify the truck. What a find!

[@DentsideDepot]

Thank you!

[@krisburnau8189]

Only the 3rd truck I've seen with the radio delete

[@DentsideDepot]

I would imagine most people wouldn't have wanted a truck without a radio lol

[@TexasMan77]

Nice, hope it’s left original.

[@kellykonoske91]

Missing the "hood lace " on the cowl. you can see the mounting clips.

[@DentsideDepot]

Yes, that is pretty standard for a truck that has been sitting for a long time. Stay tuned for the next episode on this truck, because that point you made actually is going to come up concerning spark plug #6.

[@jacobbuckley8232]

I had a 1981 ford f150 with a 300 straight 6/ Man i miss that truck.

[@DentsideDepot]

I am seriously excited to drive this truck, it will be a first for me!

[@jacobbuckley8232]

@@DentsideDepot definitely a nice truck

[@corydriver7634]

Forgive me if this is a silly question but was the sunroof a dealer add on or something the original owner did? I didn’t understand what you were getting at with the PPG etching. Interesting this was a non-AC truck considering it was purchased in Phoenix.

[@DentsideDepot]

Not a silly question at all. No, not a factory option, most likely installed at the dealer or by a professional shop. The PPG glass just simply indicates that it is a quality part and not something from pep boys or sears and it really does not leak. Yes, also interesting no ac bare bones.

[@deepbludude4697]

Score!

[@seanbrenton55]

That’ll be a good highway machine with 2.75 gears and the overdrive. does it have “bull” low 1st gear? And I can’t remember if that is the T18 or T19 I am really enjoying your channel so far. Thanks for the content!

[@DentsideDepot]

Hey thanks for checking out the channel! Yes, I believe it has a low first gear, but I honestly have yet to drive this truck at the time of this post. There will be more episodes coming of this truck later next month though as hopefully it becomes drivable! From what I have done so far on it, it for sure has not moved in a very long time.

[@allanrheaume5549]

I had one of these new in 79', it was my first truck. I didn't like the overdrive trans, it has no low first gear. 3rd is 1:1 ratio so when you shift 2nd to 3rd you'll wish you had a gear in between the two. Once at highway speeds 4th is nice since it's 0.83:1 and doesn't over rev like the granny low transmissions do. I had a later 1989 truck with injected 300 and 5 speed trans, way more drivable than the 79'. The 5 speed was great.@@DentsideDepot

[@DentsideDepot]

I really like the gears to be honest, drives real good@@allanrheaume5549

[@kellykonoske91]

Light duty, "car" 4 speed. probably has bearings knocked out if they towed much.

[@DentsideDepot]

We will find out for sure!

[@erniehoffer1784]

Radio delete.

[@DentsideDepot]

Yes!

[@jeffpeterson1316]

B