Remove engine or body?

[Jksdad]

We bought an 76 uncut driver and originally thought we'd just clean it up, but after review, are thinking of having the whole truck imedia blasted before re painting. I've never done a frame off and am a bit intimidated by the process but...if we're gonna do it, want to make it nice. I was planning to pull the engine and try to blast with the body on the frame but now, am considering pulling the body. Over 40 years, some oil leaks made a real mess underneath and the exhaust is shot. I really want to clean all that up and blast off the undercoating to make sure we catch any rust. Ive seen the body bracing in another thread and the "cart". Is it practical/prudent to blast the motor/trans while mounted to the frame?

So far we've just pulled the tailgate, grill, fenders, hood, seats and dash. Stitched in a couple of small patches on the floors. Planning to add a cage, column, body bushings (2" lift), seats, rubber and paint. Maybe a wiring harness.

I welcome your thoughts. I'm just not sure what my next steps are. Do any of you guys live or travel between Houston and Beaumont. I'll buy lunch for a few pointers.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I often consider following how it was built to start with. The engine is attached to the frame before the body is dropped on. Reverse it to take it apart, if that is how far you are going. While pulling the engine and putting it back in with the body on is very doable, that is how most are serviced. If the body is coming off, leave the engine until the body is off and put the engine back in before you put the body back on. They were built that way to be the easiest to take apart and put together that way.

But if the body isn't coming off, then pulling the body is generally a lot more work then just pulling the engine.

 

[fordguy]

You also have to deal with the body not being supported by the frame once you remove it. Door gaps will most likely change so, not a big deal. Big deal if you don't brace it correctly when you take it off. You are on a slippery slope when you take the body off, ask me how I know.

 

[Rustytruck]

If you pull the engine and clean the engine bay and send the truck to be painted it may fall within your personal time schedule. If you plan to pull the body from the frame be prepared to have your time table blown to smithereens. Once a body looses its frame it takes on a whole world of its own. A 6 month project turns to 2 years. A 2 year project turns into 4 years. The longer it is apart its going to cost you far more than keeping it simple. Many projects that go so far to separate the body from the frame never get finish by the guy who started the dream project. Life just gets in the way. The longer a project takes the more likely it will go astray. Got no dreams of a time table and endless funds go for it. A Bronco taken apart takes a whole lot of space tied up for a very long time.

 

[Steve83]

If you want it quick & dirty: engine.


If you have plenty of time, space, money, patience, places to move to when you get kicked out, and you want it done RIGHT: body.

 

[Jksdad]

Thanks, guys. You've hit on my concerns. my inclination is to go all the way, but time, money, and space are real concerns. And I don't want my son to loose interest.

I've got a friend with a lift and met a mobile "dustless" media blaster. Maybe I could do most things f what we want to accomplish that way.

 

[Jksdad]

Any suggestions for cleaning the engine. My last project, 30 years ago with my Dad, was a total rebuild so we cleaned and painted all the parts individually. Is it advisable to blast block and transmission?

 

[5001craig]

I pulled my body by myself with an overhead hoist and an engine hoist on the back. Didn't even remove the front fenders. Just pulled the battery and disconnected what needed disconnected like brake lines, steering shaft, linkages, etc... Lower the truck as low as possible (I put the body back on without axles to get it a little lower), raise the body and roll the frame out. It was actually pretty easy. I would hate working on it with the body on--especially without a body lift. I pulled my body after 1/1/2016 and drove it on 7/7/2016. That's with the new rear suspension and pretty much everything else new. But I lived in the garage...

 

[Steve83]

Wash it with a garden hose & a surfactant (SimpleGreen/PurplePower/etc.) everywhere THOROUGHLY. A pressure-washer can help, but it's not a requirement, and you'll save money & chemicals by using less water at first. Pressure is good for knocking the thicker chunks loose, but a regular spray nozzle will do almost as much. Think about where the runoff will go before you start.