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  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    Dec 2018
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    Steve Bedell
    Location
    Waldorf, Maryland
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    14

    New to the forum

    Hi everyone, I just joined your forum and wanted to introduce myself. I'm a retired auto mechanic (47 years). I retired from the federal government and the military both. I flip cars from time to time and came across a 1999 F-150 that I was going to fix and flip. I kind of like the thing so I decide to keep it and restore it. The auction where I got it said it had a bad transmission, but I thought it was the rear. I was correct, the spider gears are gone! The truck had severe rust issues, the only thing keeping the radiator in the truck were the hoses. The previous owner must have had a boat that he backed down in the water because the rust is more severe in the rear of the frame. I think I'll sandblast the frame and hit it with some rust inhibiting primer and the paint. I'd be interested in hearing what everyone thinks!
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  2. #2
    Member Moosee1955's Avatar
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    Aug 2018
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    stevelandau
    Location
    Daly City
    Posts
    89
    Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately 97-07 F150/Expeditions have rust issues, especially ones from East coast, and mid west. Good news is theirs plenty of replacement body parts, both new and used. I'm also part of the Expedition forum, and own a 2000 Expedition, same truck I live just south of San Francisco, and the roof of mine was rusted up on top above overhead console. Ford really cheaped out on rust proofing these trucks, and salt where you live doesn't help. Good trucks though, especially the pre 04 models. Be careful on spark plug replacement though, due to lack of threads. Other than that, first and early second edition 4.6/5.4's are great. Some go beyond 300k.

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  3. #3
    Junior Member
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    Dec 2018
    Name
    Steve Bedell
    Location
    Waldorf, Maryland
    Posts
    14
    Yeah the rust on mine is incredible! The brake lines running along the frame just crumpled in my hand when I was taking them off! I'd like to replace the cross members, especially the X shaped one in the rear where the spare tire bolts up. The big ol rivets that attach it will have to be ground off to remove it but I don't think any of the junk yards around here want to go to the trouble of pulling one for me. Any ideas?

  4. #4
    Member Moosee1955's Avatar
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    Aug 2018
    Name
    stevelandau
    Location
    Daly City
    Posts
    89
    I'd get the body parts from out in my neck of woods, SF Bay area, or the desert. Somewhere drier. Some pieces should be available new aftermarket, and maybe even dealer. Check all the sites, eBay, Craig's list and maybe if you have a pick and pull or equivalent, those rusted brake lines are part of the F150/Expedition woes. Guys on my Expedition site complain about that all the time. Be sure before you delve into this Rusty bucket, it's worth it. If it's already high mileage and beat, you might want to fix the brakes and walk away. Their not exactly rare trucks that command high bucks. Well not yet, their too new.


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  5. #5
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Name
    Steve Bedell
    Location
    Waldorf, Maryland
    Posts
    14
    Yeah. it's definitely not worth putting money in, but I'm going to keep it so I'll dump a ton of money in it just because it's mine. I do car flips all the time and was going to fix the rear in this one and flip it but it wouldn't be worth it. Like you said, they're everywhere and not worth a whole lot. So this will be another one of my retirement projects! I'm going to paint it as well eventually, probably do a color change. The truck is white and ugly! I'm thinking maybe a nice blue color. I always wanted to do a frame off restoration so here we go!
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  6. #6
    Member Moosee1955's Avatar
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    stevelandau
    Location
    Daly City
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    I know the feeling. I'm 63 myself, more time than money. Maybe take a battery operated chisel to the wreckers with about 3 backup batteries. That and some sharp chisels and hammer. If you can replace the brake lines, but leave the ABS unit alone, that would be best as their a bear to bleed. Some actually have dealer or trick shop do that part. My 2000 is a real good SUV. The 2004 on up are faster, but have too many cam phaser and lifter oiling problems. Yours like mine has 260 hp, and your trucks a bit lighter than my tank. Keep us posted, any thing I can help, let me know.

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  7. #7
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Name
    Steve Bedell
    Location
    Waldorf, Maryland
    Posts
    14
    Thanks man! Yeah I went to the local junk yard here and I actually saw one with the bed off and my cross members sitting right there! I asked them about puling it and the guy said I couldn't bring any tools like that out into the yard. I was going to bring my little acetylene torch out there and just cut the frame off right in front of the cross member and take it home and grind down the rivets whenever I got around to it. I wasn't quite ready to roll with it at that time so I just blew it off. I might go back there one day and just ask them if their yard guy can cut to out for me and for how much. Ain't no way in the world you're gonna chisel those rivets off though! Yeah, I know what you're saying about the ABS bleeding problem. I'll have to look it up, but I believe you have to take a scanner and tell the computer to put the ABS module in "home" mode or some such thing so you can then bleed it. I'll find out eventually because I already threw all that away! That way I'll have to replace it! Mine only has the 2 wheel ABS anyway. No wheel sensors, just the ring in the rear and sensor in the differential housing. I'll keep you guys posted, this will be quite a long project! Frame is finally all torn down ready for blasting!
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  8. #8
    Member Moosee1955's Avatar
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    stevelandau
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    Daly City
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    Steve you have 3 different u pull parts places in Maryland. Are there any near you. Type in pick and pull, they'll pop up.

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  9. #9
    Junior Member
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    Dec 2018
    Name
    Steve Bedell
    Location
    Waldorf, Maryland
    Posts
    14
    Yeah, they're all close by. Brandywine owns all of them I think. Brandywine is the one that told me I couldn't take my torch out into the yard to pull the cross member. I asked the guy if they would drag the truck close enough to the building so I could plug my grinder in and I'd grind off the rivets and he said no. I haven't been back to ask them if they'd pull it for me and how much they wanted for it. They don't seem too interested, they act like they can't be bothered. I might just sand blast the frame along with the nasty cross member and see how it comes out. It mainly just acts as a place to store the spare tire, but the rear shocks bolt up to the front of it and that's my major concern. But it seems like the front of it where the shocks attach is still kind of solid. I just figured as long as I'm restoring the thing I'd replace the rusty cross members if it wasn't too big a deal.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
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    Feb 2013
    Name
    Ted
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    762
    Wow small world I'm in Indian Head. What about taking a battery powered sawzall and cutting it?

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