Introduction
It is hard not to be spellbound by the 1973 to 1979 Ford F-series trucks. Loved and nicknamed by the fans as Dentsides, based on the indentation on their body line, these Ford pickup trucks are, in some way, the golden age of the American tough, simple, and stylish. To start a restoration job on one of these classics is more than a mechanical game; it is a trip through history towards saving automotive history. However, restoring is never an easy road, and as any experienced restorer can tell you, the road is full of choices, and the most important of these is to determine what parts are actually important.
Whether you just pulled a barn find into your garage or have visions of someday doing a frame-off restoration on your long-loved truck, how do you start? There are components on it that are likely to require some form of fixing with close to 50 years of usage and abuse. This manual is meant to act as your action plan. We will disassemble the list of essential parts that you will require to get your 73-79 Ford truck back on the road in a rational order: outside to the inside: first, the basic bodywork, and then, the mechanical engine. We will make sure that you develop a clearly articulated plan, that you feel good doing your project, and that your project not only becomes successful, but also a very rewarding experience.
The Foundation: Critical Body & Exterior Parts
When looking at any classic truck, the first thing you notice is the outside. Your whole restoration masterpiece will be painted on top of a solid, straight, and rust-free body. Dentsides were designed as workhorses, and in that case, the body will be the most scarred with a life of service. Until these fundamental problems are solved, there is no high-quality restoration is possible.
Restoring the Face: Grille Shells and Bumpers
The grille and bumper on your Dentside are probably the most recognizable things on your Dentside. A split grille was used on the 1973-1977 models and a one grille on the 1978-1979 models. These parts are at the forefront; come what may, they are at the receiving end of road trash and parking accidents.
The defects, like a dinged bumper or a broken grille shell, will ruin the whole appearance of the truck. More than 70 percent of the beauty of an old car is viewed through its front-end appearance. Make sure the bumpers have highly chromed plating, and the grille shells should be made of plastic or steel that are strong and properly molded. The clean front end not only makes it a good-looking car but also conveys the message that quality runs through the rest of the construction process.
Perfecting the Details: Mirrors and Door Sills
The distinction between a good restoration and a great one lies in the details. The original outer door side view mirrors may be loose, pitted, or clouded after years of use. This is not a trivial beauty problem; it is a potentially fatal one. Supplementing the replacement mirrors made today are the higher-quality glass and more durable mounting solutions, which can greatly increase visibility.
The door sill plates are similarly high-wear locations, with scratches, scuff marks, and the metal polished down, quite often. You can replace them with an easy, inexpensive upgrade that will significantly clean up the entrance to your cab. Whenever you step in and out of the door, you will be reminded of the quality you have put into your work, with a new shiny door sill plate.
The Cockpit: Essential Interior Components
You will spend all of your driving time in the cab, and it is imperative that you ensure that the cab is comfortable, functional, and that it is pleasing to the eye. Shabby interiors can turn even the best mechanically operating trucks into feeling uncomfortable on the road. Making efforts on these major elements will produce the largest effect.
Under Your Feet: Carpet and Seat Covers
The original flooring and seating probably have seen better days. Years of muddy shoes, coffee spills, and sunshine may make the original carpet dark and shredded, and the seat cover scratched and sore. One of the most seismic interior upgrades begins with replacing those things.
A new, shaped carpet kit will not just look great, but it will also better deaden sound and insulate the cab. Seat covers, reproduction modern, in original materials and patterns, can make your bench or your bucket seats, and make the journey more pleasant.
Your Point of View: Inner Mirrors and Wipers
Safe driving is not possible without clear vision. The adhesive that holds the inner rear view mirror may come unstuck with time, and the silvering on the glass may corrode. An equally simple preventative measure would be a replacement that restores the important original safety feature.
The windshield wipers are also very vital. The wiper driver motor becomes slow and weak, and the arms and blades become useless. Replacing the old wiper arms and motor with new ones with a guarantee of durability will guarantee your readiness during any weather, converting your classic truck into a more versatile all-year truck.
Bringing It to Life: Key Electrical and Lighting Parts
The weakness of most vintage cars is the old electrical system that is old. Bad paths, wasting connections, and faulty components may result in a multitude of irritating and difficult-to-pinpoint things. Reliability requires a systematic approach to the electrical system.
Let There Be Light: Headlights, Tail Lights & Bezels
Original sealed-beam headlights are usually dim by current standards. The replacement of the halogen with modern replacement units that are much better and can even be LED can enhance night visibility by more than 50 percent, which is sheer safety.
And when you are doing an inspection, check the headlight bezels and tail lamp bezels. These chrome or painted trim components are usually worn out or faded, and replacing them gives a clean, unfinished appearance to your lighting collections. And don’t forget the tail lights themselves; clear, carefully visible tail lights and turn indicator lights are a must when it comes to being seen by other drivers.
The Spark of Life: Ignition, Switches, and Signals
The aim is to get a sure start every time. The ignition coil is also a frequent breakage point that may leave you on the side of the road. It is low-cost insurance to replace it with something new and of good quality. Check the cab and operate all switches, including the headlight switch, to the wiper switch. These parts are used actively and get worn out. A bad switch is more than an inconvenience; it may be dangerous. The last step towards guaranteeing a really reliable classic truck is making sure that all its signals and systems are functioning as they should.
The Heartbeat: Core Mechanical Systems
With a solid body and a refreshed interior, the final piece of the puzzle is ensuring the mechanical systems are sound. A reliable engine, a smooth transmission, and effective brakes will give you the confidence to drive and enjoy your Dentside anywhere.
Starting and Stopping Power: Engine and Brake Essentials
Its roaring sound of a Ford V8 is legendary, but it must start well. The starter motor is a working part that may become weak given time. A new starter can be a world changer in case your slow-starting truck turns over under strain.
What is more important is that your truck should be brought to a safe stop. Since the 1970s, there has been an improvement in brake technology. At least, overhaul brake pads, shoes, etc., which are wearable objects. Front drum brakes (not unusual on older or lower trim models) can also be replaced by a disc brake system with a remarkable increase in both stopping ability and stamina under high use; in fact, this is a highly advisable upgrade to virtually any truck that expects a fair share of use.
Smooth Operation: Gaskets and Drivetrain Parts
Older engines are prey to oil leaks. An engine gasket set included a complete set of gaskets needed to do an engine rebuild or a major engine service.
Old gaskets, which are hardened, will be replaced since this will keep your engine bay clean, make sure that there are no leaks, and it will seal properly. A clutch is a very important wear part in manual transmission trucks.
Whether the engine is out or you are having a slip, now is the opportunity to add a new clutch kit so that you approach years of positive gear change.
Here is a quick-reference checklist to help you prioritize your project’s mechanical and electrical needs:
| System Category | Essential Parts to Inspect & Replace | Priority Level | Common Symptom of Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braking | Brake Pads, Shoes, Lines, Master Cylinder | CRITICAL | Spongy pedal, pulling to one side, poor stopping power |
| Ignition | Starter Motor, Ignition Coil, Spark Plugs & Wires | HIGH | Slow cranking, no-start condition, engine misfires |
| Lighting | Headlights, Tail Lights, Turn Signals, Switches | HIGH | Dim lights, non-functional signals, safety inspection failure |
| Sealing | Engine Gasket Set, Transmission Seals | MEDIUM | Visible oil or fluid leaks, low fluid levels |
| Drivetrain | Clutch Kit, U-Joints | MEDIUM | Clutch slipping during acceleration, driveline vibrations |
Where to Find Your Parts: Top Suppliers for Your Dentside Project
The last step is to get the necessary materials on your list of critical parts from a reputable supplier. Longevity of restoration depends upon quality, which in turn depends on the quality of your parts. These are three well-known suppliers of vehicle parts in the classic truck scene, where each firm has its advantages.
Sunway Autoparts
Sunway Autoparts can be differentiated because it is a niche manufacturer of vintage automobile parts since 2007. The direct-from-source benefit gives the restorers a value proposition that is unique and is based on precision and trust. We know that for a project of this importance, “almost” isn’t good enough. We produce new parts which are designed to match or even surpass original parts using state-of-the-art equipment, like plastic die steel molding and tough chrome plating.
We cover the most crucial parts of Dentside repair, which include headlights or tail lights, starter motors, ignition coils, mirrors, gaskets, and so on. In the case of the most truly hard-to-get items, our own ODM/OEM production capabilities also mean we can design/reproduce one-off pieces in large quantities, at wholesale prices. By deciding on Sunway, you are not purchasing a component; you become a member of a team that has established standards of excellence in terms of quality and supply chain expertise so that your restoration will incorporate elements that you can trust may last many decades.
LMC Truck
LMC Truck has established itself as a rock of the truck restoration industry and rightly so. They are known to have a very wide and well-organized inventory of parts and are literally one-stop shopping centers when it comes to almost every type of project requirement. LMC has a whole new catalog of parts targeted specifically to owners of 1973-1979 F-100, F-150, F-250, and F-350 pickups that not only carries parts but is also a source of learning.
Browsing around on their site or in their catalog is more like a maze of subdivisions, and their categories span everything larger than a major body panel/hood/bumper down into the smallest details of interior parts and bits and pieces of exterior trim. This turnkey philosophy enables restorers to have access to a wide range of parts, whether it be a huge piece of sheet metal, or the tiniest clip or screw, through one well-known vendor. This is convenience you cannot purchase when it comes to the large-scale project that simplifies the buying process and makes the collection of elements as your vintage Ford pickup, cohesive.
Southwest Classics
Southwest Classics has created a niche of its own as it provides a carefully curated set of fine reproduction parts, together with a special focus on customer service. Their stock of world-renowned 73-79 Ford trucks is strong as they stock all the necessary sectors required not only to make a significant repair but also a thorough restoration. Taking a glance at what they have to offer, we find a close knowledge of the requirements of the Dentside owner, since the catalog simply has to offer the more essential body parts, such as bumpers, grilles, and mirrors, as well as vital parts of the interior.
The difference is in the focus on certain yet usually ignored factors that can contribute a lot to a final build. As an example, they have such an offer as a combination of plastic headliners with cut-outs of high-tech speakers, aimed at restorers who would like to see the combination of modern audio systems with the classic interior as a single solution. This combination of carrying the right, high-demand parts along with offering considerate, specialized parts makes Southwest Classics quite an asset in any Dentside restorations.
Conclusion
The process of restoring a 1973-1979 Ford Dentside truck is an adventure of passion. It is a transport to a past, tangible, and beautiful polished age of car design, to cut a slab of solid and lovely material with your bare hands. Simply by dividing the project into manageable subdivisions in terms of Foundation, Cockpit, Electrical, and Mechanical, you are able to change a mountainous task into a constructive and doable schedule.
It is over these key components that you will make your effort to appreciate the fact that you have a truck that is not only beautiful to behold but is also safe, reliable, and it is a pleasure to drive. Whether it’s the old Ford pickup or considering doing even the Ford Bronco back in the same age range, it is a word in itself to express your commitment and a moving testimony that has become part of history or passed down to another generation. When you pick your parts, be selective and associate with suppliers that hold the same quality standards as yourself, and most importantly, have fun in the entire process. The model of your classic Ford truck is ready to get a rebirth.
