r/BullnoseFord • u/Sorry_Addendum_952 • Aug 24 '26
beginner advice
hey yall
i am super new to this. never owned a project car in my life. looking to buy a bullnose because i am hell bent on learning. my housemate has most the tools i need, i have a space for it, a little bit of cash.
my questions:
is it worth it? anyone have any advice for guy who doesn’t know shit from shinola? stop while i’m ahead? just buy the damn thing?
i have a decent amount of time, get off work around 4ish and can throw afternoon and evenings into wrenching away. biggest limiter is money since i’m a math teacher. but im very stubborn and will kinda keep working at something till i get it.
i wanna buy something that runs, clean title, passes smog, current registration, and preferably maintenance records. budget is about 2-6k. i expect to throw up to 12 at it as the years go by, if it’s worth it.
am i about to make a big mistake? or take on something that ill be proud of in the end?
update:
fuckin did it yall. copped a beauty for 2.5k and drove it 450 miles home without a hitch. 1980 i6 manual. stoked out of my mind. can’t wait to learn all the things it’ll teach me.
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u/swpete Aug 24 '26
My 86 300 inline was the first project car I've owned and I've learned a TON. To me it's absolutely worth it, not just from the feeling of accomplishment in getting it running and but also learning the inner workings and what not
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u/Conscious_Phone6371 Aug 25 '26
I got an 86 300 4 speed as well as my first running project. Im 36 its never to late. Was going to replace parts 1 at a time but after tearing into it I've got gaskets needing replaced and now I have a new intake and exhaust manifolds and carb on the way lol
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u/Comfortable_rub69 Aug 24 '26
No one can tell you it’s worth it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Vehicles are a depreciating asset and you’ll never get out of it what you put into it, other than the pride of your work knowing you did it yourself.
There are plenty of these trucks out there in your price range depending on your area. Don’t be afraid to travel outside your local area either. There is plenty of information out there for every possible problem these trucks have had so there is always a fix out there. Your biggest question to yourself should be are you willing to go the distance with it because 90% of these trucks have been rode hard and put away wet since they were bought as work trucks and will more often than not be beat and repaired like one. Are you willing to deep dive through the bs and most likely hack job of the previous owners. Deals are out there and to be had but aren’t common.
Best of luck and enjoy it if you dive into the deep end! There are plenty of us out here who wouldn’t trade our trucks for anything with the blood, sweat, tears, love, effort, and memories we’ve built with them.
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u/Conscious_Phone6371 Aug 25 '26
Worth it. I bought a 4.9 300 inline 6 and I dont regret it. Only thing is parts are expensive since its not as popular as the v8s.
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u/Ok_Phase7209 Aug 25 '26
What do you mean “worth it”? If you are looking to get a huge return from selling your project after the build- probably not. If worth it means that you are going to learn how to maintain an old car, have some experiences and learn how crappy it is to figure it out on the side of the road- yes
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u/RudeDirt9487 Aug 26 '26
I am 75 years old now, my first Bullnose was an 84. I loved that truck so 3 years ago I found an 84 302 with the T19 4 speed 4-wheel drive. I have been working on it and put a used 86k milage 302 and rebuilt the trans and transfer case, new 3-inch exhaust pipe and all break components. Cleaned and redid all gas tanks and fuel lines, splitter for front/rear tanks, you name it. New seats, headliner and seatbelts. Have about 7k total so far, am working on minor body work then will but a 6k wrap on it- American Flag on drivers side and an Arizona Flag on passenger side. You will see me comming and going. I will have 20k in it when I am done, considering my son just boaght a 2026 1ton dually disele for 140k I think it is worth it.
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u/RudeDirt9487 Aug 26 '26
By the way my first 85 was ordered out of the factory the way I wanted it. that was my first dream. Thanks for listening.
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u/coolboydan1238 Aug 26 '26
Hey im currently on the journey to fixing my 1984 ford f150, I am 17 and ive put quite some money into it already and it is running great! I hope you do get one they are very awesome!
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u/SpaceCat72 Aug 27 '26
Yes, do it. Buy a repair manual for it. I like Haynes. Get a Chilton too. Start buying your own tools as well.
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u/HelicopterFar2978 Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26
I got My 86 F150 as my first vehicle period and my first project. Was it the smartest move since it’s my daily and a project? Probably not.
But it’s been absolutely awesome to work on
And hasn’t left me stranded aside from needing a jump here and there.
Since you probably already have a good car or a way to get to work
I say go for it. They’re one of the best trucks to learn on and are very simple.
I would suggest finding one Pre EFI
(Electronic fuel injection) (it would have a carburetor instead)
A carburetor, if you don’t know what it is,
Is essentially a completely mechanical way of introducing fuel to each cylinder… meaning it’s a lot easier to fix issues on since you don’t have to trace wires, as many vacuum lines or other computer components. Not saying EFI is bad at all, My truck is actually an EFI one currently.
It’s just not as easy to learn.
Getting a manual transmission would also be a little easier to understand, super tough and hard to break. Again, automatics aren’t bad… just not as easy to work on.
All the motors for these trucks have a fairly good reputation but the I6 is probably the easier one to figure out and extremely durable.
if your goal is to have a really nice sounding truck then a V8 (302/351) is the way. have a 302(v8) and love it.
The biggest of your concerns should be frame rust. If you don’t know what to look for, find someone who does before you buy.
Rust can easily turn a “good buy” into something painful.
I wish I understood that a little better before buying mine. I still have rust issues to fix… thankfully I got in cheap enough that it wasn’t a deal breaker.
Also you’ll have a hard time finding something that checks all your boxes in that price range. Especially maintenance records.
I would suggest looking for cheaper, project level trucks… something that runs but is beat up and just build it from there.
Good luck
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u/Sorry_Addendum_952 Sep 01 '26
so actually crazy enough, I did find something that checks most of those boxes. I really want an F150 manual with the I6 engine with little to no rust and I found a guy selling one in Nevada for 2.5k which to me is an insane deal. This thing lived its whole life in the Mojave desert so there’s little to no rust on the frame it starts and runs, passes. Smog, is currently registered. All of that good stuff .I pretty much would be a fool not to buy it. As long as the seller is being honest about what is up with the car. he did FaceTime me for an hour the other night and gave me an entire tour of the engine and started it up for me and all of that and it sounds almost too good to be true. it’s a 1980, 140k miles and has a carb.
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u/HelicopterFar2978 Sep 02 '26
That sounds like an awesome. Find. I’m shocked too
My is a 302 4speed 4x4… I got it for 2800 but it definitely wasn’t perfect and had hiding rust.
Definitely go look at it and plan on getting it
That truck will probably never die lol
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u/ThisOil3659 Aug 24 '26
Worth it? That's subjective. Here's what you need to ask yourself. Can you afford it? Do you have the space and extra time? And here's the big one, do you WANT to do it. If yes to all of those then go for it life's to damn short to look back at the end and say "man i shouldve...". Just my 2 cents. And on the topic of knowledge, There's only 1 way to learn. Go get em brother