by Jon Mikelonis

By tradition, feature car stories past and present capture hobbyists celebrating the joy of a completed project. Mirror finishes, perfect track times, streamlined motor compartments, complete interiors, etc., they all contribute to the exuberance an enthusiast feels when they're project has reached that mystical "magazine quality" state. However, what is usually left out of those stories are the less satisfying emotions that we must endure while trying to attain our project vehicle goals.

	Scientist Robert Plutchik lists anticipation as one eight basic emotions included in his Psychoevolutionary Theory. Similar to hope, anticipation has helped the human species survive in just the same way that fear and anger have played an innate role in the fight or flight response. Find one emotion that hasn't struck you squarely while making your way through your favorite hobby.

According to scientist Robert Plutchik's Psychoevolutionary Theory, the human psyche is made up of eight basic emotions. These emotions are joy, acceptance, fear, surprise, anticipation, sadness, disgust, and anger. Perhaps you can think of a few more but most likely they are just derivatives of these primary eight "feelings".

As automotive hobbyists, we are not known as emotional types. However, take a trip around the colored pie chart to the right and you can easily associate each "emotional" slice with a clear cut experience you've had navigating your way through the hobby. Need some help? How about the fear you have of grenading a motor during break-in or the acceptance you exhibit about that one skill you just can't master?

Chris Peterson's 1978 F150 Ranger 4x4
This month, for a change, we caught up with one hands-on Ford enthusiast who is on a quest for the joy of a completed project but like most of us, is straddling the seven emotions not often editorialized in feature car stories. When we met with Chris Peterson and his 1978 F150 Ranger project, we sensed a high dose of anticipation as he currently awaits the arrival of his custom built Ford 400 from TMeyer Inc. When it arrives, the motor will be serving duty in the 1978 F150 Ranger 4x4 shown here. Eager to get his project up and running, to say Chris is "awaiting" the arrival of his new powerplant would be wording it gently. Let's take a look at the current state of Chris' project.

To the unassociated, this is just another "wreck" in the driveway of suburban America. To the DIY Ford enthusiast however, it's a clear signal that a blue oval fan wrenches here. That's a 1990 SuperCoupe in the garage to boot. When we drove up, Chris was in the middle of hanging a wrecking yard passenger door on the Ranger.		Worn like a seal of approval, head high on the driver-side back glass, the PICK-n-PULL decal on Chris' 78 F150 says... "I prefer to do it my way, with my own tools, on my own time." Hey, they should make those decals Ford specific!
It's easy to separate those who intend to get out and do it from those interested in looking the part. Chris replaced the chrome decorative front bumper with this service type unit, another score from Pick N' Pull. Looking a bit closer and you'll see mesh screen hung inside the grill surround to keep the radiator clear of bugs and large debris.		A close-up of the front bumper shows some Chevy Suburban tow hooks that Chris added. You got to love how off-roaders thrive off of utility.
Unlike F250's, F150's were equipped with coil springs up front. On F150 4x4's, this requires radius arms to stabilize the front axle. A heavy duty modification includes adding extended length radius arms. It's the gray horizontal piece shown here. Note the location of the stock frame mount in fresh black semi-gloss.		Floor boards and rear wheel wells are rust-prone on these trucks. Chris has the rust project slated to begin after a few successful back country outings with the new motor. Good to see he's got his priorities in check!