Yesterday I purchased a 1961 F100 that was listed on Craigslist. I still have to bring it home and get a better look at it. This is my first experience with owning an old truck and hopefully I can bug you guys for some answers to a newbie's questions.

I'll try to learn how to post some photos and more information when I get it to my house.

What are some of the first things I should do and what problems should I look for?

Thanks,
Dave

 

Hi Dave - Welcome to FTE. You'll find out all you need to know right here.
Does the truck run? Does it stop? What do you want it for? A driver - a restored show piece - an updated resto mod? How much can you do? Weld, painting, general body work, motor work?

These are the questions you start off with. Get as many parts catalog as you can - Macs, Dennis Carpenter, NPD, LMC, etc to get an idea as to what its going to cost to achieve your goal. Then formulate a plan and a budget to get there. I think the best idea is to get it running and drive it for a while. That will help you decide what the final version of the truck will be. Look at the membership list to find other owners in your area and contact them.
Spend a fair amount of time here on FTE and whenever you see a good idea write it down for later use.
Last thing - there is no such thing as a silly question - ask it and somebody will help.
Good luck with the truck.

 

Welcome to FTE!

Ask Away.


Garbz

 

I drove it home today. It was about a 30 mile drive ind the truck ran pretty good. The brakes take some getting used to though. I don't know if it's just because they aren't power brakes or if they need some work done on them but I sure need to think ahead to stop. The exhaust extends about to the rear axle and has a Cherry Bomb muffler in the middle of it. A little too loud for my taste. It has a Hurst floor shifter that obviously replaced the original column shifter and the shift lever is right up against the driver's leg. There are some quirky ***** added to the dash and a late model radio that looks out of place.
Overall the truck is decent condition. I'd like to make it a nice driver. I want to clean up the cobbled up dashboard, fix the shifter somehow, quiet the exhaust, and get rid of some squeaks and rattles. It's missing a rear bumper and tailgate so I need to find replacements.
I've only had it for a few hours and I'm already looking at things to do.

I was wondering if someone could give me more information about my truck by reading my door tag numbers? I've seen others on here that were explained and would like as much info as I can get. I understand the WB and GVW but the others I don't. Color D Trans: A Axle:11
The serial number is F100K124205.
Thanks for the help and I'm glad I found your great forum.
Dave

 

What body type is the truck a Flair side or a Uni?


A is a ford light duty three speed
11 is 3.70 ratio Spicer 3.3M LS
F10 F100 5000 GVW nominal 1/2 ton
0 Possibly a C 292 MD V8 2V
K Built in Kansas City
124205 Born in the month of December 1960

Garbz

 

It is a flairside. It does have a 292 as you thought. Some of those letters were hard to read. Also the color code is a D, not a smiley like in my previous post. Don't know how that got there.
Thanks for decoding the vin for me. I'm trying to figure out how much on the truck is original. The seat is turquoise blue vinyl and looks pretty old so I wonder if it's the original.

Dave

 

F10 = F100 2WD

No such engine code as 0 / C = 292 2V Light Duty / D = 292 4V Heavy Duty / J = 223 1V I-6 / No such thing as a 292 Medium Duty.

K = Kansas City MO Assembly Plant.

124205 = 1961, assembled December 1960 (Serial Number last 6 digits of the VIN).

D = Light Blue.

A = Ford 3 Speed Manual Transmission.

11 = Ford (not a Spicer) 9" Rear Axle / 3.70-1 / No Limited Slip / 3,300 lbs. Rear Axle Capacity / If it was a Spicer 44, the axle code would begin with a letter and would have Limited Slip.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVW) could be 4,200 or 5,000 lbs., as it depends on the bed length, engine size, etc.

Dave (garbz2), what the hell are you using for a VIN/Warranty Plate decoder? If the Red Book, it's a total POS, has a gazillion errors and omissions. LMC's & FTE's VIN decoders are also crap.

 

Dave is this truck currently white and purchased off of Ebay?

 

Congratulations on your new truck. Brakes, get the brakes up to factory specs at least. If you are planning a front disk conversion now is the time to do it. Safety first, reliability next and beauty last is the best order for your plan.

My brakes seemed OK and I thought the were good because they would lock up the tires. Wrong. 3 cylinders were leaking and one tire was locking up because it had no help from the others. I spent $900 to have everything replaced from the brake lines out. The master cylinder, hoses, and lines were in good shape so I did not replace them. The parts are around $400 if you do the work yourself. It took them a day to break the hoses loose from the cylinders and I have a lifetime warranty including free inspections. Well worth the $300 extra.

My oldest son asks if we are done fixing the truck everytime we complete a repair. I tell him we will never be done. That is the point of owning an old truck. It is a hobby not transportation.

 

Mac I would beg to differ it is a hobby and transportation. My 65 is my daily driver. I walk out and go to start It I know it will start no matter what the weather. I have newer vehicles I can not say that about. It may not be the nicest looking truck out there but that’s ok. one of these days it will get a new paint job.

 

I stand corrected. A hobby and transportation. 20 years ago I used my 63 F100 farm truck to go to the parts store and get parts to keep my 83 Chevy C10 running. My current 64 has always started (with some persuasion) and ran (although poorly when I first bought it). I do not expect that to change.

Mine is in the paint shop getting new clothes.

 

Kjvforme- The truck is currently white and I bought it locally form a craigslist posting. It might have been on ebay also but I don't know if it was.

NumberDummy- Thanks for the in depth information about my truck. I've been looking around this forum and I'm always impressed by your knowledge involving these trucks.

I do plan to check all of the mechanics of my truck to make sure it will be safe and reliable. I also want to get a tailgate and rear bumper to improve the looks a little. It looks like I can get all the help I need right here.

Dave

 

Welcome aboard;I bethca you where grinning ear to ear drive her home.

 

Yep by the VIN she was listed on Ebay.

 

kjvforme- Did you happen to save the ebay listing? I never saw it and would be interested in it.

Dave