Ive read and re-read the threads on doing the disc brake and power steering upgrades. Tonight, I think I found a good donor candidate and I would sure appreciate you guys' wisdom on whether the parts will bolt up without much trouble.

My truck is a 65 F100 2wd. Probably not relevant but it has a 240 4 speed manual in it...some day to be upgraded to a 300 3 speed manual.

The potential donor is a 1970 F250 2wd. I havent seen it in person yet but the owner says it has disc brakes on the front and power steering. If Im understanding the wisdom of the threads, it sounds like this truck could have most of the goodies I need for those 2 coveted mods. What do you guys think?

It's also got a 360 with a C6. I want to stick with the straight 6 for my engine but I could be convinced to put in the C6 if it would bolt up to my future 300. (Jowilker...Now see what you did!)

 

For power disc/steering upgrade you need to stick to the half ton, the 250 has 8 wheel lugs rather than 5. They will bolt up for a more heavy duty truck.

The C6 with FE bell will not mate to a small block engine 240/300, 302, 351W, 351C and others.

We are closing in on winter, may I suggest that you spend the next little bit making a plan for next spring for your truck. Now if you have a bug comfy heated garage to play in please excuse last.

73-79 half ton 300, tranny of choice, would make a good donor to upgrade your truck.



John

 

You cannot use F250 disc brake parts on an F100. F250's have 8 lug wheels on a 6.50" bolt circle, while F100's have 5 lug wheels on a 5.50" bolt circle.

1968/72 F250 2WD's and F350's were available with optional dual piston caliper disc brakes.

Beginning in 1973, F100 2WD's came with single piston caliper disc brakes. Manual disc brakes were standard equipment, power disc brakes were optional.

The 360/390 C6 trans case will not bolt to a 240 or 300 I-6.

 

If I may share my thoughts, I think that I would pass on a '68-72 truck, unless it has serious engine and transmission advantages that you desire (such as recently rebuilt).
Based on your comments and as you have described it, the '70 F-250 really has only the power steering and the automatic power steering column to offer your '65. And that's assuming you decide to convert to an automatic.
Note that the 360 is baby brother to the 390, but can be easily rebuilt into a 390 powerhouse. In my opinion, the FE is stout but older technology, so I would use a 351W from the '80s if you want V-8 power, and it has the same bell housing pattern as the 300-6 and the 302.

Ford changed the disc brake design that has lasted '73 to '79, and is the easiest to transplant, easy to maintain and easy to get parts for.

My recommendations, as you describe your desires, is to look for a '73-'79 truck with the engine, transmission, PS and PB options you want. Keep in mind that you might end up getting two trucks (or more!) to get everything you want, but also know that John and I both sold unneeded parts off the trucks that paid or almost paid for their purchase prices.

I ended up buying a '78 F-150 for the power disc brakes and power steering, and used the fan shroud and other nitnoids on my '66. Bought it for about $750, and sold the drivetrain, bed, rear axle etc for over $1,000. Even got about $300 in scrap metal.
I also bought a rotted out mid-'80s F-350 for $500 to harvest the engine and transmission, and sold the rest of it for about $1200.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks guys. I really overlooked the obvious on that one. So now I know exactly what Im on the look out for.... a 73-79 f100 or f150 with power disc brakes and power steering. And if it has a 300-6 with a 3 on the tree...that would be ideal for me.

The F250 donor would have been almost free if it had been a good candidate. The guy just wants it out of his yard.

 

Hi John, My seasonal plan is to tinker with it during our cold dark Alaska winters and drive it when all that yucky white stuff goes away. So that's why Im so hot to round up pieces and parts...so I can have what I need on hand this winter. And there was a time when I would work on cars outside in the winter up here but age is making me a little wiser about that. I've got a decent little garage as long as my wife can tolerate parking her car out in the cold.

 

Ok guys, I found another couple of trucks for disc brakes and power steering. They even have 300 sixes in them which is the engine I want to upgrade my 65 to.

So...the first one is a 79 F150 2wd. The price is right....FREE. The owner just wants it out of her yard. It has power steering and power brakes but I cant tell for sure from the pics she sent me if it's got discs or drums on the front. I'll post a pic or 2. Maybe you guys would recognize it.







The second one is a 78 F150 2wd thats actually in good shape. Im thinking of grabbing it to make into a daily driver. It's an old State rig and they used to Z-bart the bodies on them. So structural rust is fairly nil. But it might also provide to upgrade parts I need.

So as far as you guys know, would these make good donor candidates for my 65 f100 2wd? And will the brake and PS parts bolt right up?

 

It has power discs.

Power disc brakes were standard equipment on all F150 2WD's. F150's introduced in 1975.

Beginning in 1973, F100 2WD's came standard equipment with manual disc brakes, power disc brakes were optional. Prior to 1973, F100 2WD's came with front/rear drum brakes.

 

The 79 should have discs. From what I see you at least have many core parts there. LOL


John