Newbie w/ 66 F100

[Bill W]

I was going to put a 289 with a c4 in place of the 240 3spd in my 65, In fact I have the Engine already done! just saving for the Trans now. But I am not sure If thats what I want now that I have the 66 f100 custom cab with the 352 4spd, Seems I have 1 too many trucks to drive! I wish I had not bought the 66 now Because My son wont drive it at ALL! I bought it for him as a father son project which I did all myself. Nice Kid I have!

[gritsngumbo]

Thanks for sharing your progress and pictures. I envy you your lift and your "tall" garage (hell I envy your garage). Is that at your house or work?

[Boss9F100]

Originally Posted by gritsngumbo

Thanks for sharing your progress and pictures. I envy you your lift and your "tall" garage (hell I envy your garage). Is that at your house or work?

Home garage, backyard special. Only do it as a hobby on stuff that interests me. Boss project was 1st one since 2000.

Decided I would try to push for 3 months on truck to see where it takes me. Last couple days have been spent building fixures to hold cab, bed & fenders. Did my parts hunting for this project for nearly 10yrs

[gritsngumbo]

I like the way you're doing your prep work with the cab stands etc. Should be much safer and easier to handle than "jury rigging it".
I need to get a welder and teach myself how to weld.

[Boss9F100]

Today was yard day and fixing the 25gal weed sprayer but did manage to get in a few minutes to do some welding on the multi purpose cart-stand




This one will be used for bed and also lower portion for cab to raise it for sandblasting, painting etc, when upside down I will remove casters (pictured) and with adjustable legs can be used as a table/bench of sorts.

This one is adjustable to nearly double its length and width. It will also be used for an engine run stand, will all come apart for easy transport. Still needs some bracing etc as in build stage.

Hopefully next week will get back on the *truck* project

[Boss9F100]

Thought I would give a quick update

Stand is now done




I also found some very interesting markings (to me)

Along with the Dash Radio found * 5 5 5 * , 2/9 I assume to be date, * 4 2 9 * I assume partial VIN, *AUTO* Assume for auto trans? *DUAL MIRRORS* anyone have an idea to what type dual mirros were offered? Shows signs of 2 types used, also found *RPO* after dual mirrors then a *2* anyone have an idea on the 2? Also found another 5M above master cyl obvious for paint code Signal Flare Red and Wimbleton White. Also found a Ink Stamp on rear of Cab, again would assume the RPO is Regular Production Option?

[Boss9F100]

Few questions for feedback..

As I have decided to go with the 427 S.O. engine and the 2x4's (think gas guzzler) I have 2 different trans possibilities both on hand. I have a 66 C-6 Thats just been rebuilt and also a CJ C-6 out of a Cobra Jet Mustang. I am having a tough time deciding which trans to go with. THe 66 because its same year and ready to go or rebuild the CJ trans because its cool.

Plans so far are

Stock 5M paint

Nodular 9" center from same CJ Mustang with gears on hand a 3.00. 3.25, 3.50 & a 3.70. Am also thinking of a gear vendors OverDrive unit.

Want to go with a widened 15" wheel a 9 or 10" in back and a 7" or so in front retaining the NOS stock hubcaps

Another question. On the 66 F100 with big block what color would they have been painted? I seem to remember my dads being gold? Or Black like in the brochure? Or could it have been the dark corporate blue? which seems what the 300 is and does not look to have been touched.

The Corporate blue would be easiest as have it formulated in a base/clear.

Engine will appear like it would have in a 66 Fairlane R car

Everything on outside as delivered from factory with exception of the sleeper look wheel and a radial tire (black out) for easier driving

Also plan on adding the 77 F100 PDB & P/S along with lowering it a bit.

I want to make it so it could very easily be put back to stock.

Another question... Who makes a rubber floor mat in Red?

(this one was red)

Seat is going back to 100% stock as found all NOS material and its being done now. I will have avail the original upholstery on back portion of seat in great shape. the bottom was frayed under driver area.

Also would like input as to what I should and should not post here? I am interested in marking etc but....

I am documenting pretty much all steps to the project but not sure what people would like to see and not to see.

Also plan on doing a video documentary on project.

429 pic and the ink stamping

[IB Adrian]

I will get in our resident parts, numbering and hieroglyphics expert.

He should be able to decipher what the numbers mean

[NumberDummy]

There were no VIN numbers stamped on Ford parts till the 1980's...except on frames, (the cars core supports, and the left inner fender apron) and on some crossmembers (some were, most weren't marked).

Numbers matching = that's a Chevy thing.

Wasn't this truck was a special order? (EDIT: it wasn't and I decoded the info). The VIN and Warranty Plates were decoded, there was nothing special about any of the codes, that I saw.

It could have been built for a Ford executive, why all the codes are marked.

This truck was assembled in Dallas TX, the Phoenix AZ sales zone office handled the paperwork, and delivered it somewhere to AZ or NM.

Ford execs (including "The Deuce") have had winter homes in AZ and NM for many years.

If originally equipped with two mirrors, they could have been the type (now reproduced) that fit into the door slots.

[Boss9F100]

Originally Posted by NumberDummy

There were no VIN numbers stamped on Ford parts till the 1980's...except on frames, (the cars core supports, and the left inner fender apron) and on some crossmembers (some were, most weren't marked).

Numbers matching = that's a Chevy thing.

Wasn't this truck was a special order? (EDIT: it wasn't and I decoded the info). The VIN and Warranty Plates were decoded, there was nothing special about any of the codes, that I saw.

It could have been built for a Ford executive, why all the codes are marked.

The VIN I am talking about is the *429* that was written in grease pencil on firewall. Its the last 3 of VIN so all I could come up with was the partial VIN. Did not mean anything else was *stamped* with VIN just the grease pencil marking. The 5 5 5 was in black grease pencil and the rest were in white grease pencil. Just my guesses at this point.

When I got the truck it had the larger mirrors and I thought they were added so took them off (not in real great condition) The mounting plates were found inside of door when I took it apart.

Would be nice to find out which mirrors it actually came with. If I remember correct my dads truck only had 1 mirror. Was the 2nd an option, Hence the RPO Dual Mirrors? I am sure I will find more markings when I complete stripping it. Taking my time so I can find any any and all.

When I said special order I meant the paint as the 5M seems to be a very rare paint code. thanks for the help!

I had heard it was a ford exec who originally bought the truck and was sold by his wife after he passed on.

It was sold new in Phx and was in Casa Grand all its life until 99 when It went to phx. C G is just south of phx. Still registered there too.

This truck was assembled in Dallas TX, the Phoenix AZ sales zone office handled the paperwork, and delivered it somewhere to AZ or NM.

Ford execs (including "The Deuce") have had winter homes in AZ and NM for many years.

[Bill W]

Wow! At this rate, We will be seeing you put it together next month. I am Impressed at how organized it all looks

[NumberDummy]

Originally Posted by Boss9F100

Would be nice to find out which mirrors it actually came with. If I remember correct my dads truck only had 1 mirror. Was the 2nd an option, Hence the RPO Dual Mirrors?

When I said special order I meant the paint as the 5M seems to be a very rare paint code. thanks for the help!

I had heard it was a ford exec who originally bought the truck and was sold by his wife after he passed on.

It was sold new in Phx and was in Casa Grand all its life until 99 when It went to phx. C G is just south of phx. Still registered there too.

The problem with "what mirrors were on there when new" is...all the mirrors regardless of type were optional till model year 1967.

There wasn't any standard mirror available on F100/350's till 1967, and the only reason Ford offered a standard (passenger car type) mirror in 1967, is because of the new Federal Safety Standards, one of which said: All vehicles must have a left hand o/s mirror. The law went into effect on 1/1/1966 on cars, 9/1966 on trucks.

The mirrors were not installed at the factory on trucks, they were packaged in a box at the factory, and placed inside the cab. Why was that?

Ford dealers installed all the mirrors regardless of where the mirrors came from...from the factory because they were ordered with the vehicle, or not.

The reasons were twofold. One, the mirrors could get damaged in shipping The number two and most important reason is:

If mirror(s) had been installed, and the customer wanted something different, the mirror(s) would have to be removed, the holes filled in and the door repainted.
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If the truck was a special order, the DSO would be 6 digits. Your trucks DSO is two digits.

5M: When special ordered inre to paint, The DSO is 6 digits and there's no paint code(s) listed on the Warranty Plate.
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Odd: The truck was ordered thru Phoenix and assembled in Dallas. That's the first time I've seen that here on FTE, and I've prolly decoded 500 VIN's on this site.

Phoenix sold vehicles were normally assembled in San Jose, CA. I suspect the truck went thru Dallas because at that plant, Ford did some unusual things back then. Here's a coupla things I recall:

If a customer ordered a car with more seat travel, Ford installed "Texas" seat tracks, and regardless of where the car was ordered from, the car was assembled in Dallas.

How many 3 speed manual transmissions in LTD's have you seen after 1967? Prolly none, because 1967 was the last year that transmission was offered on full sized Fords.

I've seen two, a 1968 convertible and a 1971 hardtop, both were built for Ford execs, and both were built in Dallas. Dallas was prolly why your truck was painted Signal Flare Red, because they had the facilities to do special things.
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You might see if you can get a Marti report for your truck.

The (smart) fellow (damn...wish I had thought about it) with that last name bought info from Ford that pertained to 1000's of build sheets of 1960's vehicles just when Ford was about to toss out the info in the 1990's.

martiauto.com, or stop by, they're located in the Phoenix area.
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I've been to Casa Grande, but I've never been to the city of Casa Grande.

Casa Grande: the Tohono O'odham ruins of the Great House.

[LxMan1]

What happened to the pictures????

[Boss9F100]

Originally Posted by LxMan1

What happened to the pictures????

my photobucket site is on automatic renewal each year except this year my cc expired and I did not update it with them so the accnt stopped. Its ok now so need to reload all the pics. 600+ of them too

[IB Adrian]

You can put them into your gallery here... we don't charge you