Got the rest of the body sprayed at class last night. Not a perfect paint-job but definitely good driver quality. Next week will be 6 years since I drug it out of that Nebraska field, I am a little more than excited.

 

Gary,
What color did you end up using?

 

It is red copper pearl, it's a Mazda color.

 

 

Looks Good

 

wow nice color Gary

 

Look our SYMMEN truck:Easy Operation

 

I would say you really went to the darkside there

 

Hey Ben,
Yes you are right - about the only piece of metal on that truck that reflects light is the gas cap. It's been sitting beside a junkyard and off the road since 1968. And it was used hard and kicked to the curb before that as a plow truck.
My plans....


The truck was original and fairly complete for all that time so I will keep it that way for the most part. The stock Timken rear end and 4:86 gears will be replaced with a Dana 60 (4:10) from a 1971 F-250 that I scrounged from a junkyard up north. I found another 226 as a parts engine from yet another junkyard. The original engine in this F3 turns over by hand and I'm going to attempt to get it running - I have a spare crashbox 4-speed that will provide back-up or parts if needed.
The exterior will stay just the way you see it. I'll add some support brackets to the fenders so they won't flop in the wind. I'll round off the sharp rusty edges so no kids get hurt near it. (My wife's only request on this project)
I have purchased new cab weatherstripping and seals, will re-upholster the stock bench seat, will get new glass, and it will have all new wiring. I restored the gauges and bezel already and will clean up the interior so that ladies will sit beside me to go for a ride. I have gotten all new drum brakes and it will have new brake lines and a vacuum boost dual reservoir master cylinder. I have new kingpins, shocks, wheel seals & bearings, and will get the springs repaired and re-arc'ed. The electrical will get updated to 12 volt so that I can run trailer lights and a good heater fan. Also will convert the stock distributor to an HEI module with newer style coil and ballast resistor for easier starts. Widowmaker 2-piece rims were tossed out and basic 8-lug Ford wheels are now wrapped in some new 235-85-16 radial tires. I didn't paint the donor wheels when the tires were mounted so they would 'match' the overall rusty look.
The truck will look like a heap on the outside but will be safe and reliable.
I have most of the parts sitting in boxes just waiting for the weather to warm up and the daylight hours to increase. I do most of my work alone, out there in the driveway on weekends and after work. It should be on the road this summer - for the first time since before Woodstock.


Tom

 

So excited. Got my seat done. Visors are next, then a trans pan gasket and it's ready for it's maiden voyage!

 

What a great looking interior. Nice!!

 

Someone will be ready for Spring Great interior.

 

Great looking interior

 

Sorry to pweng1 for super late reply. Yes it cost a fortune on shipping and no I don't own a shop. But I do have a very good restorer who specializes in American muscle cars here in the Philippines. His name is John A. Escobar. He worked with Chip Foose when he was working for Mitch Lanzini in the TV show OVERHAULIN. His specialty is paint and he is the first (and so far only) Filipino to receive the Meguiar's Best in Paint and Finish trophy awarded by Barry Meguiar himself during the 4th MSCC Concours d'Elegance, in Manila in May 2011.

 

We finally finished the restoration of my 55 F100 just in time for the 2016 Tran Sport Show here in the Philippines this weekend (May 19 to 22, 2016)