1965 Ford F-100 Project: Keeping a Legend Alive
The owner of this Ford F-100 sadly passed away before he could finish it. Now, his son is working to honor his legacy.
Losing a family member is certainly one of the more traumatic things anyone can endure in life. Especially when you lose a parent, the person that made you who you are today. The one that helped spark your love of things like Ford trucks. Sadly, Ford Truck Enthusiasts member jjriley suffered such a loss recently, but it’s his dad’s old Ford pickup that’s helping to keep his memory alive.
“This ’65 is what my dad was working on in his retirement. He took it down to the frame and pretty much all that is needed now is all of the body and cosmetic stuff. The truck has a 300 and 5-speed manual. Sadly, dad passed recently and he was unable to finish the truck. However, my mom turned it over to me and my son to carry on the mantle. The radiator has some holes, so I pulled it and I am having it fixed. Then I’ll transport it to my house and begin the process of finishing this up in his honor. I’m sure I will have many questions on this as we go but I look forward to getting started and learning.”
Before long, the OP has his dad’s Ford running and he’s able to drive it home. And after a little digging and help from fellow FTE members, he’s also learning a little more about the truck.
“Got the radiator in today and got to fire it up finally. Man it runs like a new truck and drives oh so nice. I wish dad could have enjoyed it more. I found out the motor is from a ’78 van. Not sure on the trans, but the man that may know is coming tomorrow. If he doesn’t know, I’ll get some pics and maybe someone here will know.”
Since the truck was running so well, the OP was in a good spot. He’s able to focus on fixing little things, including a couple of wiring issues. He also makes time to buff out the existing paint, which gives the F-100 a little more shine.
The OP even took his dad’s old Ford to a meet, where it attracted plenty of interest.
“I was able to drive it to a small local car show this past weekend. Even though she is rough cosmetically, it got tons of interest. It was nice to be able to give dad credit for all of the work he put into this.”
Right now, the OP is fixing some niggling issues with the truck and has started bodywork. So be sure and head over here to stay tuned as he continues to honor his father’s legacy!
Photos: Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums
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