Hello Guys,

I am a F100 newbie. I have the opportunity to be given a 1963 F100. The body is in great shape, very little rust. The brakes are seized and I do not know if the engine runs or not. There is quite a bit of play in the steering. It has a 223cid, 114 HP engine with a manual 3 speed transmission.

Initially I would like to add disk brakes, change the engine, change the wheels, and lower it. I know that the engine uses the wishbone mount. Can anyone give a rough estimate of what I would have to invest to do the above items. I would do all the work on it. I would like to get a rebuilt engine. Can the transmission be mounted to another engine, besides the stock engine?

My other concern is that I could potentially invest more in it than I could ever get back. What does this model bring restored?

Here is the information, can someone translate?
W.B. 114
Color A
Model F100
Body 81A
Trans A
Axl 12

Thanks

 

Welcome to FTE

114" Wheelbase

A = Raven Black.

F100 2WD, 5,000 lbs. GVWR

81A = Standard Cab.

A = Ford 3 Speed Light Duty Manual Transmission.

12 = Ford 9" Rear Axle / 3.89-1 / non Limited Slip / 3,300 lb. Rear Axle Capacity.

These trucks are not rare, only desireable to certain peeps, and are money pits. So, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

You think you bought an old truck, but what you really bought is a hobby, and hobbies tend to be expensive.

There's a big difference between being restored to original specs and being "resto-modded." Some peeps will not buy a modded truck, some will.

I know all this jazz from experience, bought a 1965 F100 brand new, then spent 25 grand in 1981/83 doing a frame off resto.

The chances of getting all the money back I had invested, were as slim as Prez Obama becoming a Conservative and joining the Republican Party, but...

When I sold it in 2009, I also sold the same fellow 5 other "old rolling piles of misery." I basically broke even on all a them.

 

Hah, the Obama comment is a classic. I appreciate the reply.

I am mechanically inclined and have worked on cars, but I am by no means an expert. I wouldn't mind putting 4-5 grand in it. I just have no idea how far I could get on that. I know brakes will be about $800. I don't think I would go to the extent you did with a frame off resto.

Would this truck have had a wooden bed?

 

Whatever you estimate what the costs will be for all work performed, double it...then add 20%. No...I am not kidding.

Since 1956, I've owned 337 vehicles, have spent tons of dinero on them.

On some of them I made money. On some, I lost my shirt (a money pit of a 1963 Cadillac ragtop comes to mind ).

The costs for reproduction parts adds up qwik. If you need obsolete parts, who knows what the costs will be?

This is a fun hobby, but it ain't cheap nor is it for the "faint of heart!"

If the truck is a Flareside, the bed floor is wood. If a Styleside, no wood.