'71 project
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New User
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: TX
'71 project
Ok so I am 15 and was given a 71 ford f100. It needs some work but I've got 10 months to get it fixed up. I was told it did run but it needs a battery and the fuel tank needs to be flushed out. My question is would this be worth restoring for my first truck? I would be driving it to and from school, maybe to the store, occasionally to my farm (bout 175 mile trip), etc. wouldn't drive 10000 miles a year. Is it worth the money to fix up.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Is it worth restoring? That’s for you to decide. But here are my thoughts on this:
Since you’ll be using the rig what seems to be regularly, there are steps that can make ownership more enjoyable. At this time, the principle concerns should be reliability and safety – lights, brakes, steering, ignition and fuel systems. Let’s leave the wish list (drop beams, aluminum wheels, high-amp stereo, etc) for later on should you take that route. For now, I'd work on stuff to make it truly roadworthy without the fear of being stranded or down a ditch. It's also the time when you will be skill-building and garnering knowledge. You'll have to do your own homework and we'll be here to help out if you get stuck. However, this isn't the place to be fishing for answers without yourself having some skin in the game.
<O
After establishing a safe and reliable ride, cleaning parts and giving them a fresh coat of paint (spray can) does wonders for the psyche. You can do this while you're out of money, only have a little cash on hand, or are removing and reinstalling the part anyway. Treat every piece of the truck like it is the only piece that exists and treat it as a work of art. For example, painting stock steel wheels and/or simple hubcaps really freshens up the look. I shot my white wagon wheels for $25 (Rustoleum Hammerite Bronze) and it looks really different. Powerwash the entire undercarriage (mainly so you can see where the oil leak is coming from), repaint the rear bumper, scrub the tire’s sidewalls with cleanser to restore them back to black….
There are tons of small things you can do to improve the look of the truck without breaking the bank. I think you’ll be happier seeing a clean rig parked at your house than an old, beat up, and dirty truck. Torn up seats? Throw on an inexpensive bench cover. Rusty bed? Scrape it and apply a roll-on bed liner…
<O
In my opinion, cleanliness and attention to detail wins me over more than a fancy paint job. Don’t get me wrong, I still like fancy paint jobs but an ultra clean rig will garner my attention. How may times have you seen a nice paint job on a truck with dented or missing trim?
<O
I like these old trucks because they are so simple to maintain, replacement parts are readily available, cheap to insure, and ya don’t see too many examples anyway. Alot of them have been rode hard and put away wet. Heck, I’ll go “window shopping” at the junkyard just to see if there is anything available or can adapt to my truck. Earlier this year I found a pair of roof racks on a Dodge van and made a light bar out of it. Check out the pic in my garage. The total cost, less the lights of course, was $23. The lights? Swap meet finds – all four for $60. Oh, I modified and sold the other light bar to SuperDuty93. More recently, I found a dual battery tray and electrical system for $20.
You'll have a learning curve but it is one that can pay off for a lifetime. Enjoy the journey.
Since you’ll be using the rig what seems to be regularly, there are steps that can make ownership more enjoyable. At this time, the principle concerns should be reliability and safety – lights, brakes, steering, ignition and fuel systems. Let’s leave the wish list (drop beams, aluminum wheels, high-amp stereo, etc) for later on should you take that route. For now, I'd work on stuff to make it truly roadworthy without the fear of being stranded or down a ditch. It's also the time when you will be skill-building and garnering knowledge. You'll have to do your own homework and we'll be here to help out if you get stuck. However, this isn't the place to be fishing for answers without yourself having some skin in the game.
<O
After establishing a safe and reliable ride, cleaning parts and giving them a fresh coat of paint (spray can) does wonders for the psyche. You can do this while you're out of money, only have a little cash on hand, or are removing and reinstalling the part anyway. Treat every piece of the truck like it is the only piece that exists and treat it as a work of art. For example, painting stock steel wheels and/or simple hubcaps really freshens up the look. I shot my white wagon wheels for $25 (Rustoleum Hammerite Bronze) and it looks really different. Powerwash the entire undercarriage (mainly so you can see where the oil leak is coming from), repaint the rear bumper, scrub the tire’s sidewalls with cleanser to restore them back to black….
There are tons of small things you can do to improve the look of the truck without breaking the bank. I think you’ll be happier seeing a clean rig parked at your house than an old, beat up, and dirty truck. Torn up seats? Throw on an inexpensive bench cover. Rusty bed? Scrape it and apply a roll-on bed liner…
<O
In my opinion, cleanliness and attention to detail wins me over more than a fancy paint job. Don’t get me wrong, I still like fancy paint jobs but an ultra clean rig will garner my attention. How may times have you seen a nice paint job on a truck with dented or missing trim?
<O
I like these old trucks because they are so simple to maintain, replacement parts are readily available, cheap to insure, and ya don’t see too many examples anyway. Alot of them have been rode hard and put away wet. Heck, I’ll go “window shopping” at the junkyard just to see if there is anything available or can adapt to my truck. Earlier this year I found a pair of roof racks on a Dodge van and made a light bar out of it. Check out the pic in my garage. The total cost, less the lights of course, was $23. The lights? Swap meet finds – all four for $60. Oh, I modified and sold the other light bar to SuperDuty93. More recently, I found a dual battery tray and electrical system for $20.
You'll have a learning curve but it is one that can pay off for a lifetime. Enjoy the journey.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 20
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From: TX
Thanks for the info. Is it possible to have the wrong headers? My uncle gave me the truck and someone gave it to him. He told me the headers were not the right ones or possibly cracked. I am probably going to get some hedmans for it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Kid, you're gonna have to be descriptive in your posts and questions. In this world, ANYTHING is possible... Just look at that guy who calls himself "The President of the United States."
Other than the year and make, I don't think you've even posted what your truck is equipped with. What makes you think that they're the wrong headers? What have YOU done to determine of they're wrong or not?
Other than the year and make, I don't think you've even posted what your truck is equipped with. What makes you think that they're the wrong headers? What have YOU done to determine of they're wrong or not?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
OK. So yer truck's not with ya? Then I suggest you read through this website with tons of info on 67-72s: FORDification.com - The 1967-1972 Ford Pickup Resource
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Welcome to the forum. This site and the other one already mentioned has more info on your Ford than you can believe right now. Unless the truck is a basketcase or rustbucket it can be a good driver...if you have some cash to put in it. Question that all of us face with daily drivers this old is can you afford to feed it gas? Unless it has a 302 or an I-6, you're looking at getting maybe 12 mpg in town and maybe 14 on the road...typically worse than that. A 302 or I-6 is less thirsty, but not much better...maybe 15 in town and up to 18 mpg on the road. So, it'll be a pricey daily driver even if your folks are paying your insurance. They do make excellent farm trucks however, and since you have a farm you might consider it for that...if you really like it. In my neighborhood, you can get a little Jap pickup or runabout SUV for less than $2000...way more economical to drive. I'm partial to the Suzuki Samarai's, Sidekicks, Grand Vitaras and Geo/Chevy Trackers...next best thing to an old Ford bump truck in my opinion.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
I wanna get a Suzuki X90 to play with but I have no where to park it.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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Im in that same boat, my grandpa bought a 71 f100 new, drove it up until 2000 when the motor locked up and finally gave it to me last year, im only 16 so that was my first project also, after sittin in the pasture for 10 years it needed lots of work but it was well worth it to me, i probably put a little more money into it than i should have (about 8,000) but its my favorite truck i have. If you need advice or help hit me up, im no expert but ive pretty much redone everything on it that you can think of. Good Luck and try and post some pics!!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal