'81 F-100 Project - lots of pics
#31
Choptop, I have a ton of questions for you but i'll keep it short for you. Why did you use a 73 Tbird front clip, I know its an independent front suspension, just curious why you used that instead of other options. Also You wouldnt by chance have more info and pictures of the chop top, this is something that I have always wanted to do.
Wheres the updates at!?
Wheres the updates at!?
#32
Any questions you have, fire away. I'll answer the best I can.
For the '73 front clip, there was several reasons, and some stupidity involved.
It was already a big-block car
It was the exact width I needed
No I-beams
It had only light surface rust, car only had 40,000 on it
It was free
The bad thing I found out AFTER the frame was built was that I could have used a crossmember out of a 2003 Crown Vic (I think), all aluminum and basically bolt-in. I wish I would have found out about this before. Thought about remaking the front, but already had everything made for that stub.
I have a bunch of pics of the chop. It was truly a royal pain on one of these trucks.
It's minutes away from primer, so actually further along than the pics show.
For the steel inner liner, I got another roof section and cut the two offset so there was no filler strip.
If you want more pics, let me know and I'll get them.
For the '73 front clip, there was several reasons, and some stupidity involved.
It was already a big-block car
It was the exact width I needed
No I-beams
It had only light surface rust, car only had 40,000 on it
It was free
The bad thing I found out AFTER the frame was built was that I could have used a crossmember out of a 2003 Crown Vic (I think), all aluminum and basically bolt-in. I wish I would have found out about this before. Thought about remaking the front, but already had everything made for that stub.
I have a bunch of pics of the chop. It was truly a royal pain on one of these trucks.
It's minutes away from primer, so actually further along than the pics show.
For the steel inner liner, I got another roof section and cut the two offset so there was no filler strip.
If you want more pics, let me know and I'll get them.
#33
Almost forgot, I have been taking a break on actual work on it. Been sourcing some electrical parts and such I'm going to need. Starting to finish up some of the body work now that was started a while back. I have a feeling winter will be here before I can break out the saws and routers to build the interior. Lots planned for that.
#35
#36
Been a real busy week around here. Got tons done. Fixed some body alignment problems, made the front box mounts and installed (was going to tilt the box and had latches in front). Got the mounts for the tailgate made, did a bunch of welding on the hood, core support mounts done.
Had to roll it outside, so decided to take a few more pics.
What a fat azz!!
Did a little measuring for fun. The drip rail is 15 inches lower than my '86 in the background.
With everything accomplished, I think it's about time to tear everything down and do final welding. Need to put in a tunnel for the trans and driveshaft, have measurements so I can just flip the cab over and do it, and also smooth out the firewall. Then it's on to getting things ready for paint. Hopefully this early spring I can get some color on it.
It's kind of amazing how slow things seem to go, then all of a sudden everything just falls together. Feels good to see it this far.
Had to roll it outside, so decided to take a few more pics.
What a fat azz!!
Did a little measuring for fun. The drip rail is 15 inches lower than my '86 in the background.
With everything accomplished, I think it's about time to tear everything down and do final welding. Need to put in a tunnel for the trans and driveshaft, have measurements so I can just flip the cab over and do it, and also smooth out the firewall. Then it's on to getting things ready for paint. Hopefully this early spring I can get some color on it.
It's kind of amazing how slow things seem to go, then all of a sudden everything just falls together. Feels good to see it this far.
#37
Been a real busy weekend. Got the body off and frame stripped. Got most of the final welding done between Saturday and today. Have a little bit of fab work to do up front on the frame, then time to blast and paint. Hopefully next weekend I can get it all blasted. Maybe in a couple of weeks, it'll be rolling around again. Have to get all new ball joints, tie rod ends, etc..
#40
Thanks guys!
The frame started out as a reason to get rid of the beams up front. I helped a buddy part out an old T-Bird a few years back, when we pulled the body off the frame, I started getting ideas. Did some measuring and found out the width was exactly what I needed, and it was already set up for a big block. Then with building custom, I can put the body at the height I really want, without being limited to what the aftermarket world has to offer.
The frame started out as a reason to get rid of the beams up front. I helped a buddy part out an old T-Bird a few years back, when we pulled the body off the frame, I started getting ideas. Did some measuring and found out the width was exactly what I needed, and it was already set up for a big block. Then with building custom, I can put the body at the height I really want, without being limited to what the aftermarket world has to offer.
#43
Just an idea, dont know how attached you are to the wing windows.
But a guy that guys by "Sportruk" Has an 87 that he cut his top and used ranger glass(89-92?) that had no wing window and it was very smooth. But he also stretched his cab 4" and did not section his roof
Pictures by Sportruk - Photobucket
But a guy that guys by "Sportruk" Has an 87 that he cut his top and used ranger glass(89-92?) that had no wing window and it was very smooth. But he also stretched his cab 4" and did not section his roof
Pictures by Sportruk - Photobucket
#44
#45
Just an idea, dont know how attached you are to the wing windows.
But a guy that guys by "Sportruk" Has an 87 that he cut his top and used ranger glass(89-92?) that had no wing window and it was very smooth. But he also stretched his cab 4" and did not section his roof
Pictures by Sportruk - Photobucket
But a guy that guys by "Sportruk" Has an 87 that he cut his top and used ranger glass(89-92?) that had no wing window and it was very smooth. But he also stretched his cab 4" and did not section his roof
Pictures by Sportruk - Photobucket
Hmmm, ideas. I'll have to get to the scrapyard and get some dimensions. The bodywork on the doors isn't done yet, so changing things wouldn't be a big deal. Thanks for the info. If I could get away from the quarter windows, I could run the mirrors I really wanted to.
I would hate to see how many hours I've spent behind the computer with the cad program, planning, seeing how and if certain things will work. I think sometimes there was more of that than actual building.