My 54 F100 project
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 58
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Been a while since any updates, life caught up with me. 
Looking to start on small easy jobs, the top of the bed sides have been dinged/bent, is there an easy method to reforming the approx 1" holes that run the length of the bed? I would like to keep as much of the panels as possible as it has all original sheet metal, but the tailgate suffered a bit too as it was a work truck for many decades. Any ideas or links would be awesome
I'm also considering the Crown Vic front end swap as opposed the the Toyota steering box swap, and maybe just going for the whole 4.6L/trans from similar car. Has anyone done this swap or have any suggestions? I'm not looking for it to be a hot rod, just reliable driver.
Looking to start on small easy jobs, the top of the bed sides have been dinged/bent, is there an easy method to reforming the approx 1" holes that run the length of the bed? I would like to keep as much of the panels as possible as it has all original sheet metal, but the tailgate suffered a bit too as it was a work truck for many decades. Any ideas or links would be awesomeI'm also considering the Crown Vic front end swap as opposed the the Toyota steering box swap, and maybe just going for the whole 4.6L/trans from similar car. Has anyone done this swap or have any suggestions? I'm not looking for it to be a hot rod, just reliable driver.
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
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Well a small update, got the truck up on jack stands, ripped the entire brake system apart and rebuilt/replaced everything. Just need to clean up the drums, repack the front bearings and bleed system.
Next up while its still in the air is removing the gas tank and cleaning out any sludge in there as the truck has been parked since 1980.
Next up while its still in the air is removing the gas tank and cleaning out any sludge in there as the truck has been parked since 1980.
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
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Well update for today isn't as good as yesterday, got the tank out, which wasn't fun in itself, and the whole top is rusted out, so no clean and reinstall for me, gonna have to scrape some bucks for a new tank. Oh well.
Thanks Dan, I'll check em out.
Thanks Dan, I'll check em out.
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
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Ok, time, money, and motivation are finally falling in line with each other. I have ordered a new tank, old one was worthless due to rust, as well as sending unit. TRuck was a 6v, rewiring truck and going 12v, question is: What sending unit do you guys recommend? It has a 292 Y-block currently, but will be upgrading later. Tank I bought says it accepts stock 6 bolt and aftermarket 5 bolt senders.
Very excited, once tank goes in, should be able to attempt to start the truck for first time in 34 years!
Very excited, once tank goes in, should be able to attempt to start the truck for first time in 34 years!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 948
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From: Central Oregon
You will need to decide what fuel gauge you are going to use, as that will determine what sending unit is needed. Mid fifties should have what you need if using a factory gauge. I used a SW gauge, and got the sender from Speedway.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 146
From: Goulburn, NSW
Dan, I tip my hat to guys like you. Ten years is a while, and I really draw inspiration from guys like yourself who never give in.
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
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Well a small update, got the truck up on jack stands, ripped the entire brake system apart and rebuilt/replaced everything. Just need to clean up the drums, repack the front bearings and bleed system.
Next up while its still in the air is removing the gas tank and cleaning out any sludge in there as the truck has been parked since 1980.
Next up while its still in the air is removing the gas tank and cleaning out any sludge in there as the truck has been parked since 1980.
New User
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
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From: Louisiana
Rhinoh22,
You are a couple of years ahead of me in my rebuild of an identical '54 F100, same 239 motor and appears to be same original color, Glacier Blue. At least my interior is still original, the exterior was painted black.
We have some of the same issues, including the heater, which looks similar on the interior. The wiring and heater hoses look the same on the engine side of the firewall.
I had the original 16 X 4.5 rims broken down. Then I cleaned the rust off the interior and primed them. Now that I have all 5 tires holding air, I want to start with the wiring.
Which harness did you use?
Thanks for the great thread on your project. It has been a big help already.
Hotwire
You are a couple of years ahead of me in my rebuild of an identical '54 F100, same 239 motor and appears to be same original color, Glacier Blue. At least my interior is still original, the exterior was painted black.
We have some of the same issues, including the heater, which looks similar on the interior. The wiring and heater hoses look the same on the engine side of the firewall.
I had the original 16 X 4.5 rims broken down. Then I cleaned the rust off the interior and primed them. Now that I have all 5 tires holding air, I want to start with the wiring.
Which harness did you use?
Thanks for the great thread on your project. It has been a big help already.
Hotwire
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Junior User
Joined: May 2012
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So, been a while since last update. Got motor wired up, new fuel pump, coil, solenoid, fuel tank installed. Fired on first try! Idles ok but need more tuning of course, been sitting so long.
But couldn't run long, radiator is fried, leaking everywhere and have no pulley on water pump. The snout seems bigger then the pullies I have around, its a 1960 292 and none of my fan pulleys fit over it?
