I'm thinking of taking on a either 73 or 74 (can't remember year) f100 2wd. Problem is its sat at my grandpa's for 20-something years. Its got a 300 I6 and 3 on the tree. am I crazy?

 

nope happieness is just a jump start away

 

heck no those i6's are bulletproof drain all the fluids and check for spark and that its not seized. you might consider running it off a gas can or something because that tanks is sure to be full of nasty gas and crud, if all goes well youll have it going in a couple days tops.

 

Not crazy at all. In fact, it sounds like the party is just getting started.

Besides hand tools, here's a revival kit to get the engine running:

Known good battery and maybe battery cables.
Starter solenoid
Jumper pack or jumper cables
Spark plugs, points, rotor, cap, and maybe some wires.
Fuel filter(s), a 5-foot length of fuel hose, and a fuel can.
Oil and oil filter
A carb rebuild kit.. I guarantee it will need to be rebuilt.
A fire extinguisher

Do this first and then start with the other stuff. The pistons are likely stuck to the cylinder walls. Remove the spark plugs and dose each cylinder with WD-40 or PB Blaster. After the "tune up" (oil, fuel, filters etc)", put your socket on the crankbolt and gently rock it back and forth to break the pistons loose. Dose each cylinder again and try to aim for the cylinder walls. Give 'er a couple of turns and note that the rotor turns.

Put 'er together and fire it up! It'll prolly smoke like crazy with light oil in the cylinders but that's okay when yer bringing back the dead.

 

Hot Rod, I did about the same thing with my Lone Ranger. It sat for the better part of 20 years with me tinkering every year or two for the last 8. If I would of havd Hio's advice, I would have saved time and money! Good luck with it!

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm dreading the body work still, last I saw the truck it was UGLY. i'll update when I know more.

 

HotRod, I had to do the same with my dent that set in a barn for 18-22 years. When I got it, it ran, but the carb needed rebuilt, and all the grounds needed cleaned up as well as ALL light sockets. Sift back through some of my posts to see all I had to do, and look at the picture at the bottom left of what it looks like today. Only difference I added wheel arch moldings. It alot of work to go over it top to bottom and back to the top again, but it was a fun journey, and I'd do it all over again if I had to. It was enjoyable for the most part, and when frustrating time come, and they will I would walk away and read the shop manual, or ask for help on here. I think what made it easier is I didn't HAVE to get it running to get to work tomorrow morning.

Take your time and enjoy the journey, remember, it was your Pap's truck. Try and get it back to its former glory days. It's a rewarding journey that never ends so it seems.

 

Sounds like all you need is 25 million hours and 30 grand.

 

Psh. Whatever - I had to PAY for my rusted out basket case

It's a lot of fun though - especially when you try to do a repair all day long and you're about to give up, and then suddenly you realize what you were doing wrong, and it basically magically fits back together.

-Brad

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by 76f350spercamprspeal

Welcome to FTE, Best Damn Forum EVER!
------------------------
Here's How to Post Pictures:
1. Login to FTE.
2.Click User CP (In the Top Left Hand Corner)
3.(On the Left, There will be a list, The 5th Option Down, will say "Pictures & Albums) Click That.
4.Then, Click Add Album, Enter a title, and description, if ya want to.
5. Click Upload Pictures, Then click Browse, Locate the Files of your truck. (You can add 3 files at a time)
5. Click Upload.
6. Add a description to the individual pictures, then click save.
7. Add more files if ya want.
8. Click The Picture you want to post, it will give you two codes at the bottom, Right Click The Second one (It say's BB Code, Then Say's [IMG]http:blahblahblah...[/IMG])
Then, Once that is highlighted, Right Click, Then Copy, Then Paste it into your post.
You can add up to 30 Images in one FTE Post.
If, Ya need any help, Don't hesitate to ask.


Quote:
Originally Posted by old_dan

You can also go to the "Garage" tab and start an album right here on FTE. After you post pictures to an album, we can look in your album, but you'll also be able to "insert a picture" by pasting in a link to the picture in your album.

It seems awkward, but whenever you "insert a picture" to one of these threads, the forum is looking for the picture somewhere on the web (which is always available) rather than from somewhere on your hard drive (which isn't always available).

Quote:
Originally Posted By Jolly Roger Joe

Welcome to FTE!

Go to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and sign up for a free account. Then create an album for your truck. Upload any pics you want to post on FTE to that album. Have this album open on your computer when you want to post pics on FTE.

While you're making a post on FTE, select the pic you want to post from your Photobucket album. When the large version of the pic is open, right mouse click on it and select "View Image Info". The image info will be highlighted and will look something like this:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ghtsafter1.jpg

 

Sometimes ya gotta work with the hand your dealt to make the most of it.

For example, my 70 Bump project is mechanically fine but the body, especially the roof rails, has seen better days. The roof rails are rusted through. The body has lots of rust spots but no deep dents ...it has just been worked, not beaten, hard in its past. I'm debating whether to shave the rails and fix what I got or graft in a new roof (down to the A-pillars down to half of the rear window). It'll be alot of work. Do I want to do that now? Heck no. I don't really care a whole lot about how it looks.

But in the mean time, I'm upgrading the brakes, exhaust, suspension, EZ-EFI, and 5-speed swap, and leaving the rest as-is. I am thinking of following a vintage shop truck theme (with a fictitious name and a telephone number) until I get the gumption to re-do the entire body. For now I just wanna have fun with it.

 

Talking with my old man at work today he said the last time the truck moved was in 1984. Then he borrowed the tailgate for his 78 f250 when he was like 17. It also sounds like the body may not be as bad as I thought although apperantly the guy my grandpa bought it from painted it with a brush. i've definetly dealt with worse, and it'll be nice to have a project again and even more so a ford truck again! I'm loving the excitement from you guys, keep it coming.

 

I'm excited for you...I wish I had it sitting in my yard...makes me want to go out and find one to work one!!!

 

That just means there was more/thicker paint applied - hopefully it helped protect some of the metal!

-Brad

 

It's not that uncommon to find a truck that has been painted with a brush, often with house paint. That was how vehicles were done back in the old days, and plenty of older fella's kept doing it well into the 70's or 80's. Why pay someone big bucks to shoot paint on it, when you can do it yourself for much less. May not look as nice up close, but from a distance, it's fine. Just don't go to one of those high pressure car washes......... Unless you plan to paint it again.