I am really close to pulling the trigger on a 1960 F-100 with a 223 I6. The floor is completely rusted out, and the driver's door needs some serious work, but other than that, it is surprisingly rust free. The only bondo is on the bad door, the cab supports look good, and bed only has small rust through near the cab.

The 233 starts right up and runs pretty well. I took it around the block and it shifts through all the gears, but I did a compression test, and 1-2-3-5-6 had between 85 and 90 lbs of compression, and #4 only had about 25lbs, so it needs a rebuild. It looks like a rebuild kit consisting of pistons, rings, bearings. cam, pushrods and all the seals and gaskets is around $650? What should I expect to pay for machine work?

 

You really need to open it up first. If you have the tools to do the dimension checks, you're ahead of the game. It also depends on how many engines you plan on rebuilding. If it gets down to boring, crank turning and all that jazz, you really will only save about 200 clams doing it yourself. For me, if the engine is in need of major work, that two hunnert is basically buying a guarantee.

 

Welcome to FTE.

I would personally not buy a rusted-out anything. There are plenty of solid older trucks just a day and a half or two's drive south of you in Cali, I see them every day.They will not be rusted out, they will be running well enough to drive back to Washington, and you will be money and years ahead in any restoration project. Don't be a glutton for punishment.....LOL

 

I couldn't agree more with ibuzzard (this time) . So, if you live in Washington's West side, consider just going East of the mountains. I bought a '53 f350 express from Minot ND and a '65 landcruiser pickup frpm Show Low AZ. Each cost 900.00 for shipping. Floors are fairly tough to replace correctly. I bought my '59 fridge f350 from Western WA, and have lived to regret not following my own code. At least the 9' box came from the East side in Spokane. The bed is like new, the cab and doors don't and still need work. If you do end up buying it or already have, at least it's a fridge truck..... always good to welcome someone into the fold. Best of luck, GB

 

What part of Wa are you in ?? I know where theres a 58 in a local yard..Ive been to Ca and got my first taste of their wrecking yards and castoffs...amazing how dumb some are...I saw a 55-56 cab in perfect condition...zero rust..it was basicly a shell with doors..but I would hem and haw a bit...depending on the price they are asking it could be a good deal...or not..im on the west side of the mountains and have seen a few decent fridges in the last year around here...fewer and lots farther between then in Ca/Az area..


- cs65

 

I'm in Seattle.

 

A good "core" sure does help in the long run.

 

I ended up bailing. By the time I had a running truck with good glass and a floor I wouldn't fall through, I'd be in 3k. I bought a 72 for $1800 three weeks ago that has needed minimal work so far to get me from A to B. I took it on a 150 mile camping trip the week after I got it. It's not quite as cool as the 1960, but it's cool enough for me right now.

 

Yea you definitely need a fridge to be totally cool.LOL

 

Yeh, what he said!

 

I have owned a Fridge for about 15 years, but I haven't been cool for over 30 years.

Congratulations on your new-to-you Ford truck. I think you should pull the motor and put in a SBC, though. LOL!

 

tee- hee!

 

These trucks are great, but not magical!
Now if you lived in a fridge down by the river?

 

It dosen't even have to be a Frige van or even by a river!