This is my 61 F100.


I got it for a good deal.


It's a 61 shortbed, with a 64 bed.


It has a Chrysler 318 and 727 auto trans transplanted in. Engine runs great, not a problem whatsoever. Not exactly the swap I would do, but since it's done, it can stay.


Interior is ok, the seat is perfect. It has a ratchet shifter and tachometer. Almost everything works. I say almost because the speedo doesn't work, and I have not tried everything.


Side and back glass is tinted, front window is cracked.


Body-wise, it's straight, but has rust through in the drip rails, lower doors, cab corners, and front edge of the bed floor. I don't have a back bumper.


It has a 10 gallon fuel cell in the bed. I will keep that at least for a while, until I decide exactly how I want my fuel system.


The truck has been painted with yellow tractor paint.


Rearend is an 8 inch. Not sure if it's a posi or not. Haven't checked yet.


Basically, plans are to make it safe and drive it/use it like a truck, and do some racing.




Here are some pictures.


Found on the street in front of a farm.








Taking it home.





Interior.





The bed.





Chrysler 318

 

First order of business was to scrub the truck down.

 

Cleaning the windows and vacuuming the interior helped out a ton. Sprayed some tire shine on as well.








Bolted the front bumper on.









The second day I owned it, I took the inner door panels off and greased the window regulators, so the windows will go up and down. I got the taillights working, found the problem with the brake lights, got the emergency brake working, tested the switches, and made a ton of plans.

 

My best guess on the speedometer would be the speedo cable is probably weird since GM and Ford use different cables. Nice truck

 

Chrysler in this case, not GM.


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love the truck. those wheels rock!

i have the same shifter. i wish i put mine on a platform like that. looks great. I have mine sitting right on the floor.

keep the pictures coming! and the progress.

 

Didn't think about that. Probably not hooked up.

 

My front tires are just about ready to let go, so I pulled out a pair of tires I had sitting around. They're not perfect, but better than what was on it before. Good for small trips and stuff, but will be replaced before too long.




The problem came on early when I found wheel locks on the truck. No key. 3 came off easily enough by welding a nut to the lock and unscrewing them, but the right front would not come off. Welded a nut to it, and the lock snapped off flush with the stud. I ended up cutting the stud off flush with the wheel, then I had to drill the stud out so the remains of the lock would dislodge from the wheel. It was a several hour project.





Then I was able to swap the tires.


I also installed a new brake light pressure switch so the brake lights work. Installed dual throttle return springs. And installed my ebay hood emblem.

 

Didn't get to work on the truck much today because of rain and working on another project, but I did mount new used rear tires. They're a little smaller than I will go with eventually, but good for now.

 

This weekend I mounted the fuel cell, ran all new fuel lines, tank to carb and replaced the carburetor with a Demon.





I also painted around my FORD letters on the front.





And my hood hinges both broke. They had been very loose and wobbly. Now I have to replace them.

 

Are you sure this is a 1961? The only 1961 F100/250 pickups that had a separate bed were 4WD's, all the other F100/250 pickups were Uni's.

Notice the bumper bolts, 2 bolts per side began in 1964, 1961/63's used 3 bolts per side in a triangular pattern.

The Styleside bed on this truck was also introduced in 1964.

 

Look at the picture with the truck on the trailer - no front bumper but it looks like 3 mounting holes in a triangle pattern on my little monitor - can't tell for sure - but it doesn't look like the frame horns on my 1966 2WD as far as I can tell.


His cab also has steps inside and the hint of where a battery box cutout would be if it had been a 4WD.


Not sure what it is or what it isn't...


The hood emblem is a 1965-66 type with the V8 logo. Bed side molding is, what, 1963-64?


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You're both correct about the bumper issue. The brackets on the frame are 3 bolt style. The original bumper came with the truck, but is hit hard right in the center. Previous owner bought this bumper which is the two bolt style, and never put it on because of the difference. I bolted it on using only the two lower bolts (the top bolts are just there for looks).


It has a 1964 bed. According to my research, even the 2WD truck could have the "wrong" early bed, or stepside bed (which I believe this was originally).


Hood emblem was found on ebay by me. I wanted the V8 one on there even though it's not correct.


VIN denotes 1961.

 

Wrong bed: 1961/65 F100/250 4WD / 1961/66 F350 / 1962/63 F100/250 2WD (not 1961!) / 1966 F250 4WD

 

What bed should this truck have? VIN says 1961. I asked in another thread which bed should it have, and what was available in 1961. According to the only person who chimed in, it could have had the early 57-60 bed, stepside, cab and chassis with no bed.