Getting my Uncle's 1959 F100 custom cab. Suggestions for restoration or leave "as is"

 

Lower it!!

 

Me when they are mostly an untouched truck I leave them just the way they are.
How many do you see stock any more?


Now if it needed all the body panels replaced because of rust, the full suspension rebuilt because all the bushings are gone, springs sagging or broken and kingpin bushings replace, etc., etc. then maybe a CV frame swap and find better body panels for it.
Dave ----

 

That is a very nice original truck, nice find.

Ones like this I would inclined to give a sympathetic restoration. This one looks good enough that conserving might be the best and a viable option.

The paint should power polish up to pretty good. And I would just address some of the poorer looking stuff surface rust on chrome etc. . And of course do what ever needs done mechanically. Very few of these are trucks are left in presentable original unmodified/unrestored condition. Conserving or a sympathetic restoration is also the cheapest option. Being a large window custom cab it makes yours a rare jem for sure.

 

I think it already looks complete!

 

Looks pretty nice in that "teaser" picture. We want to see more!

 

Only do what is needed. They are only original once. I don't think anyone would fault you to do reversible mods to make it something you would enjoy more, like disc brakes and dual master cylinder.

 

not sure where to start and what to do in here! I'm going to try and keep it all original but cleaned up, right?

 

It doesn't look too bad. First off, make sure that fuel filter and fuel line is not too close to the exhaust, don't want any fires.

I would start by spray everything with concentrated simple green, let it soak and hose it off. Then figure where you need the elbow grease.

 

Thank you everyone for your input. I believe the "conservation" route is the one I'll take. And One of the inside with the new seat cover (old tore green vinyl underneath).

 

Underhood I see a lot of differences from my 59. Mine has a Holley carb, red valve covers and I don't know what that is on the intake to the left of the carb base, governor? Also not real familiar with the oil bath but don't recognize the thing going in the top, crankcase breather?. Where that union is out of the manifold to the heater hose, you will want a shut off there if you have the standard heater. My original was shot so I used a ball valve.

 

The valve covers look to be painted as the red is showing underneath where the black has flaked off. The galvanized iron pipe plumbing fittings including a union obviously used to replace a corroded heater outlet. Under-hood I would have no issues cleaning things up and repainting the
Firewall inner fenders etc and bringing it back to factory. Interior is pretty decent and would just clean it up. The carb appears to have the original tag on it so that would be nice to have a pic of.
I also noticed this truck has an overdrive an uncommon and desirable option.
I would consider repainting the steering wheel just for aesthetics.
The bit on the left of the carb might the hand throttle attachment.
I have no idea what the bit from the oil cap to the air cleaner is I would venture PCV Fresh air feed but this a couple years too early for the PCV system even in Cali, but that does not mean to say it was not fitted at a later date.

The truck appears to be fully optioned out making it a rare bird for sure. This makes it that much more worthy of sympathetic restoration/conservation.

 

I'll get a better shot of the Carb tag soon.

 

99% sure it is NOT an original carb the original never had an automatic choke like this one does. And it appears that the choke cable is just laying there left of the carb on the intake.

 

Looks like pretty fresh head gaskets and paint on the heads. The carb is a 2100 and I agree, not original but if it works good, leave it alone.