I am starting restoration on my 1961 F100 Unibody and I need hellp. Starting from the ground up. I am doing this in my little 2 car garrage. I have my truck torn apart in 400 million pieces. I got this truck almost 10 years ago from a freind in my home town Kannapolis N.C. home town of Dale Earnhardt. I was in the Navy at the time of purchase and the truck just sat untill October when I was able to drive it to Orange Park, Fl where I currently reside. On my way the rear main seal blew, throwing oil all over the clutch and burning two valves. Since I didn't know antthing about rebuilding engines this was a huge wrench in my gears, I promply took an engine rebuilding class at the local college two years later and I am on my journey. This truck has a 1966 289 which is built with some midrange upgrades bored .030 over, mag bronze valve guides double coil racing springs, reworked and shot peened the rods with new pistons and an RV CAM. I drove the truck for a while used it to move and decided since it is a keeper, try and really make it a hot rod and give it the attention it deserves.It has took me this long to gear up to where I am now which is really not that far. My problem has a little to do with just getting the tools, tourches stick, mig and tig welders. I am a machinist by trade and I am teaching myself to weld by working on fabricating a smooker/cooker before I start welding on my truck. I want to make this truck a daily driver/mild sporty hot rod and one of my biggest questions right now is about front clips. What make and year to look for and about installation. I am really just looking ahead right now There is still a lot of structural welding and body work left to be done. I have a ton of questions about how to treat the frame. The motor was to high from a modified cross member and it had a three speed. I have learned how to lower the moter by modifying the cross member and I am going to put an automatic in it. As you can see I am over whelmed, but I am taking my time trying to organize and do this right. Hope I have not bored you with this story. Signed crazy shadetree tinkering fool trying to get his ducks in a row, Mark C. Richardson

 

Mark I have a Volare clip in mine there are many other ways to go. I put the volare in because thats what was available to me in my price range. For welding practice take two 2"x2" pieces of angle iron 12" long weld them together like this >< then fill each channel in the different positions flat right to left, flat left to right, vertical, then overhead. By the time it's a 2" square bar you'll be pretty good at it.

 

Thanks for your reply, I can use all information I can get like that. If I could ask what year is the front clip in your truck. I also checked out your truck, very cool, liked the flames. Mark C. Richardson

 

Mark, Welcome to FTE! We enjoy a good story and I bet this one has a happy end. Hang around here you will find a wealth of knowledge and experience and people willing to share it. Uni's are special. I saw a shorty on a late model Ford 4x4 frame. This truck sat a normal ride height, had regular hub caps and other than the fact that it just looked like a nice old Ford nothing special. Nothing special until you realize that this truck is over 40 years old, was only made for a couple of years, has a modern fuel injected motor and Air conditioning. I was not able to talk with the Owner, but it looked like this would be a very reasonable swap.

 

Mark the front end came out of a 1980 Mirada, the engine is a 302 81-86, the tranny is an SROD alunimum case 4spd O/D, and a 3.50 gaered traclock 9" out back. I'm in the process of putting a fuel tank from a dodge caravan where the spare used to go. It holds 28 gal. This tank won't work for a short bed. Feel free to ask anything and don't worry about rambling we all do it. All the work has been done outside in my driveway or next to it. Good luck, Rich.