It's on! We finally found a project to restore. A '66 F100 we bought from a friend of ours who has had it for 25 years. He'd been collecting parts to resto it with his daughter. But she's grown, married , gone and no longer interested. Poor dad, lucky us! :-)


Dusty, rusty and ready for a makeover!


Original 352 Big Block, No leaks anywhere! 92k miles original.


The neighborhood loves us now...no garage to work in...


Not sure of the original color, lots of blue and yellow going on here.


Any suggestions for a shorter steering column? This big momma is snug behind it. Steve put a '76 steering box on it so that's what we need to match unless there is a '66 automatic steering box I could find somewhere. Suggestions?

Over the years, he's collected all additional body parts except a front grill and that piece just above it. (name?)


The extra cab


Extra bed, hood and doors. Fenders are out back already.

He converted it to AT, PS and PB already, so we don't have to do that. We did have to replace a few of the parts because it sat for 10 years. And my brother is a mechanic and won't let us drive anywhere without the right goods. We plan on doing all the frame work (rust removal and POR15), all new wiring harness, any out-of-sight body work (underneath and between the bed and cab, have a pro body guy get the visible stuff ready and our friend will paint for free. We already had it out at my brother's shop for:

REPLACE BRAKE ALL LINES
REPLACED FUEL SUPPLY LINE
REPLACE 2 LEFT REAR EXP PLUGS
TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER Remove & Replace M
CHANGE FILTER, AND PAN GSKT
EXTENSION HOUSING SEAL Remove & Replace M
MASTER CYLINDER Remove, Install, and Overhaul M
BRAKE HOSE Remove & Replace M
WATER PUMP Remove & Replace M
RADIATOR HOSE Remove & Replace M
BATTERY CABLE Remove & Replace M
FRONT SHOCK ASSEMBLY Remove & Install or Remo M
REAR SHOCK ASSEMBLY Remove & Install or Remo M
POWER STEERING PUMP Remove & Replace M
LUBE, OIL, AND FILTER CHANGE
DRAIN AND REFILL CRANKCASE WITH PROPER AMOUNT OF MOTOR OIL, REPLACE OIL FILTER.
LUBRICATE CHASSIS WHERE APPLICABLE.

We already took the bed off and started on the rear frame work:


Love a brother with an engine hoist to borrow!!!


Quite the feat to get it on the roll cart like that!


Think this is shot? :-)


Just before we discovered POR15 stays on your body for a week!


She's got a shiny hiney now!


Before and after.

Next is to paint where that strap is on the back, get her back shoes on and start stripping the new bed and installing it. Then picking parts off the old cab and prepping the other cab for swapping. We are taking a the second week of October off to do that, in hopes we can get that part done that week.

Few questions for the FTE world:

1. I recently had to change the alternator and do have a voltage regulator. Any suggestions on a place to buy a wiring harness for the three post alternator I have? Or should I just get an internally regulated alternator? That's the only wiring harness I can find at Mac's.
2. And boots for the wires attached to the back of the alternator?
3. Should we keep the serial plate from the cab we are taking off, right?

Until next time! Excited!!!!

 

Coil and leaf springs? Is that a factory thing?

Looks like a fun project!

 

I know, right???

There was also a household 110 outlet, romax, coax cable hookup and air shocks. I think someone had a camper in it. :-)

 

That is a very cool and fun project! And a complete truck too. I have a '64 that has a factory coil and leaf rear end too. Mine was a farm truck that never had a camper. Good luck on your project and keep posting updates and pictures!

 

Thanks, Doug! Are your coils clamped on with u-bolts, too? Not sure if mine are factory. I read the 352 was a low geared truck for farming. Keep me out of the radar gun's sights for sure. lol

 

Yes, my coils are clamped on just like yours. Yours appear to be exactly like mine which are factory. From the little bit I can see of the differential housing, it appears you have a Ford 9" rear end. I'm guessing it has 3.89 gears in it like mine does. My truck had a 292 V-8 with automatic from the factory, but, it had been removed before I obtained the truck. I'm installing a 1971 Ford 429 Big Block with a C6 automatic transmission in it. Mine won't be done until next summer.

 

I'm jealous that you can use POR-15 where you are. I cannot find anyone who can sell it in California.

 

Not sure of the gears yet but it's a Ford 9" 28 spline. I have a buddy who builds them for racing and eyeballed that much for me. SA-WEET on your 429!!! Keep us posted on it.

 

The rear helper coil springs are not factory installed - they are add-on overload springs that were widely available and still are. The stock rear on a 1964 F100 4x2 would only have leaf springs. They did offer an auxiliary spring but it was a separate stack of leaf springs.

Chad

 

Chad, I misspoke. The coils were dealer installed on my truck. The original owner had them put on before he took delivery of it new. Sorry.

 

Well this should be entertaining for sure. Look forward to the progress and wacky humor.

 

No!
No rear coil springs were factory installed on any year Ford F series truck.

Upper pic: 1964 F100 2WD // Lower pic: 1965/72 F100 2WD

Where are the coil springs, no see um.

 

Looks like you have a great start, good luck!!! Pat

 

That thing is gonna be sweet! I look forward to seeing your progress!

 

Looking forward to seeing the progress! What was attached to the windshield inside of the cab?