Hello everyone.

This is is my ‘70 F100. 302, (no clue what the trans is, someone cut a hole through the floor pan and did something weird). I’d saying for being almost 50 years old, it’s not in terrible shape. At least it runs and drives. I want to do a frame off resto at my house. I’ve seen the forums, the YouTube videos etc. Honestly I’m just not sure where to start. Any suggestions, tips, info would be appreciated.

Came me from Norfolk VA, ordered to Charlotte, NC. I picked it up in South Carolina for a thousand dollars. It is a style side, long wheel base, has a clutch (assuming it had an original three speed). Cab mounts are gone, bed rails are shot and sitting on wood. Frames in great condition. Original seats in it. Grille is shot. At least the wiper motor still works. Can provide more pics. Thanks everyone.

 

Well if your doing a frame off, start tearing into it , pull the dog house off an yank tranny an motor ,, pull the bed ,,then depending on how much room you have set the cab off ,,I did frame and front end and drive train first, of course you may run into many small things to repair as I did but , got it completed,,engine tranny rebuilt ,,front end rebuilt ,,,all sitting on a painted frame , exhaust done everything as you have room to do it with body off,, and now working on cab body work an floors as cab will go on first as it goes back the way you disassemble it

 

Welcome to the Forum "Aj1290". I would suggest before you start taking things off, a good power wash. It will let you see the condition of the parts better, and it will make handling them easier too. Once you get the parts off, clean and at least primer the metal parts. Take lots of pictures as you take things apart. Bag and label the nuts, bolts, and small parts. A silver permanent marker will become your friend in the future. And, let us watch!

 

Thanks allot for the info

 

Thanks allot for the info guys. I will be sure to document everything. I think I’m going to get one of those sandblasting kits from harbor freight and try to do the cab/bed/fenders. Maybe I’ll just hire someone to do it and just do the frame myself? Should I keep stock suspension front/rear and just add power steering? I think I’m going to have the original 302 block honed and planed, rebuild with stock parts, then bolt on aluminum heads, change cam etc. I am also going to put in a T5 or T56, haven’t decided yet. I do want to keep the original stylish look. I have thought about making it a 4 wheel drive but I’m not sure if it’s possible? Do I keep the Ford 9 inch and gears? I do t even know how to do sheet metal but I sure as hell am going to try. Thanks again

 

I think you have a very good platform to start with for a restoration project. It appears to be straight and at least from the photos, I don't see the usual rot on the cab corner.
On my 70' I did find one bit of frame rot on the cross member under the engine that is in need of a patch weld but I suppose that isn't so bad. The rest of it was fairly rot free just a bunch of dents on the fenders and hood. Yours is definitely in better condition than mine. I'll be watching for your updates and I hope you have a trouble-free project.

 

So far all good information. I hope you have a lot of room, time & money to do this. Did I say you need money?

So you know where I am coming from I have a 81 F100 flare side I am doing a cab off frame rebuild / rest-o-mod to look factory stock. It will be a driver not a trailer queen.
I started with 2 81 F100 trucks, the parts truck a 8' style side that rolled over, less doors, motor, tail gate and the radio / heater panel.

Plan was to use the best parts from each and replace anything not good.
I did not need to rebuild the motor (300 six) just reseal it, trany (T18 granny low) or rear axle (9"). Everything else did need to be rebuilt because I found the parts truck had the wrong wheel bolt pattern so kingpins / front suspension could not be swapped because of the after market wheel I have.

When stripping the truck I used zip lock baggies to "bag" everything and marked it with a sharpie what it was and how many like screws for the dash, etc.
Larger parts I put into rubber maid bins that have lids so they can be stacked, saves room. The parts that went in them were tagged what truck it came off of so I knew later. I should have marked the bins but did not.

The cab was put on horses to work on. Replaced the floors, rockers, cab corners, part of the rear door posts and the inner & outer lower left door for body panel replacement.
The frame was stripped, degreased and wire brushed before painting, remember its a driver. Got it back as a roller (this when I found out about the suspension / wheels) and dropped the motor & trany, degreased and painted, back in the frame. Once the panels on the cab were seam sealed and 2 coats of bed liner top & bottom it was placed back on the frame. Did I say I also swapped out the firewall so I could have AC as part of the cab rebuild? Again everything was gone over before it went back on the frame / cab like the dash fixed and painted and the inside of cab painted before it went back in.

Part of the mods are using the style side metal floor in place of the wood floor on the flare as I had nothing when I got the truck other than the sides & fenders.
I added duel tanks using parts for the other truck, glassed in the 2nd fuel door to look factory stock.
The last is adding fog / driving lights into the front bumper.

I have done all the work myself other than machine work for the kingpins. If I had to pay someone to do all this work there is no way it would of been done.
I started this Dec of 2015 working on it when I can other than summers as it gets too hot here. I have a little more body work and I can paint the body, factory red & white.
12/30/2015

7/4/2018 note duel gas doors

5/12/2019 lights in bumper and no bolts holding it

I still have a lot to do and buy, did I say you need money, before I can get it on the road and at times I just don't want to look at it because of work still needed.

Have a game plan, things you can do later I would pass on doing now so you can get it back on the road so you don't get like me and don't want to look at it at times.
BTW I paid $800 for the truck. $400 for the parts truck, and have yet to drive it!
Dave ----
ps did I say you need a lot of money?

 

I also want to point out the NC chapter of FTE https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum88/
Bunch of nice people, come on over and join the fun.
If you need a hand and are close enough (and have beer & food) I am sure you can get it.
Dave ----

 

Thanks allot. Fortunately for me the engine and trans leaked so much it put a protective coating all over the frame! Duracoat!!!

 

Thank you for all the generous info! I will take heed.