So my daily driver is a simple car right now as the new diesels 250s are just too expensive to replace cranking miles on the, so mine stays home most days (60-80 miles per day). Im debating fixing my 66 F-100 up and making it a daily driver as something fun to drive vs just a car. So here's what I'm thinking as a plan, let me know your thoughts or anything else you would add

Rebuild on the motor and swapping to EFI, (not sure if its a 352 or 390) haven't started it in years
Current trans is a manual 3 speed plus overdrive
Already converted to front disc brakes, still need to add power brakes to it. Might swap to rear disc as well
Adding one of the classic style A/C kits
New seat and shoulder seat belts
Possibly power steering depending on what all that takes and if I can find the parts to do so (send any links if you have them)
Replacing or fixing gauge cluster
replacing all body/suspension bushing with poly bushings
Not going to worry about any paint but the body is in great shape.

 

I'm thinking about a 74 for the same purpose since I went nuts with my 65. Only thing I'd suggest is an automatic if you deal with stop n go traffic everyday like I do. Can't wait to see what you build!

 

Expect 8-10 miles per gallon on a good day, even with fuel injection. Then figure the cost of the drive.

 

Skip the rear disc brakes...no functional benefit in your case and can actually hurt mpg a midge.

For engine consider
- roller cam and roller lifters for broader power curve but mostly so you can use modern oil for better mpg.
- forged pistons which will allow you to get custom sized pistons to dial in optimum compression as well as utilize modern ring pack = less friction = better mpg and less wear

My stroker FE gets 13 mpg freeway and highway if I keep my foot out it. Not bad with gears for towing. With highway gears and a 390 you should do better. If you have a lot of city then expect 10ish mpg.

 

my '65 shorty with 390 4v, 4spd 4x4 got a consistent 13mpg with 3.50 gears and 31 inch rubber, when I put the new one together I will swap to 3.00 gears and try to improve on that #. I'll let you know.

 

I was getting right at 10 mpg in town with my 352, Autolite 4100, 3.70 rear gears and a 5 speed (I say was because I had to start pulling the trans back out to fix a leak). I haven't had the chance to get it out on the open road yet, but hoping to get at least 15. I would agree that rear discs aren't necessary, but I would consider larger rear drums.

 

Thanks for the reply’s. Noted on the rear brakes and the the cam. Figured I’d go mild on the engine build so it’s a little more daily driver friendly being a short wide. EFI was only to make it a touch more reliable, faster starting vs a good old holly. With the OD trans (guessing as gauges don’t work) last time I drove it at 55-60mph it wasn’t much above idle, granted that was only a few miles as it smokes like crazy. So guessing it might get 10-15 mpg outa it driven correctly hwy. Going to be a fun build and a long time coming. Plus the wife is on board so better take advantage of that one to get it going.

 

I don't know that EFI will make it more reliable but should help rings and such last longer (in theory) by keeping you closer to the ideal air/fuel ratio (i.e. not too lean or too rich). And it should run better from cold starts.

I forgot another good reason for going forged pistons is that you can get the ideal amount of quench...better at reducing spark knock. Cast pistons will work, they're just not available with the little things that help a lot when planning a lot of miles.

If the wife is on board then there ain't no time like the present !

 

I think I'll start by putting some new tires on it, front one is cracked, and getting it to my shop. Sitting at my parents land right now. Have to get you all some pictures of it as well. Little history on this truck when I was 16-18ish I first saw the truck parked in front of this old mechanic shop. Kind of dreamed of what it could turn out to be as my uncle and dad always had 67s 69s and 74s over the years. Finally after a few years of driving past it, the guy put a for sale sign on it. Bought it the next day. Haven't ever had the money or time to really do much with it but dream a little for the past 16 years. Well and the disc brake conversion out of a 74. So now it starts!

 

As a daily driver these trucks are lacking in some fundamental areas. No airbags, no anti-lock brakes, no crumple zones and no collapsible steering column. Tough to add most of that stuff but if you drive it with those things in mind then you might remain on your toes ready for anything. Traffic varies a lot in different areas, too. Los Angeles traffic goes from zero to 80 and back to zero sporadically and frequently. Seattle is not quite as bad, but things can change in a hurry at times. But, if you live in the boonies or get away from populated areas then it becomes nearly relaxing to drive the old iron.

I like my newer truck for a daily driver around here, plus it is a diesel so I get at least 18 MPG everywhere I go. About 22 MPG doing mostly freeway driving. I can drive from Seattle to Bozeman, MT on one tank full.

 

That's the one nice thing about Oklahoma our worse traffic isn't as bad as your daily traffic on a good day in LA or Seattle. Typically I run the highways around town averaging 60-65 mph occasionally there's a wreck that will slow me down. My work lets me stagger my time a little so I miss most of the rush hour traffic. If it ever came to a bad wreck Id rather be in a 66 than a small car with airbags any day. I'll still have my 250 to use on days I need longer trips or 4 doors. While I know it wont have modern features I don't think it will bother me too much, but one sure way to find out. I wish it ran better than it did currently, as I would add power brakes, tires, few new suspension parts and drive it for a few months just to see how it would go but at this point be luck if it starts back up after sitting. Once I get it to the house I'll go through the carb (Im sure its nice and gummed up) and see if it will start back up just to check.

 

Having daily driven almost everything Ford produced in the mid-sixties ('61 to '66), I'd have no qualms setting off in a decently maintained one today, like my own '66 F-100.
Sure, power everything is nice, but it's not necessary, as millions upon millions of cars and trucks have proven.
Modern life makes ya soft, I guess.
Citroën used to advertise their 2CV along the lines of 'if it's not there, it cannot break', and I subscribe fully.
I've never had a power steering hose break in a car with manual steering.
Never had to worry about stopping if the engine quit.
You get the idea.
On CL, there was, last week, a running '59 Galaxie two door Town Sedan listed for $2000. If I only had room, I'd rock that daily. Without mods, just new brakes all 'round. By "new", I mean new linings, NOT NOS or NORS, but actual new manufacture with the latest upgraded material.
Of course, it's your truck, you do what you want.

Me, I'll rock the stock.

P.S. I worked for Wonder Bread just before they went under. That company did not believe in automatic transmissions nor power steering. We had a few women driving those trucks in the city of Chicago. When I'd have a guy walk in to the parts store I worked at after, and start whining about how hard his car was to steer because a PS component broke, can you imagine what I wanted to say to him?? Not to mention that the FIRST car my grandmother had with power steering was bought for her 80th birthday.

P.P.S. I don't worry about all those safety features, either. I don't live in fear. I live. I also ride a motorcycle daily.

 

I sure don't disagree with anything you said Cosmo - I drive my 1966 F250 4x4 at freeway speeds in rush hour heavy traffic as long as everyone else is flowing along, too. If it's raining out, which is somewhat common around Seattle, then I give a bit more room to the person in front of me. And the Dodge Ram with Hydroboost if the engine dies then you do loose steering and brakes. And that truck with the massive diesel in it and no power steering is nearly impossible to steer. It's way harder than my F250 4x4 trucks without power steering to even make a moderate turn if the engine isn't running. I do hate that about it.

My wife was in my red truck with me on one occasion we were going to pick up some plants. Doing about 45mph on a 2 lane blacktop when a rabbit dashed across the road just in front of me. I swerved and corrected and no issues - other than I think my wife did not like the feeling of just the lap belt at that moment.That's been the only time.

 

Prior to 1951, there was no such thing as P/S, and the only car that had it in 1951 was the Chrysler.

The P/S was so easy to turn, that you could use your pinkie finger. A feat when you consider these cars weighed over 4,000 lbs. and had 8.20-15 bias ply tires.

People complain that their trucks don't have P/S, so they swap it in.

In the 1920's, my grandmother owned a Cunningham 7 passenger touring, a HUGE car that weighed over 6,000 lbs. While Cunningham built some cars, they were better known for their hearses.

She had no problem driving it or the Packards, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles she drove prior or later. Her first car with P/S was a 1952 Oldsmobile.

 

"No airbags, no anti-lock brakes, no crumple zones and no collapsible steering column"

If you don't hit anything, non of that matters. I've been driving cars and trucks from the 50's and 60's since the 60's. They all served me well.

Eric