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Hello. I have been reading various forums for quite awhile and felt it was time to open and account and post.
I am fortunate to have just given my great grandfather's 1973 F100. I am moving across country at the end of the year and this will be the brought along with me. It will likely be my main neverending hobby outside of work.
It is an interesting story. Just prior to his retirement, he was notified that he could no longer drive his company truck to and from his residence. On a whim and mostly out of spite, he immediately went and purchased any new truck they had on the lot. He ended up with this inline 6, 3 on the tree, 2wd, that is geared quite high. Since he was retiring, the truck did not receive much use and never really towed anything. It was not the ideal truck for his purposes but it is a testament to his personality.
The truck bounced around with a few family members where it has mostly sat for roughly 10 years....it has just over 60K miles. I asked them to sell it to me if they ever elected to part with it which is how it ended up with me. My family explained the transmission has quite a few issues. It is believed by grandfather often rested his arm on the shifter and likely bent the fork. Either way, after sitting for over 10 years it is likely going to have some few issues.
This past year, I have been researching as much as possible about how to approach the project and what to do. The goal is to get this running before I do much else to it. I have not tried to turn it over yet or really messed around with it much. I am thinking I would like to keep the inline 6 as opposed to immediately throwing a 302 in it as some have recommended but am open to suggestions. That being said, I will not know the status of everything until opening it all up. In regards to the transmission, it is a mess right now and will likely need the most attention. I do not know if I want to keep the column shift or switch it up eventually but am hoping for some advice. The truck was never driven on salted roads and the only rust spots we have found so far are the bottom of the driver side door.
I appreciate anything people are willing to share. This will be a fun one getting back on the road.
Personally I would keep the inline 6, fix the trans and drive it!
If you were planning on changing to floor shift I would consider a 5 speed swap. The 300 six shares and bellhousing with the small block ford so there are a few options for transmission swaps.
Step 1 is to get it running and driving. If you try to fix everything before getting it driving, it will sit there forever.
Drain the gas, look for signs of a rusty gas tank. Possibly replace the tank. Get fresh gas.
Change the oil.
Charge the battery.
Put a squirt of fuel in the carb and try to start it.
If it doesn't run we can take it from there.
Once the engine is running we can try to figure out what might be wrong with the transmission.
Definitely check the brakes, new pads and shoes, maybe rebuild or replace the calipers, grease the bearings (or replace if they are in bad condition) while you are there, replace the soft lines, put all new brake fluid in, and bleed.
That's a good weekend's worth of work.
I'd keep the I6, those things are bullet proof. If you decide to do a swap one day, I wouldn't swap in a 302. Maybe a 351, better a 390 or 460.
What they said is good so far.
First see if the motor turns over by hand because if it does not doing the rest right a way is not needed.
If the motor does turn over then do as they say. Get it running and stopping and see what is up with the transmission.
Now if the motor does not turn by hand you then have to decide to stay with the six, I like the 300 six and whats in my 81 F100 driver, or go v8.
I cant see putting money into a motor you may want to go v8 later, best to do it now in my book.
At that point I would also decide if I wanted to do a transmission swap.
Depending on the motor you go with will make what trans you go with.
If you stay small block 300 six, 302 or 351 you can go autos (AOD has over drive and no controller) or 5sp stick with over drive.
If you go with a big block you can still go auto but the over drives IIRC need a controller and they are $$$$. Stick trans in over drive and also be hard to come by for the older FE motors from what I have seen posted.
Any of the sticks with over drive you will need to run a hydrilic clutch set up just something to keep in mind.
A lot depends on what you want to use the truck for, fun driver play toy on weekends or a work truck, money & time you have to build it.
If a weekend driver truck a small block is how I would go and OD stick trans.
Work loaded a larger motor and either auto or stick depending on what I could find at the time.
Good luck on the project and nice looking truck to start with.
Dave ----
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