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Sharing some pictures of what I am doing to bring my Dad's F100 back from the grave.
1) painting the frame with POR-15, focusing on getting a small area as clean as possible, then painting, and then moving on to another small area.
2) The original engine. I spent a lot of money at the machine shop and put it together myself. The valve covers were a splurge purchase when I was 19 and now they have a home.
3) Cleaning and inspecting the SROD gearbox. Looks to be in great shape.
4) Needed a non-smog carburetor because I removed the smog equipment from the engine. I got a 2100 for $25 and got a rebuild kit. Boiled it in a pot with a tide pod and brushed the grease off with an old toothbrush. Did a great job.
Looks like it had the classic front body mount rust out. The rear cab mount brackets like to rust out like that also. You can't tell it by crawling under and looking at it.
Yeah, has rust in a lot of typical places but not too bad. Nothing I can't fix with a torch, grinder, and a welder. Think when I finish the frame paint I'll try to redo the brakes, but not sure yet. I sure do want to get that motor running.
Priming new to me core support. Core support installed with body panels. Panel gaps are a little crude. I used some large washers to get everything gapped roughly where I wanted them. The hood is still catty-wampus but I'll fix it next opportunity. Finding front clip hardware... I decided I did not like the condition of most of the screws for the headlight buckets so I put the 2 good best ones on driver's side and left everything out of the passenger. It needs a new turn signal housing anyway.
Engine, transmission, and radiator in truck. Lost bracket to mount PS pump. Bought one from a 1973 on eBay and had to modify it so the pump could swing far enough to tension the belt. Everything is almost ready for a first start up. Installed new U-joints and bolted on drive shaft. Had to get an new alternator.
Turned out the wires I bought were not for a points style distributor cap so I had to make my own. First time I have had to make my own wires so that was interesting - note how long #8 wire is. Thinking I need to make a list of things to go back and work on once my bank account can heal and the truck is actually in my driveway and not my buddy's.
Found new hardware for headlight buckets, done. Coolant in engine, new battery cables, starter, solenoid, turn signal housing, master cylinder, and etc.
Last edited by Oldgreen100; Dec 24, 2023 at 10:58 AM.
Reason: Adding info.
Nice progress, don't forget the shroud for the fan.
Oh, did you make sure you put the spring in the lower radiator hose ?
What's that random wire going from the firewall to what looks like something under the heater hoses on the heater box in the last photo, it's going over the valve cover?
Big gauge? I was still working on the battery cables when I took that most recent picture.
The new rad support and rad are for an '85. Seems the shroud for an '82 attaches differently so I still need to figure that out.
Appreciate the tip about the spring - I did not forget it. I will say though that trying to optimize every other weekend isn't the greatest for doing a good job. I think next time I'm up there I'm going to spend a day going through everything before cranking it up.
Last edited by Oldgreen100; Dec 24, 2023 at 01:32 PM.
Reason: Adding info
You must be single. Cannot imagine my wife allowing me to boil a carb, in Tide, on the kitchen stove.....
That said, I may do that using an old pot and an induction heater out in the garage.
Yes use an old pot, she wants a new set of pots take the old ones for the garage.
Same goes for the knives and old cutting board.
As for the boiling water you do it when the wife it out. Same for using the over to bake manifolds to cure paint.
You just send her to a spa day
You know that old dish washer you replaced because the door gasket leaked or did not drain take it and use it to wash parts.
If your garage is part of the house and you are going to do any painting on it do it when the wife it away for the weekend so you can air out the house LOL
Dave ----
You must be single. Cannot imagine my wife allowing me to boil a carb, in Tide, on the kitchen stove.....
That said, I may do that using an old pot and an induction heater out in the garage.
Thank you!
Bachelor life . I worked with an old coot who claimed to have rebuilt a 389 GTO engine in his living room, so I figure the carburetor in the kitchen isn't so bad haha.
Works great man! I did have to hit it with an old toothbrush but probably the most effective method I know of to date. I figured it was about as close I could get to a hot tank on short notice. I read hot tanks use hot alkaline solution so boiling water and strong soap seemed right.
Started truck up for the first time to break in the cam. Runs strong and can break in was successful, but has a rear main seal leak (first time doing a 2 piece) and putting a small amount of coolant in the oil. Also my homemade spark plug wires (I was in a pinch) like to unplug themselves. Been advised to recheck the torque on the intake manifold gasket, as that's a likely culprit. Proud of my work though. This picture is the next day after I installed a different cap and rotor and stock plug wires.
Thanks a bunch for the link. Did some brake work a few weekends ago. Having a hard time finding calipers for a 4,600lb GVW truck. Did run some new brake lines though. And bench bled the master cylinder.
. I worked with an old coot who claimed to have rebuilt a 389 GTO engine in his living room, so I figure the carburetor in the kitchen isn't so bad haha. 
