Hey everyone,

I've got a 1954 F100 that has been in my family since it was purchased by my grandfather. My grandfather/dad were um, shall we say, scrappy with this project and there are some frankenstein things that I'm going to need to deal with at some point, but for the most part, the truck is in decent shape. I'll post some photos when I get some time to do so.

My goal? Restore 'Old Blue' to its former glory. Not looking to win a Good Guys competition or anything, but being proud to display it at some local car shows would be good enough for me. While I don't want to necessarily throw money away, I very much am willing to pay for quality, the right parts and for work that people stand behind. In terms of major items I'd like to upgrade: engine, probably a drop in turnkey from someone like Summit. Interior needs a full overhaul, including gauges, A/C (which doesn't exist today), a modern stereo, bed needs to be redone, body work in some places (rust, etc.) and complete paint re-work. Frame-off is indeed an option but I've never really priced out the difference vs. just doing it frame-on.

Decided to join this forum to hopefully learn from some you folks that may have done this sort of thing before, advice, etc. I'm based in the Bay Area, California, for what it's worth in terms of parts, restoration shops and what not, but if there were a reason to travel/bring the truck someplace, that's an option.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and looking forward to learning from all of you!

Lukie45

 

Welcome . You have picked the best , most helpful forum to join . There are many ways to go but I suggest you first try to nail down your intended use and approximate budget . We like pictures .

 

Hey EBEAR - overall use is driving around town to cruise, and show off at local car shows. My budget is somewhere around $100k all-in, ideally less, but in my mind I'm thinking it's going to be around that.

 

Are you looking at doing the work yourself or getting it done?
Part of this will be guided by how you want to drive it and the amount of power that takes. Restored to original or custom? That will guide power options. And suspension options..
And pictures, that would be helpful.
Tons of knowledge here from mild to wild, original to custom.

 

100k 🤔? Seems excessive...maybe you meant 10k 🤷

 

Welcome to FTE

As said a lot has to do with how you want to use the truck and how much of the work you can do based on a place to work on it, tools and skill as it looks like you may have the money part taken care of.

What you want to do dose not sound like a "restore" but a "rebuild" with some mods and that is ok.
To me "restore" means back to factory no changes other than maybe options that you could get that year / model.
Then again what do I know

I did a 4 year, and worked my full time job, cab off frame rebuild of my 81 F100 flare side.
I built it to use, weekly trash to the dump and backup to pull my open deck 20' car trailer, and a nice driver I could and do take to cars & coffee and shows.
Been on the road 5+ years and 28k miles so far.

I have the room, tools and skill to do all the work my self and that shocks some when I tell them even the paint.
I have to bring a photo book for the shows to show.
A frame off makes for a cleaner / nicer job, how do you get to clean & paint the frame & floor under the cab?
Me I had to replace the floors, rockers and cab corners so cab off made sense to me.

The mods I did the factory should have done like dual fuel tanks as a 16 gallon tank is not large enough. I also used a style side metal ribbed floor in place of the wood floor. They want $1000 just for the cross members then you have the wood, metal strips, hardware and up keep of the wood.
I also added fog / driving light into the front bumper, cant buy one with light in it, and shaved the bolts front & rear.

The other big thing was I added Advance Adapter over drive to the 300 six / NP435 granny first transmission.
Truck looks factory stock other than the over drive shift lever inside.
Even after 5 years on the road I get "nice truck" 2 at the dump and 2 others at the eye glass store from woman no less.
I am vary happy with the truck as it dose everything I built it to do.

It sounds like you have about the same plan I did, maybe not a work horse, but to enjoy driving it.
Dont be afraid to try something you have not done before like body work and paint even welding, just know your limits more so for the welding.
Thing is to have fun with the build and build it YOUR WAY. Some may say do this or that and it dose not hurt to hear them out if they say why to do it that way.
But some will not say why. Dose not mean it is wrong but if you want a different way (my 300 six over a v8 is one LOL) then do that.

Sorry it is so long lets see more pictures
Dave ----