Wondering how many folks out there make an effort to keep all the original equipment in their vehicles.

 

Did I leave anything out?

 

well when i got my 75 f150 home, i knew i had to do something with the original 360 so i found a 390 and hopped that up and also found a C6 tranny. So as you can tell i dont care much about the original equipment, i know if i had a vehicle that was worth something i would try to keep at as original as possible.

 

K.L.E.

I believe the first thing that pops into mind for me is this.
When you go to purchase the truck you desire are you looking for one that is exactly the way you want it or in any configuration that you can find it in?

If the former than that means you'll be doing a Classic Resto, the latter means that you'll be doing Major Mods to it.

 

Keylime Express,

These 2 schools of thought have existed since the advent of Automotive History began. . . .

I would tell you this decision is strictly based on what owners want out of a vehicle they own. Some folks are fixated with the past and obsessed with maintaining it in some way or another, and that's fine if that does it for them.

I've been changing and building vehicles for longer than I care to remember because for me it's all about driving them, not staring at them in my own Garage & respecting what used to be.
That's what museums are for to me.

In fact I am presently part of a restoration crew on a 40s USN Fighter Plane that spent the last 60 odd years on the bottom of Lk Michigan. SO it's not that I dislike old stuff, I just don't want to drive old stuff. I don't like how the "old Stuff" drives, for starters.

Safety used to be something on firearms until recently. The Old technology was marginal, in terms of safety. I like to be able to accelerate, handle, corner, stop, and feel comfortable doing it.

Having said that, when I buy or acquire a vehicle for myself I put a lot of wieght on how buildable/ upgradeable it is. I reccomend my clients develop a personal objective then we build or restore their vehicle accordingly to meet that.

I'll build anything anybody is willing to pay for if it's Ford Based, and if I like the vehicle to start with. The rest of the world will just have to go someplace else.

I know in pure economic terms a Well thought out and designed, engineered, built & upgraded early Ford Truck is worth far more, to far more people that a faithfully restored OEM Stock one is. I'd put that at almost a 8 or 10:1 ratio generally.

But what I think is not what matters to anybody but me. So there is validity to both sides of this perennial question, and so the question rolls on eternally. . . .

Is that circular logic or what?


FBp

 

So far I have just been trying to get my slicks road worthy and drivable, but always have big plans. The reason I hesitate to chop and swap is because we ARE a museum. My grandpa is from the old school and restores vehicles for our family run museum. My father and I have a love for custom cars and he and I have both built one or two to drive and to use. But my grandpa does not approve. He has barns, sheds, and pastures full of cars and trucks no one in our family will ever be able to touch unless to do a full restore. This includes a good selection of 51-66 Ford/Mercury trucks. I may start by restoring my 64 Merc 4x4 before I build a 66f-100 with better stop and go power for myself. To think I just about cut spring perches on the 4x4 to install 2.5 ton military axles.

 

66M.M.

Understand completely about GranPa's desire for ground up Resto & about yours for customizing for looks & drivablity.
Would you please contact me at col_flashman at earthlink dot net, I've few questions to ask.

Thank'ee
Flashy

 

My 58 is going to be original.My 65 is going to be any combination I can get to work for now.I need an engine and it's proving to be difficult to find a good original replacement.

 

i havea good buildable 223 and a tranny if you are interested.paper-boy919

 

I bought my '62 with a 9" limited slip. PO had at one time yanked out the 292/4 speed with a 302/C4, but later reistalled the original engine/tranny. Unfortunately it needs rebuilding, so I want to go with the 302/C4 since it has to be done anyway.

 

There's been so many mods by previous POs I can't figure if what I got is orignal or not.

 

Isendel


Find the VIN # & the I.D. Plate on the inside of the Dispatch Box door for the Letters & #'s & post them here so they can be decoded.

 

Done that...been there...VIN codes to a 240ci for a 1966 Galaxie, but without pulling pan and looking for codes on the crank, I can't be certain if it isn't a 300ci. Tried measuring stroke by the "pull the spark plug, crank engine from BTDC and measure displcement with a wire placed in the plug" method. Measures 4.25 inch consistently which would suggest to rule out the 240. Harmonic damper has three slotted belt grooves, but that could also be a 240 from a passenger car with power steering. Looks to have EFI heads, certainly not stock with the injectors bolted closed (from a 240 or 300??). Valve cover is from gosh knows when engine. Oil filler cap from 1966 parts doesn't even come close, but a cap from somewhere in the 1980s version does. Take a look in my user gallery for pics of this mystery.

All that said, these old trucks sure are fun