Hey everyone I just discovered this site and I must admit that it is awesome, I hope it will be a helpfull asset to achieve the restauration of my truck. I have put a few pictures in my gallerie if you guys want to give it a look and tell me what you think I would appreciate. Right now it has a straight 6, 223 i think.
Im wondering how complicated it would be to swap an 8 inside of it instead.
would this mean i would have to change all the electrical as well. I know someone who can get me a kit eng and trans for 1500$us. But that is probably without all the accesories. Also the shifter has been modified to a floor shift (its not the original tranny) How difficult is it to get it back to a steering shift. Im looking for a step side box so if anyone is aware of one for sale let me know.
another issue that I have is that im wondering what would be the best aproach towards fixing the holes i got inside the door wells ( see my gallerie)
I know I have many questions but hey I gotta get this thing Started and im a newbie so hopefully you guys can help me Thanks!

Mat

 

Mat,
Firstly...welcome to FTE. This IS the best place for info on your 64!!! hands down.
Looks like you have some work ahead of you. By the looks of your pictures you may have some rusted out front cab mounts and rear cab corners. LMC truck and Dennis Carpenter are good places for replacement panels, but I'm not sure if they sell patch panels for the inner steps of a 64 and older truck.
Look through the archives to find info on motor swaps for your truck, but you have to remember that your truck is a 64 and has the solid front axle making motor swaps a little more difficult due to axle clearance and motor mounts as opposed to the 65 and 66 twin Ibeams. I am also restoring a 64 M100 but am keeping my 223 and 3 on the tree. Good luck with your project, I'm sure some of the experts here can help you through the process.

 

Mat, Welcome to FTE The best truck show on the net.

Looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you. It might take 3 or more trucks to make one good one. Don't be afraid to build a good truck from several donors.

John

 

Mat welcome!, from Alberta.
I am doing a '64 too.
From the looks of the grille and box on that truck, yours is a '63 NOT a '64.
Check the wheelbase number on the VIN tag located on the drivers side door jamb, near the hinges. If you want to put a stepside box on that you would normally need a truck with a 114 or 115" wheelbase. I bet yours is bigger, more like 120" or 121".
You can do it by moving the fenders back on the box, maybe.
A 292 Y block would be one of the easier swaps into that truck, since it was the V8 option for that year.

Those step wells and the curved part to the front are available as patch pieces from Carolina Classics, and other places.

The six might not be a bad option if your gas prices are anything like ours, 92 cents a litre here, 94 in Calgary!

Welcome aboard and good luck!
RF

 

Hey Ringo i just uploaded a pic of my vin# in my profile it is different than all the ones that ive seen on the web. the registrations from the guy I bought the truck said it was a 64 but I know that mistakes can be made. If you or anyone knows the answer i sure would like to know. Thanks Mat

 

I don't know much about M trucks, but your engine isn't a 223. that engine in your picture was used in 65 and up F trucks...

 

Hey Ringo looks like you know how to do your research. so a 63 hey? Looks like ill have to review my course of action. Hope I wont have too many problems installing a stepside on it. The tailgate does indeed say mercury on it but its one like you find on a stepside box (with chains on the sides no handle). I guess ill wait till i strip it down to decide what type of engine ill put in her. Are you aware if they are any crate engine and tranny kits that are possible to fit in there.

Thanks Mat

 

Your truck looks like it has the 57-63 styleside model bed on it. That is the same bed as my 64 Ford 4x4 has on it and the tailgate has chains attaching it to the bed also but the tailgates are different than the stepside models. Mercury tailgates are probably the rarest tailgates to find and I would say could be worth their weight in gold due to their rarity. Good luck on your restoration and hope to hear more on your progress. Lewis

 

The 57-63 box, the econoline box and the unibody box have the rarest of all the Mercury tailgates. Do NOT throw that thing away no matter what you do.

RF

 

Hey ringo do you know where i could find a 302 or 351 as well as a tranny.

Thanks Mat

 

Mat. Check your local wreckers, small block Windsor Fords are common as houseflys. Try and get a newer than '85 mustang 302 ideally for 302's, they have a roller cam in them which is a good thing.

351w's, you can get from all kinds of big fords and trucks. They'll probably have to be rebuilt. What city are you near? try the "Bargain Finder" type papers, sometimes a person will rebuild something than decide they are not gonna finish the project or change direction with it and sell thier redone motor.
Best of luck!

RF

 

Im in QC near montreal. Are you aware of anything like that down here?

 

My wife has relatives in Hudson. Heck you live in Canada's second largest City.. there have got to be a few auto wreckers around there...

 

Well things arent looking too good my friend I called the biggest scrap yard in Qc to know if they had an old 351w or 302 and they do not keep anything older than 10 years of age. I asked if he was aware of anyone specializing in that type of buisness and he said no. So it leaves me kind of empty handed here. Im not panicking yet. Mat

 

Maybe try some smaller yards.. that is bizzare... I live in a town pop 70,000 and there are 5 yards I could stop in an but a half dozen SBF's any time..
weird.