Well, this looks like the place to be... I've searched and lurked a couple forums and this place is packed and active... woo-woo!

I aquired a `55 F-100 last week. Bought in Oklahoma. It's for me and my son to bond over, and for him to use once he gets his licence (next Fall). It's a solid truck, with an amature refurbishment. Fairly stock, though it has a 292 (which I learned today from this forum is non-stock) and a Granada rear end.

I'll be posting routinely here with what I learn and what I need to know, as I have been active on the other forums of car I've restored. I was looking for an attachment function that I thought I read about that would let me upload a pic, but I guess I miss-read the FAQ section.

I'm still in the evaluation process with my phity five. I had forgotten how the gears grind on these old three-on-the-tree trucks. I'm concerned that mine grinds too much into first and/or reverse... bad throw-out bearing, poor clutch adjustment, high rpms... though 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd go just fine.

My only other disappointment is the fit of the drivers door... leaves an air/water gap at the upper right corner below the drip rail. If I try to eliminate that gap, then the A-pillar gap binds up and the fender-to-door gap looks crooked. Does this sound like poor accident repair, or are these beasts prone to mis-alignement?

Anyway, I'm glad to be on board and will hopefully pull my own weight. Any feedback is appreciated. Be gentle.

Brian

BTW: Here is a link to project cars I either currently have or have had but sold. I'll add the `55 soon. http://groups.msn.com/HobbyPics/pictures

Later.

 

Welcome! This is the mother lode of the Ford pickups on the net; glad you found us.

 

Phity,

first... welcome glad to have you here..

as for posting pics , our moderator/keeper has posted a sticky at the top of the forum on just that subject

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=397585

it will fill you in...

once you figure that part out post some pics in your soon to be created album
we promise to be gentle at first... till we know you can take it I'm sure with your experience you can teach us a few things...

don't be shy about asking questions... I'm sure you know the old saying about dazzling them with brilliance.... we got the second part of that covered...

have fun

john

 

Brian -

Welcome to FTE!

Sounds like a stock tranny to me.

My 56 has a very similar door gap problem. The solution (which I have not done yet) will be to grind the other edges of the door down to allow it to slide up and reduce the door jamb/seal gap properly. Then weld the skin edges that were ground and dress them smooth. And yes, that's the way a lot of Effies are. Probably not a repair glitch. These were working trucks. We are the idiots that want them to have perfect fits.

I think you need to be on the forum for a while to post pictures. Set up your gallery as soon as you can. We like those a lot.

As gently as I can (today) - RJ

 

Welcome Phity! You won't find a better forum for your truck. Look forward to seeing a few pics....

Fox

 

Welcome Brian and son, doors are sometimes adjusted by closing them on a 2x4 to move the tight spots to where the gaps are. Normal for these trucks is that the doors fit so snug that new rubber seals have to be shaved down to close the doors. What part of MI are you from?

 

Welcome aboard!

Some grinding into 1st and Rev is to be expected, but it would be worth a little investigation to see if it is benign or fatal, before you do much more on the truck ($$). I'd drain the oil thru a filter, look for chunks or filings. Pulling the side cover off the tranny isn't a huge job, and you can quickly see if sloppy PO's (previous owners) have been jamming the gears (chipped teeth, etc). Also you'll find out if the oil is the proper weight, light oil will let the gears spin more even with the clutch pushed in.

 

Phity

I'm not up to date on the newer models like yours, I'm more into the classics.
That said the repair manual for the 48-52 shows the proper door adujustment using a ballpeen hammer inserted near the hindge and slamming the door shut.
My Dad showed me that back in the late Fifties and I've been using it ever since.

Welcome aboard, by-the-way

 

Phity, I can see right now that you'll fit right in here. You ain't got the sense you were born with! You SOLD the 427 Cobra???? Did you at least keep the 427 to put in your truck?

 

Well Brian, you've met some of the regulars, you still want in?

I'll add my welcome to theirs and encourage you to set up your gallery. If you read the sticky thread that John mentioned, you'll hopefully be posting photos from your gallery soon. I see you've already become a Club FTE member. That makes it a lot easier.

If you have any questions about your truck's stock equipment, look for the rating plate and post all the info you find there. We'll either decode it here for you or give you some links so you can decode the info yourself - your choice. If the rating plate is missing, you can find the VIN stamped on top of one of the frame rails ahead of the cab.

 

Welcome aboard!

As far as your tranny goes, it sounds like it's ok, 1st and reverse are probably not synchronized, like my 51's 3 speed. I've learned that to avoid scraping, never try to shift into 1st or reverse while the truck is rolling, it's gonna grind. Also, say if you pull up to a light and put it in neutral and let the clutch out while waiting, when the light turns green don't shift straight from neutral into 1st to take off, go to 2nd or 3rd then into 1st and then let the clutch out. Seems like it helps reduce grinding too. Hopefully you won't have any tranny problems, just have to adapt to driving it a little different.

Scott

 

welcome aboard, I have seen a lot of doors with the same problem that you are describing. There are various fixes all of which seem to work out in the end. these trucks were originally built with all the inconsistency humanly possible, like Randy says we are the guys who want them to fit. good luck

 

Ditto on the newer stuff!!!

Brian, note that the ballpeen hammer is a surrogate for the aforementioned 2X4. Obviously, the idea is to kind of "warp it" back into position.

Kind of like I did on my bed. When trying to fit the tailgate I discovered that the passenger side of the bed side was actually about 3/4" pushed in so the fit to the tailgate was too narrow and the tailgate didn't fit. I was also in paint.

Solution--a piece of old carpet, a block of 2X6 and a sledge. Three good whacks straightened it right out!.. Carpet kept me from scratching the paint.

These old trucks sometimes require imagination and improviseation (sp?) to keep on the road and/or repair. With your intimate knowledge of the rule of "righty tighty--lefty loosey" you will find this board very helpful on make specific questions.

Welcome aboard! You have found the right place with alot of very helpful folks.

Tim

 

Thanks folks for the kind welcome, encouragement, and info. I feel warm and fuzzy now, which should get me through my initial "stew and brew" session this weekend when I address the doors and windows.

Like with my T-bird restoration there seem to be a bazzillion places to obtain parts... and THAT my friends is a very good thing. This was not the case with my `62 Lincoln.

I created a "gallery" today, and hope to populate it soon, and will update my profile a little. Some one asked what part of Michigan... I'm in Grand Rapids.

Let's see if I can post a pic this time.... Later yal, and thanks again for the welcome.

 

Nice truck! Welcome to FTE.

The gear grinding thing sounds like you're rolling while trying to shift into 1st or reverse. As was said, they are not syncronized, so that's normal. 2nd and 3rd have syncro gears.

I also have a non-original 292 in my truck, but I don't feel too bad about it because it's "period correct" for the 50's and gives the truck a unique exhaust sound.