Hey everybody,

I just picked up a 1974 F-100 from my parents house out in Western Kansas today. They gave it to me in payment for building them a deck while my mom was in the hospital. I think it's a good rescue. I just need to take care of some stuff and it'll be a great truck for day to day driving...well except for the gas mileage. LOL. Here are some pics:










Here's a pic from the interior, but it's through the window.


Here is the only body rust it has. Hope it's easy to fix.



So far this is my list of things to fix/change:

-Clean up that bit of rust on the bed
-Get rid of that dreadful topper.
-Replace the bent front bumper.
-Rebuild heads and replace blown head gasket.
-Tighten up the steering by replacing yoke in the column.
-Replace dash and other parts in the interior.
-Swap out 3 speed auto tranny with a 4 speed auto tranny.
-Replace steel wheels with some nice aluminum wheels.
-Replace rusted out exhaust.
-Fix minor body dents and repaint or polish original paint.
-Replace missing and dull chrome.
-Spray in bedliner.
-Full undercoating.
-And maybe, just maybe, switch the 360 over to fuel injection.

It should be a blast.

 

Welcome to the Missouri chapter. What part of Missouri are you from? Keep us updated on the progress with your truck. It looks like a good truck.

 

That doesn't look like a 74 to me, more like maybe 72... still a good truck all the same.

 

holy cow! That thing's in good shape! Baby it and bring it to life. It has less rust than my 94. Does it even have ANY rust?? That thing's a keeper.

Ryan

 

I'm in the Kansas City area.

I'll have to do some more research. I know there is a question on whether it has a 360 or a 390. The VIN plate on the door says 360, but a family friend swears that the valve covers say it's a 390. Personally, I don't know anything about older Fords so I'm learning as I go.

It had been an Arizona truck for better than 25 years so sun damage on the interior is about the only problems it has other than some minor dings that I may leave just for the heck of it. I always like the idea of what they call a "light restoration". The rust on the side bed seam is the only rust I could find. I'm no body man, but it just looks like minor surface rust to me. That's pretty high on my list of things to fix.

 

I'd say get rid of that camper shell for starters... That thing is ugly as all get-out.

Ryan

 

As soon as I get the head gasket fixed, that fugly thing is going to the dump...unless I can find someone to take it off my hands.


And fellro, you're right. The VIN panel says 05-72 and the title says 1972. I just had it in my head that it was a 74. Oh well.

I tried to edit my original post but it seems that I am not allowed to edit a post once there has been a reply.

 

The shell does need to go. The truck is nice. I like the two-tone color.

 

Thanks. I just need to find some garage space for rent so I can pull the heads this weekend.