I just bought a '72 F-100 in need of some work (of course

I have questions about a lot of things, and am looking to make some new friends (at least ones that know a thing or two about working on old trucks!)

If anyone out there would like to help I'd really appreciate it

My first questions will be about wheels, tires, and surface rust....

anyone? anyone?

If you'd reply to my email MelancholyBrat(No Email Addresses In Posts!)....it would make things much easier!

Thanks,

Aubree

 

Ask your questions on here. That is what this place is all about, and everybody can put their 2 cents in, and somebody later may do a search and find the info they need in your thread.

 

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...and who knows, you may even make a friend or two. :-)

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Thanks guys

I didn't realize that you could be notified by email when someone replies to a posting until I wrote out my first message

I guess my first questions are going to be about tires, wheels, and a haynes or chiltons manual.

First let me say that this truck is in pretty good mechanical condition.

It has the original motor (an inline six), tranny, and has about 120,000 miles on it.

I plan to customize this truck......(I am a huge fan of restoring to original, but to make a long sad story short...my Daddy passed in '99, and his baby ('53 Effie)....was getting close to being restored......(This is where I learned the handful of knowledge about working on cars).....UNFORTUNATELY my wicked stepmother called a year later and said she'd sold it....didn't ask me if I wanted to buy it (I live far away from her).......So I'll eventually find his truck and that's the one I'll make perfectly original!

So back to my wheels and tires.

Right now it has (I think) 15 or 14 inch wheels.....it's got the original hubcaps so if anyone can tell me what size they are I'd like that Or at least how to measure them

I want to put BIG wheels and tires (ok not outrageous...but nice wide and tall ones.....

I want to lift this truck a bit....nothing crazy, somebody said a 3 inch body lift??? But I also want the bed a little higher than the front...that same person said something about it having 3 "leaves" in the back (like under the wheel well).....what the hell are those? This person (my neighbor) said I could find 8 leaf thingys at a junkyard maybe????

Okay I am a total newbie.....and lost, lost, lost!!!

Any help?

(I'll move on to rust as soon as I get some pictures loaded and on a website to make it easier for someone to give advice

BTW....where can I get a Haynes or equivalant manual??

I think I need to bleed some air out of the brake lines and I need some help there

 

Aubree, This is my advice. Stopping is more important than going. Safety must always come first. Use the right tools and jack stands. Get your truck running and back on the road first. After driving it a while you will know if you really want to raise it or spend big bucks building it. A nice set of wheels will really set the old truck out. Try 235/60 R15's in the front, and 265/60 R15's in the rear. The front of this truck is wider in the front so the backset on the front rims is about 1 1/2 inch greater than on the rear. You will sort it out. And install a Pertronix ignition system for about 100 bucks. Add a nice CD player, maybe disk brakes, power steering, flow masters, window tint "ah yes how sweet it is".
William in Atlanta

 

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In addition to William's advice, I would add that you should get a set of Ford Shop manuals. These are available at the online store here on this website (see menu at the right). The Ford manuals are by far the best.
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[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 02-Oct-01 AT 01:33 PM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks William

The truck was driven daily....and runs really well.

The guy that I bought it from had new brake shoes put on about six months ago (paperwork inc.) but there is still a lot of give when breaking (that's why I guessed they needed bled)....either that or it's the master cylinder (something I know nothing about )

I agree about safety first I just bought it last night and don't plan on driving it very much until I have checked everything (That's what my '00 Camaro is for (I know I have a Chevy and I'm posting on a Ford board (It's really my husband's (I was born and bred FORD!!!)

The tires are in good shape....but I would just feel more comfy with bigger ones (They look so tiny under this truck )

I was hoping to find a good set of used wheels in my area (NW Fla.).....but I didn't know what size or if I'm going to lift it should I wait.

Could anyone explain (in simple terms ) what the numbers on a tire size mean?? You said 235/60 R15's Does the R stand for Rim (15 inch?) and what do 235 and 60 mean??

Okay I feel really dumb now so I'll go back out and take some pics of the engine (I just did a roll of everything else )

Thanks

 

Thanks StockMan

Buying now

Aubree

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 02-Oct-01 AT 02:00 PM (EST)[/font][p]Okay make that "trying to buy"

Geez which one????

Is there a general one for the truck?? I can't seem to find it.....

Help

Aubree

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 02-Oct-01 AT 01:58 PM (EST)[/font][p]P235/60/#/r/15
P=passenger car tire (an LT here means light truck which is a heavier duty tire.

235=235mm tread width

60=aspect ratio which means sidewall height relative to tread width. So the sidewall of this tire is 60% of 235mm or approx 141mm.

#=sometimes there is a letter here for a speed rating. The high performance cars use a v or z rated tire. H is a little lower and most normal tires are s.

r=radial tire

15=15 inch rim

 

Thank you franklin2!!!

Very explanatory!!!



You guys are great!

Aubree

 

I just looked at the tires on my truck....

They're BF Goodrich Trail TA......

P225/75/R15

They look too small for it

So should I go with new wheels and tires that are bigger?

Okay how's this....what besides checking out and fixing the brakes should I be doing first to this thing??

I really want to get bigger and better tires (I would just feel safer if they were bigger)

I'm going to lay some carpet pieces on the floor right now......it has ugly green **** carpet tossed in there and it smells like puke eeeeeeewwwww!

The bench was refurbished a year ago and looks brand new.

I'm so glad for this board!

Thanks,

Aubree

 

Sounds great that you want to totally restore this truck, I've been working on my '68 for 2 years and will probably never completely finish, but then what would I have to do? Start another project? Anyway, have your checkbook (I prefer a debit card) handy when you start, because you'll be popping off checks right and left...especially if you want to install new rims, tires and a lift, plus you'll need a lot more power to turn those bigger meats...get the picture?