I'm just curious what a late 60's f-100 will drive like. Mine has a 3 speed column shift, and I've never driven a manual before. So I'm just wondering exactly what I can expect when I get it running.

 

James, A real pain the butt, until converted to power steering and automatic transmission. ;-)

IMHO of course

John
jowilker@nc.freei.net

66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.

 

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Contrary point of view: I have 66 F250 with I6 240, 3spd manual and non-power steering. It drives like a dream. No need for any of them there high falutent options on this truck. I will concede that mamma saz it sure "looks like work watching (me) drive!"
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http://members.aol.com/tbeeee/page/67registry.jpg


http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee

 

No PS or PB, just part of the fun of driving a piece of history. Maybe when I get old I'll think differently (sorry John, just had to say it)

Nathan

 

Thats alright Nathan, when you and Thom get as old as I am your thinking will change. Thom's one of them hard headed yankees that has been frost bit and his thinking is cloudy at times. hehehe

John
jowilker@nc.freei.net

66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.

 

Come to think of it, it does get chilly here in MI from time to time. Did I mention I like shifting gears, too?

Nathan

 

That's OK, you're still young. Don't get me wrong I like to pick on Thom. He's a pretty good ol joe even though he is showing off all the time with that big blue print and flashing signs. hehehe

John
jowilker@nc.freei.net

66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.

 

For the "Three in the tree," what are the positions again.?

 

When you drive an F250 4X4 20 Miles back on a mud rutted mountain road and then find that you have to do a 20 point turn to get turned around... Well unless you have shoulders a lot wider than mine, power steering is a thing of joy. Not a bad thing on pavement, at least it can be lived with. Off road, yuk!!
Pat
77 F250 4X4
78 F150 W/Overloads
72 Ranger parts truck
79 F250 4X4 (Dream Truck Under Construction)
78 F250 2WD Lariat Donor for the DT.

 

James, I had a 65 f100 352 with a Cruise-o-matic and I thought the truck rode and drove really well. No p/s or p/b. I had never driven a vehicle that old before and it surprised me how well it handled. That was after I took off the 85 series tires and put 275/60/15s on it of course.

 

 

I had to register and reply about the column shift situation when I read Pat's line about a 20 point turn with manual steering:
About 20 years ago my young wife and I were going down this tiny, dirt canyon road about 25 miles from Yosemite Valley in a '68 f-100 long bed. About 1,000 vertical feet from the bottom my bride decided she didn't like the view anymore. So I found the widest spot I could, about 2 feet wider than the truck's length and told her to get out.
Outside, when she understood that I really did want to get as close to the edge as possible, I started to back and fill. Things were going all right until about the 10th rep as I was crosswise in the road looking at nothing but air. I had pulled out till she told me the front tires were on the lip, stuck it in reverse, cranked it once again to the right and started to ease out the clutch. I started to roll forward, thinking I had pulled out a little to far this time, so I goosed it and let the clutch out more. I realized as I soiled myself and my head hit the back window, that the bad bearing in the steering column had dragged that column shift into first gear and I would never have that '69, FOUR SPEED, POWER STEERING, short bed, 4x4 Ford I'd always dreamed of!

I was wrong, but it's not quite what I dreamed of... not yet.
Mike

 

i've got a '68 f100 longbed, 3-speed column shifter, no power accessories...

it rides pretty well, although i'd never attempt to parallel-park it. the manual brakes are no problem. i can still lock 'em up if i need to. the steering only bothers me when trying to wiggle into a normal-sized parking spot.

if i ever get the motor pulled out, i'll probably drop the power steering stuff in, but only because i live in town- if i didn't have to worry about city driving/parking, i'd just stick with my manual setup.

stockman- long time no see!

rusty68
'68 f100 360 FE

 

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I like the 20 pt. turn story.
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***back to lurking mode***
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my 68 F100 is also manual steering and column shift, it is soon to be moved to the floor with the help of the Hurst company. My 70 Dodge(I know, foul language) needed a suicide **** to crank it around, I have a really easy time driving the Ford no need for pwr steering until i'm a bit more geriatric.