I have a couple of questions about restoring my truck. This is my first restore. My father gave me a 1964 F-100, 223 I6, 3 speed manual, style side and a step side bed. Engine runs great only 62,500 orig. miles.<O:p</O:p

How much will it cost to restore my truck?
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About how long will it take working a couple hours a day and a couple more on the weekends?
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Where should I start?

Where should I go from there?

What should I end with?

If anyone would like to give me a play by play of what I should do please do so. It would help me greatly.<O:p</O:p

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Thanks,<O:p</O:p
Mater

 

Well you have asked the million dollar questions Mater.

It all depends on alot of things, do you want just bone stock or a trailer quueen? Is you truck in great shape or just so so? Does it have rust or is it rust free? Are you doing a frame up or a rolling retstoration? Are you doing any modifications like disc brakes or power steering.

There are a million differant things you could do to your truck and alot of ways to do it. It could cost as little as $1,000.00 0r as much as $20,000.00+.

But just remember this you will most likely never get out of it what you put into it so don't get your hopes up on thinking you are going to get rich on selling a restored truck, just have fun with it.

Just have fun with it like most of us do and welcome to FTE this place will be a great help to you if you let it.

 

I plan on doing a frame up. No mods I would like everything stock how it is. I dont plan on selling the truck it's the only thing my dad has ever given me. It does have a little rust on the body most of it is on the frame and theing like that. Most to all of the body is in great shape. (except the little rust spots) I'm not adding any addon's if I can avoid them.

 

My method of restoration is to first take care of all the mechanical aspects of the car/truck in question. That is what I did with my Mustang, engine, brakes, suspension, transmission, driveline, exhaust and so forth. After that was done I took the body apart with the whole interior out, doors off, windows out, fenders off, hood and trunk lids off. That enable me to take care of the entire front inner apron area, weld in a new radiator support along with battery apron and then paint the car piece by piece. Reassembled and then finished out with the new interior, gaskets and chrome all around. All in all it took me about 4 years with a slight break between the mechanical and body work. Wanted to drive it a little.

The '65 F100 I got 8 weeks ago is now in the same process. Already has had the ignition system replaced, the entire exhaust system redone, the cooling system redone, the fuel system up to the Pony Carb rebuilt 2100, new tires, new wiring harnesses, transmission serviced, the heater box installed with a few suspension things left to do. Replaced many of the screws with stainless steel, new headliner after prepping the underside, correct white door panels, new unstripped window cranks, choke cable, accelerator cable, floor cleaned up with rust converter and painted with Eastwood rust encapsulator which does work really well around water.

Now the truck will do some yard duty for the next year before i start the body work which is mainly clean up, wet sand a layer of paint off and then apply the new paint along with gaskets and weatherstrip. Oh, the box does come off to work top down so i can reach the parts I couldn't get from bottom up. I could do the body work over a period of maybe 3-4 months. Also, since I have all the tools and equipment from over the years there are no holdups for me.

 

If intend to do frame up restoration, need to make sure the truck can be on blocks for possible up to 2-3 years. It can become a nuisance to family, and or friends. Can save some of the cost of restoration by using as a learning experience, only farming out where you lack in experience or tools to do. Althought, library can be helpful, in learning body work, welding, painting, etc. Also, do not discard anything until project is completed, may need original as pattern, or piece off original the replacement part did not include. Do not want to sound discouraging, but most importantly, and talking from experience, do not want to lose interest. May want to drive the truck, work on the mechanics, as tbm3fan suggested, while researching and deciding what you want to do. Good source of info and ideas is FTE and local auto swap meet, don't know of a Ford truck enthusiast who is'nt willing to provide suggestions. Anyhow, good luck with the restoration.

dave

 

is there anyway you could make a gallery of your truck the way it is?
we (or I anyway) enjoy looking at anyhting truck. that reminds me, I need to put a couple more in my gallery, a few updates.


Just have fun with it, be patient, be realistic. the experience varies so much for each vehicle. you certainly have found one of the best sites on the net for your truck too. The truck, your finances, your motivation, skills, just to name a few determine the time. the main thing is the fun factor. If you dont have the skills we refer to, such as the ability to turn wrenches yourself, then this is a fine time to pick one up and get dirty...lol. experience is the best teacher. I had to learn everything on my own, so way back when I was first learning, the first thing i learned was not to turn those bolts too tight, they dont like that very much...lol

 

I don't know much about working on cars but my father-in-law knows alot about mechanics and body work so he can show me what I lack. I do have pics of my truck on my digital camera I have been wanting to create a gallery of. Last night I took both front fenders off as well as the grille, bumber and hood.

I'm very excited about this project. I hope it doesn't take too long. I wanna drive it so bad. I've only drove it once so far.

I don't plan on doing any upgrades to the engine or the whole truck in general. I wanna keep every thing as original as possible.

 

As you dismantle, suggest take note of any hardware you will need to replace; for example, bolts, nuts, speed nuts U and J type, as well as; tube type, usually used for securing emblems, and gage nuts, etc.. Suggest taking note as to size and thread count. May save a few $ not purchasing extra hardware, and it makes reassembling less labor intensive. May be able to find hardware at local auto supply or hardware store, but if find difficult locating try www.restorationspecialties.com . Don't necessarily have to order anything, I like to browse and check out what some of the hardware looks like. They use to send free catalogs, but they do have downloadable catalog. In addition, if come across any spacers during disassembly, usually used for alignment purposes for fenders, doors, and other sheet metal, etc., it may help in reassemble if note there location.

dave

 

This is a fine time and a fun way to learn! just start turning bolts and getting dirty..lol thats how I learned. Clean fingernails are a thing of the past!
Dave certainly has some great advice, take notes, take pictures, and dont ever rely on memory for placements on that 1 little bolt, because as you go that 1 will turn into 50. then when you put it back toogether you will have 1 left. that could be the most important bolt in the works, like the one that plugs the oil pan, or holds your steering shaft together..lol

 

Ok can anyone give me a rough cost and time line for what I would like to do?

New hardware all around, New trim and seals all around, Frame sandblasted, Bed rhino lined for styleside, new wood for stepside, and then alot $500 for odd and end parts.

Mater