difficult choice, need help deciding
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 2
From: SW Missouri
difficult choice, need help deciding
as I posted earlier I have recently aquired a 1963 F-100 4x4 LB, and a 1965 F-100 longbed 2wd.
the 63 is a 292/4sp that has seen better days but is not that bad, I have not yet tried to fire it up yet, but it looks like it might run.(the truck is complete except the tailgate)
the 65 was wrecked in the right front corner, but 1/2 hr with the porta-power fixed the core support/inner fender to acceptable condition, the I-beam however was bent back and the strut support was shared off the rivets (I bolted it back together/bent I-beam back) I only need one truck out of these two and the 65 seems more servicable than the 63, so I am once again thinking of converting the 65 to 4x4 using the rare 63 as the parts source.
is the 63 too rare to destroy? (2809 produced)
perhaps I should sell both (I dont need either, I have many trucks)
what to do?
the 63 is a 292/4sp that has seen better days but is not that bad, I have not yet tried to fire it up yet, but it looks like it might run.(the truck is complete except the tailgate)
the 65 was wrecked in the right front corner, but 1/2 hr with the porta-power fixed the core support/inner fender to acceptable condition, the I-beam however was bent back and the strut support was shared off the rivets (I bolted it back together/bent I-beam back) I only need one truck out of these two and the 65 seems more servicable than the 63, so I am once again thinking of converting the 65 to 4x4 using the rare 63 as the parts source.
is the 63 too rare to destroy? (2809 produced)
perhaps I should sell both (I dont need either, I have many trucks)
what to do?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
difficult choice, need help deciding
You build those trucks because you like them not because of the rare value. I don't know how things may change in years to come but RARE isn't a word connected to old Ford trucks yet.
You could fix them up and sell them.
John
jowilker
Club FTE since 01 01
NC Chapter
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night,
you can hear chevys rusting away.
You could fix them up and sell them.
John
jowilker
Club FTE since 01 01
NC Chapter
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night,
you can hear chevys rusting away.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
difficult choice, need help deciding
John- maybe an F-250 big window 4x4 mercury unibody would be rare?? 
I don't even know if they made any though
Whd,
I don't think using the parts from one truck on another would be considered "destroying" it. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that useable parts are used- whether that means rebuilding the trucks, using the parts on another truck, or parting them out. While they may not be rare, there is no overabundance (??) of leftover parts to be used.
Before you do anything, I would suggest that you do some research. I don't know what the similarities are between various years with the 4X4's but there are some major differences between 63 and 65 2WD's.
In the end no one can decide for you. You'll just have to make up your mind about what you want to do. If you can get the 63 running and decide later to graft it to another truck, you probably haven't lost anything.
Nate
1964 F-100 Custom Cab 292 V-8 3 spd
1964 F-100 292 V-8 3 spd
1990 F-150 5.8L
Check out http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/fordpickups61to66fseries
I don't even know if they made any though Whd,
I don't think using the parts from one truck on another would be considered "destroying" it. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that useable parts are used- whether that means rebuilding the trucks, using the parts on another truck, or parting them out. While they may not be rare, there is no overabundance (??) of leftover parts to be used.
Before you do anything, I would suggest that you do some research. I don't know what the similarities are between various years with the 4X4's but there are some major differences between 63 and 65 2WD's.
In the end no one can decide for you. You'll just have to make up your mind about what you want to do. If you can get the 63 running and decide later to graft it to another truck, you probably haven't lost anything.
Nate
1964 F-100 Custom Cab 292 V-8 3 spd
1964 F-100 292 V-8 3 spd
1990 F-150 5.8L
Check out http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/fordpickups61to66fseries
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 2
From: SW Missouri
difficult choice, need help deciding
I know the vast frame differences between 61-64/65-66-up trucks, I have converted 70's pickups to 4x4 and the 63 running gear, while light duty looks at first glance as a near-perfect fit. I like the look of the 65-66 bed, and a custom cab-two tone is a nice truck to have, and the 63 is beyond plain, but 4x4 is nice to have too. the only questions I have now, is the bellhousing bolt pattern the same from 292 to FE? the 63 has a truck 4-sp, and the 65 has a "car" 3-sp and I want the 4-sp. (althought I also have a clark 5-sp w/FT bellhousing in my 64 F-600 that I could use.)
now this is beginning to sound like work, perhaps I will sell them both after all.
now this is beginning to sound like work, perhaps I will sell them both after all.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 632
Likes: 8
difficult choice, need help deciding
My 2 cents worth? I would go with the 65. The extreme amount of later models that offer bolt in swapping of suspensions, engines, steering, and more would make you life alot easier with this truck. Unless you really are an antique 4 x 4 collector, the 63 would be alot more work. Unless the 63 was a unibody, which the 4 x 4s weren't, sell it to someone else. Few parts will swap with your 65..The correct box on the 63 is the old style, 64-66 had the "new" matching cab type of box.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 222
Likes: 2
difficult choice, need help deciding
These are your trucks, so don't concern yourself with the production numbers as all the 4x4 build numbers are low. And don't confuse low numbers with more money. Around here, any 4WD commands much more cash as long as it runs. If you have the time and money, converting the 65 to a 4x4 wouldn't be any more valuable than the 63 as it is --- but you would have alot more invested in it. So why do it unless you want/need a 65 4x4?
I vote for getting the 63 up and running, sell it, and use the proceeds to putting the 65 on the road as you want it.
Lee
1965 F100 short box styleside
I vote for getting the 63 up and running, sell it, and use the proceeds to putting the 65 on the road as you want it.
Lee
1965 F100 short box styleside
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 3
difficult choice, need help deciding
Just a little more- The cabs wont swap between frames easily, different front cab mounts. Also the engines wont swap between transmissions, different bolt pattern. I say fix em both! You just CANT have too many!
Nathan
Nathan
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