Hello,

I am looking at a 62 Ford styleside short bed F100 to restore and rod and 99.2% sure I will buy it.....LIKE YESTERDAY... I was weened on chevys and they are all I ever wrenched on so excuse me if I sound ignorant. It has a six cyl motor, man trans, and 9" rear end (I don't know engine size or tranny model). I don't know if it runs or not, nor do I really care...but hope I can get it running for putzing. Both front fender panels are lightly damaged and/or rusted through where they meet the cab and the grille is mangled. The hood has some minor damage that I think I can pound out and putty. Otherwise the body is straight with little rust and good to weld on. All the glass is good with exception of the driver side door. Surprisingly, it has an origional bench seat without one tear in it. The guy will accept no less than $1,900 which I think is a fair price since it's a short bed straight axle dream machine.

I started looking for reproduction grilles on the net and came up with nothing. Does anyone know if these are being reproduced? I saw a used one on ebay that needs to be blasted for $120 so I'm thinking the freakin grille shouldn't be a major issue.

How hard is it to put a small block V-8 in these? What about jacking up the front and putting fenderwell headers in there? Can I buy kits for all this conversion? I'm also wondering if replacing the fender panels would be easier than patching them with new sheet metal (I have a gas shield MIG machine).

I hope my questions aren't too loaded. I don't own the thing yet so I don't have a lot to go on.

 

Pass on this one! Better trucks are available at that price and you should consider a 65-66 Twin I-Beam for a bunch of reasons. Read through some of the old posts here and discover why it is better to start with a better truck than you described AND a Twin I-Beam truck. UNI's are the exception to this recommendation. IMHO!

 

Welcome to FTE; That's a fairly high price for one with some front damage; be very sure on the rust condition; uni's are rare espeically swb; that's probably the driving factor in his price; but as William stated I would check out other trucks; everything is possible with these old trucks; but updated add on like disc brake; V-8 swap's are easier in 65 above trucks. I presonnally love uni's. Parts are sparse in my area; grille is not a remanufacture product; only 66 model's are made. They are some sharp looking trucks out there for 1.9k; that are well worth the money. Check the classifies on this web site as well.
Again Welcome and if the truck is worth that amount it would in IMHO would of had acouple more lookers.

Mitch

 

J welcome once again. I agree with the others. 19 is on the steep side. I have a 64 available for $200-$300 that needs an engine and roof. As far as modifying goes if you know how to use that MIG anything is possible and usually straight forward. What's your location there may be someone close with a better deal.

 

What is a 62 effy?

John

 

John he's new don't pick on him. He got the styleside part right, didn't call it a fleetside eventhough he was raised on chevys. J the terminology goes like this, 46-52 are Bonus Builts, 53-56 are Effies, 57-60 are Fridges, 61-66 are Slicks

 

Thanks for the replies. I agree 1900 is a bit steep considering the work that needs to be done. I should keep looking. It's sitting behind a repair/sales shop and I approached the proprietor which often leads to a high asking price. I assumed all F100's are nick named effies. I do not recall if it is a unibody and was not aware of them until I saw a pic on the net. I'd of noticed something like that I think. It's a Kansas truck and the rust spots are from where water got trapped. Otherwise, it's solid.

I live in Wisconsin which is a rust belt. We pay a premium for straight rollers here. It's expensive to haul them here from dry states so you pay either way.

I have a passion for straight axles for some reason. I want to build up a classic gasser looking thing. Early 60's Ford shortbeds just seem to have the right chemistry for a gasser truck. The near horizontal steering wheel is funky too.

Again thanks.

 

Must have been a good question Rich, since you provided an answer.

John